That he did not
believe his presence necessary; that there were other characters who
would do the business as well or better. Still, however, if his aid was
thought necessary to save the cause to which he had devoted his life
principally, he would make the sacrifice of a longer continuance. That
he therefore reserved himself for future decision, as his declaration
would be in time if made a month before the day of election. He had
desired Mr. Lear to find out from conversation, without appearing to
make the inquiry, whether any other person would be desired by any
body. He had informed him, he judged from conversations that it was
the universal desire he should continue, and he believed that those
who expressed a doubt of his continuance, did it in the language of
apprehension, and not of desire. But this, says he, is only from the
north; it may be very different in the south. I thought this meant as
an opening to me to say what was the sentiment in the south, from which
quarter I came. I told him, that as far as I knew, there was but one
voice there, which was for his continuance. That as to myself, I had
ever preferred the pursuits of private life to those of public,
which had nothing in them agreeable to me. I explained to him the
circumstances of the war which had first called me into public life, and
those following the war, which had called me from a retirement on which
I had determined.
Pages:
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788