"Carroll resides in the same county in which I reside--viz., Howard. "I was a candidate in that district for the position of delegate against a ring ticket. I carried the district and secured, of my friends in the convention and others not known to me, but _instructed_ to vote for me by the conventions that appointed them, more than enough to elect me. "But Carroll and his associates induced a sufficient number of those who had been instructed openly to violate their obligation of good faith and personal honor to defeat me. I confidently believe that of the _people_ of the district I had two to one in my favor as against the _Bayard ring ticket_. "Bayard and his friends seem to cherish a personal bitterness to you and those interested in having justice done to you, which is as blind as it is stupid. "There are some few good men in the delegation, but it is completely under Gorman's control, who will do everything he can to secure Bayard's nomination, but directs his efforts _principally_ to _appear_ on the successful side. I beg leave to suggest that you intimate to such of your friends at Cincinnati as may have your confidence, and be in possession of your views and wishes, to be on their guard in any consultation or interview they may have with this gentleman or the members of this delegation. "I presume Mr. Blair has written--he carried his county, though not his district, and for reasons similar to those indicated above is not a member of the delegation. "With most profound respect, "Sincerely your friend, "R. T. MERRICK." * * * * * As introductory to the following letter, I quote the following from my diary under date of May 12, 1880: "Mr. Tilden has finally determined, I believe, to be a candidate for the Presidency before the Cincinnati convention. "I have no responsibility for advising him to expose himself to such an ordeal in his present state of health, though I rather congratulate myself that he has taken that responsibility for himself. He has been so abominably calumniated that nothing but a renomination and re-election can fully vindicate him and his friends. Should the exposure cost him his life, could it be spent in a better cause for him? As long as he can make himself heard, he is capable of making a better President than any man besides him that either party is likely to nominate.