J. D. VAN BUREN TO TILDEN
"804 Br'way.
"Dear Sir,—I am, in one sense, not a politician, and my opinion is not worth so much as those of others; but in the sense of being always interested in public affairs, I am perhaps a politician. What I mean is, that I have not a view of things from inside of the machinery.
"From the outside I have naturally thought about candidates for Governor. I have come to the conclusion that you are the best man for the place. I take it for granted you have no desire for the place, for I am willing to judge you as favorably as I would judge myself, and such a place would have no temptations for me.
"But at this time you have no right to consider only your own convenience.
"You are the best man—
"1. Because you would poll more votes than any other (Dix included); you are above the rings and cliques, and would excite no personal antagonisms.
"2. Because you could, after election, make a party of the right materials. The only set of men who can bring back our politics to purity and statesmanship are the Barnburners of this State; after carrying the election these men, whether they have voted of late years the Democratic or Republican ticket, could, under you, be brought together—could make a new Democratic party, slough off the corrupt elements, especially that malign influence with which we shall have to act this election, T. W., and dictate a reform in the Cabinet which should give the influence of the general government to the same sound principles as of old controlled this State. This, I think, is the great movement to be made in politics—the reconstruction into compact force of the divided Barnburners, and for this we must carry this State election first, no matter what allies we have to take in for the present.
"I, of course, shall not mention your name for the place to any one, but, if it should be offered you, you must not decline. Stranger things have happened than that it should be offered amid the conflicting claims.
"Yours respectfully,
"Jno. D. Van Buren."
"S. J. Tilden, Esq."