HORATIO SEYMOUR TO TILDEN
"Utica, Nov. 29, 1867.
"Dear Sir,—I send you the enclosed letter because I said I would call your attention to the subject of a paper in Kansas. I hope the harmless compliment to me will not harm the writer. Such things are usually found in letters asking favors. I do not know what can be done in such cases. I know that you as well as I have to meet such calls every day of the week. I hurried up my letter, getting my name off of the list of candidates so that I might save what little property I have. If it is so ruinous to be talked of for nomination, I do not see how any one can live through a canvass after a nomination. I expect now to be let alone.
"I wish the State Committee would do one thing—that is, send a circular to any Democratic paper in the State asking them to print John Q. Adams' speech, which is published in Friday's World. The National Committee should see to its publication elsewhere. To my mind it is the most effective speech made in years. This will cost nothing, but it will tell at this time.
"Please to send me back Mrs. Moore's letter.
"Truly yours, &c.,
"Horatio Seymour."
"Hon. S. J. Tilden."
JNO. D. VAN BUREN TO TILDEN
(ENCLOSING MR. VAN BUREN'S CHECK FOR $200)
"Private.
"New York, Dec. 3, 1867.
"My dear Sir,—Take a cool, philosophical view of this note, but believe every word of it.
"It is very hard for me to do an ungracious thing, and few things are more ungracious than to reject kindness. I have carried the enclosed in my pocket a good while, but could not muster courage, when I saw you repeatedly, to take away from you the pleasure of having done the kindness.
"No matter tho' none but you and I know it, I cannot go to the club while I feel that I have not paid my own footing; I have given it a good thinking, and I am sure I shall never incline to go there until this is done. So that the very object you desire would not be attained. You must, therefore, of necessity, take it back.
"It is not because I am unwilling to receive kindness from you that I return it; and pray do not forget that the balance of favors done is very largely to your credit as between us. You would have made me Comptroller if I had not refused; and your intentions with me are just as much a cause of gratitude as the realization would have been.
"One other thing. I will continue to give you my aid in the State Committee business, and follow your orders promptly so long as I have time; but for such work I cannot take pay.
"Yours truly,
"Jno. D. van Buren."
"S. J. Tilden, Esq."