Nathan Sargent from Edward Everett, Jan. 2, 1835

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(Private)

Washington 2 Jan’y 1835

Dear Sir,

Your letter of Dec. 20th to a friend of ours, in this place, has been shown to me, with the request, that I would let you know, that it has come safely to hand. - I have noticed speculations, which have occasionally appeared in your paper, on the subject of the Next Presidency.  In one of the last of these in which you make a handsome allusion to Mr. Webster, you incline to the opinion, that it is best to await the selection of some candidate, in whom all the opponents of the administration can unite; the selection to be made by a general convention, or in some other way.  Similar suggestions appear in other friendly papers.  But I think I run no risk in saying, that no such convention can be had; & no such agreement on a candidate can take place.  The Southern Whigs offer no thing better, than Judge White.  An attempt, it is said, has been made, or is now making in Ohio, to commit that state for Judge McLean. - Local nominations are not the most desirable ones. [Signature cut out from reverse side. Text losses added in pencil] They (have not the weight of) general nominations (But it would seem) in the present