2447. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1796), Candidature of Jeferson.—[continued].
I had neither claims nor
wishes on the subject, though I know it will
be difficult to obtain belief of this. When I
retired from the office of Secretary of State,
it was in the firmest contemplation of never
more returning to Philadelphia. There had
indeed been suggestions in the public papers,
that I was looking towards a succession to the
President's chair, but feeling a consciousness of
their falsehood, and observing that the suggestions
came from hostile quarters, I considered
them as intended merely to excite public odium
against me. I never in my life exchanged a
word with any person on the subject, till I
found my name brought forward generally, in
competition with that of Mr. Adams. Those
with whom I then communicated could say, if
it were necessary, whether I met the call with
desire, or even with a ready acquiescence, and
whether from the moment of my first acquiescence,
I did not devoutly pray that the very
thing might happen which has happened.—
To Elbridge Gerry. Washington ed. iv, 170.
Ford ed., vii, 119.
(Pa.,
May. 1797)
