"I need hardly say that in what I have here written in explanation of Mr. Tilden's attitude before the country I have written as his friend, not for him.
"Very truly yours,
"John Bigelow."
TILDEN TO JOHN A. McCLERNAND
"Confidential.
"Gramercy Park, New York, March 16, 1880.
"My dear General,—I thoroughly appreciate the motives which prompted your note of the 27th of January, and it is not from any want of consideration for your suggestions that I have not sooner acknowledged it. I thank you cordially for your friendly counsels. I agree with you entirely as to the danger to the elective system of government liable to result from the subversion of the popular will as manifested in the election of 1876.
"I also concur with you in the opinion that the dissension which exerted a temporary power in this State in 1879 cannot be continued or repeated with success in 1880.
"I regret the narrow limits to which a letter confines the interchange of sentiments between us, but I need hardly assure you that I shall always be happy to hear from you, and that your counsel, whenever you are disposed to favor me with it, will not be wasted upon me.
"With high esteem, I remain,
"Very truly yours,
"(Signed) S. J. Tilden.
"Hon. John A. McClernand, Springfield, Illinois."