Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-15
:, mcCleIIan,s Platform.
M OnASGE. NEW Jersey. Sc


GENTLEMEN have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter informing me Of my nomina-
tion BY the Democratic National Convention, recent
% e o tSs States
a, II is unnecessary for me to say to you that the
nomination comes TO me unsought.
made the record Of my public life was kept in view
The effect of long and varied service in the army,
during war and peace. has been to strengthen and
reverence for the Constitution laws and flag of our
country impressed upon me in early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the course Of
mylife, and must continue to do so TO its end. u
.fhe existence Of more than one government over
the region which once owned our tiag is incompati
BILE with the peace. the power and the happiness OF
The preservation of our Union was the sole ayowed
object for which the war was commenced. 1t should
have been conducted for that object only, and in
accordance with those principles which took occa-
sion to declare whom In active service. =,
Thus conducted, che work OF reconciliation would
have been easy. and we might have reaped the bene-
Ct Of our many victories on land and sea: -
n The Union was originally formed by the exercise
of spirit Of Cancellation and compromise. To re-
store and preserve it the same spirit must prevail in
~ The establishment Of the Union in all its integ
rity is and must continue to be. the indispensable
condition in any settlement. So soon as 1t is clear
or even probable that our present adversaries are
ready for peace, upon the basis OF tie Union, we
should exhaust all the resources Of ststesmanship
Tadisons 81 the American people, consistent with
the honor and interests of the country, to secure
such peace, re-establish the Union. and guarantee
for the future the constitutional rights OF every
Staie. The Union Is the one condition of peace
Les ef me add what doubt not was although unex-
pressed the sentiment of the Convention it is OF
the people they represent that when any one State
swiing TO return TO the Union, 10 should be recev
cd at once with full guarantee of all its oonstitu-
Tfa frank. earnest and persistent effort to obtain
those objects should fail the responsibility for ule-
fior consequences will fall upon those who remain 10
preserved tall hazards.
could not look in the fscc my gallant comrades
q the army and navy y who h have survived 50 many
the sacrihce Of 50 many Of our slain and wounded
brethren had been in vain; that we had abandoned
that Union for which we have so often peried our
vast majority of our people. whether in the army
and navy or at home would. as would, hail with
Ss, $ Sndsf the q
without the efusion Of another drop Of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without Union.
As g ne other subjects presented IN tne resoln
seek in the Constitution Of the United States. and
the laws framed in accordance herewith the rule Of
my duty, and the limitations Of executive power;
endeavor 10 restore economy in public expenditure
reestablish the supremacy Of law and by the
tion Of q moro vigorous nationality, resume our
commanding position among tho nations of the
Vie condition Of our finances the depreciation Of
the paper money, and tho burdens thereby imposed
on labor and capital show the necessity Of return
10 sound financial system; whilst the rights Of ct
xens and the rights Of states, and the binding au-
thority Of law President army, and people, are
hjocs Of not loss vital Importance IN war than In
believing that the views here expressed are those
Of the convention and tho people yOn represent
i1s rssliss nSs tRe Wssht Of the responsibility 10 be
borne should the people retify your cboice.,.f y i
sConzeioug Of my own weakness, can only m seek