Upon the eve of the Baltimore Convention I recd. a letter ^communication^ from you suggesting ^inviting^ a modification of ^the views written in^ my letter upon the subject of the annexation of Texas which you thought would satisfy the many who opposed my nomination on that ground. I When I said in that ^letter that^ I could not in any extremity be induced to cast a shade over the motives of my <public> life by changes or concealments of opinions maturely formed, upon a great national question, for the unworthy purposes increasing my chances for political promotion, I did so in full view of the consequences that might result from ^the <avowals> of which <were>^ <those> <gra> stand <there> taken ^<avowed>^ in behalf of the peace & honor of the country as I regarded the matter, might <have>, & a fixed determination to abide the result. It is perhaps not very clear that ^they would be materially changed by^ the modification to which you refered would very materially change the grounds ^<then>^ taken in my letter but I had I assure ^you^ a much greater dread of being for a moment believed ^thought^ capable of trimming my sail to catch the popular breeze of the moment in <as> made by the suppressioning of ^or disguising^ my real feelings in a in a ^so grave a^ matter of such <re> than of losing the nomination. I could not therefore bring my mind to make the response to your letter which your friendship for me & r as well as regard to the public interest induced you to desire. The position I had already ^occupied <being> had been^ taken was upon the fullest consideration, it was to my mind not only I trust ^the^ one most consistent with the respect which was due to the question—to the country & to my own position, but was also one with which I thought all who any reasonable and well intentioned man ought should be satisfied & at all events that ^with^ which I <desired> prefered to meet the Convention.

But it is not the less due to you that I would say to you—^embrace an early opportunity to express my <conviction>^ that I was at the time fully sensible of the friendly ^entire correctness of the^ motives and just reasons by which you were actuated in making the communication. They were ^I am very confident^ of the same just & friendly character by which your entire intercourse with me, ^official as well as personal,^ has been distinguished since I first made your acquaintance, and which, together with your earnest & eloquent assurances of continued confidence and anxious regard ^solicitude^, at the ^a^ moment ^when^ you were evidently convinced that the means which had been employed to defeat my nomination were destined to be successful shall you may be ass be long & gratefully remembered.

I regret most deeply and sincerely the inconvenience & losses which you have sustained by the performance of an official act which I had the very best opportunities to know was performed with the best ^purest^ intentions & had for its sole object to protect the public interest agt. the perpetuation of what we all regarded to be a great wrong.

Present me respectfully & kindly to Mrs Kendall & believe me to be with unfeigned wishes for your future welfare your sincere friend & obdnt Sevt