New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1864-09-16
GEN. MCChELLAN'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE. s. --.r
ORANGE. N. J.. Sep. 8.

'Gcnt!emen Il have the honor tt
acknowledge the receipt Of your letter
informing me of my nomination by the
democratic national convention rccenr.
ly assembled at Chicago, as their cal.
didate at the next election for Presl
ident Of the United States. ..... .
1t IS unnecessary for me to say tc
you that this nomination comes to me
n.sought. l am happy to know tha,
when the nomination was made. the
record of my public life vaa kept in
view. .... -.......... a.. ... r.-.
The effect of long and varied service
in the army, during war and peace, has
been to strengthen and make iudelible
il NY u;nd and heart the love and rev.
ereLce for the Union, Constitution, laws
aud flag OF Our Country impressed up
on me in early youth. These feelings
have thus far guided the course Of nv
life and uust continue to do SO until its
end. s.....a..
The existence Of more than one gov
eminent over the region once owned by
our flag ls incompatible with the peace.
tie power, and the happiness Of the
people. The preservation Of our Un-
ION was the soe avowed object for
which the war was commenced. 1t
should have been conducted for that oh-
ject only, and iu accordance with those
principles which took occasion to de-
clare when in active service. Thus
conducted the work of reconciliation
would have been easy, and We might
have reapcd the beuefits of our many
victories on land and sea. ....
The Uuioa was originally formed by
the exercise ola spirit of Cancellation
and compromise. To restore and pre-
serve it, the same spirit must prevail in
our councils and in the hearts of the
people. The re-establishment of the
Union in all its integrity is, and must
continue to be-, the indispensable condi-
ton in any settlement. So soon as il,
is clear, Or even probable; that our
present advcrsaries are ready for peace
upon the hasis of the Union, We should
exhaust all the resources of statesman
ship practiced by civilized nations and
taught by the traditions of the Ameri-
can people, consistent with the honor
and interests Of the country, to secure
such peace, re-estahlish the Union, and
guarantee for the future the constitu
tlonsl rights OF every State.
The Union is the one condition Of
peace. We ast; no more. Let ne add
what doubt not was, although unex-
pressed, the sentiment Of the conyen-
ton, as it is Of the people they repre-
sent, that when any State is willing to
return to the Union, it should be receiv-
ed at once with a full guarantee Of all
its constitutional rights. If a frank,
earnest and persistent effort to obtain
these Objects should fall, the responsi-
bility for ulterior consequences would
fall upon those who remain ia arms
against the Union; but the Union wo Il
be preserved at all hazards. -
I cou!d not look in the face of my
gallant comrades Of the army who have
survived so many bloody battles, and
tel them that their labors and the sac
rifces of 50, many of cur slain and
wounded brethren had been in vain /;
that we had abandsned d that Union for
which we p have 80 often perilel our
lives. A vast majority Of our people
who are in the army and navy, or at
home, would as / would hail with un-
bounded joy the. permanent restoration
of peace on the basis Of the Union un-
der the constitution, without the effu-
sion Of another drop Of blood. But no
peace can be permanent without Tn
ion. AS to the other subjects present
ed in tb resolutions of the cunven ton,
l say l should seek in the cositution Of
the United States and the laws framed
in accordance Herewith the rule Of my
duty, and the limitations Of Executive
power, endeav or to restore economy in