NELSON J. WATERBURY TO TILDEN
"No. 152 Broadway, New York, Sept. 1, 1876.
"Gov. Tilden.
"Dear Sir,—I wish to direct your attention to four acts of Kelly at Saratoga hostile to our success—not for effect upon him, but that they may enter into your mind in respect to action affecting the cause:
"1. He showed disregard of success in placing himself at the head of the electoral ticket.
"2. He tried to defeat the party by his attack upon the Liberal Republicans.
"3. He made a deadly effort to foreclose success by forcing Potter.
"4. He never, during the whole convention, said a word to encourage the Presidential canvass.
"Yours truly,
"Nelson J. Waterbury."
SAMUEL HAND[11] TO TILDEN
"Confidential.
"Saturday Evening, Sept. 9th, 1876.
"My dear Governor,—I had supposed, after what was said at Saratoga, Tuesday and Wednesday, that our friends tacitly agreed with me that the idea of bringing my name forward for Governor should not be seriously entertained, and therefore I did not think it necessary or becoming to take any further steps about. But I learn, on my return from the North, from Mr. Manning and others, that the project is assuming definite shape and may, unless at once ended, be carried to a nomination.
"I appreciate how high the office is, and of what importance and conspicuousness, and am sensible how much it is beyond anything to which I could at present naturally aspire. I feel gratified that I should have been thought of at all in connection with so great a trust, and am especially proud that you should have deemed me fit successor.
"The more I reflect, however, the more convinced I am that it will not do.
"I feel certain that under the present circumstances my nomination would be a mistake, and know that it might be fatal.
"Aside from these public considerations, I have private reasons which you would admit sufficient, if I could trouble you with them, to prevent my acceptance of the nomination. I should deeply regret it if these, in fact, interfered with the success of our party, but I am sure such is not the case. I regard them as insuperable, and I have written Mr. Manning a note, of which he can make public use, declining to have my name used at the convention.
"I write this that you may first and at the earliest moment know of my conclusion.
"Yours with the greatest respect,
"Samuel Hand."