The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-09-22
Gen McClellan,s Letter of Ac.
3itee6a 1850. COnt00Ce. t3

acknowledge the receipt Of your letter
informing me If my nomination, BY the
De,nocraaic National Convention, re
Gently assembled at Chicago, a. their
candid ate at the next election for Pres,
ident Of the United States. II 10 un
necessary for me to say to you that this
nomination comes to me unsoughs. ]
am happy to know that when the nom
ination was made the record Of my pub
lie life was kept in view. The effect
Of long and varied service in the army
during war ana peace has been to
strengthen and mako indel'ble in n,
mind aud hears, the love and reverence
for the Union, Constitution, Laws and
Flag Of our country impressed upon me
in my early youth. These feelings bavs
thus far guided the couree Of my life,
and must continue to do 20 until its end.
The existence Of more than one gov
ernment over the region which once
owned our flag, Is incompatible with
the peace, the power, and the happi
ness Of the people. The preservation
Of our Union was the sole avowed oh
iect for which tie war was commenced
It should have been conducted for tha,
object only, aud in accordance with
those principles which l took occasion
to declare when in active service. Thus
conducted, the work Of reconstruction
would have been easy, and we might
have rcaped the benefits Of our many
victories on land and sea. Tho Union
was originally formed by tho exercise
of spiri, of conciliation and compro
mise. 7, restore and preserve it the
same spiri, must prevail in ou' cou"
ellis aad in the hearts OF the people. The
re establishment Of the Union in all it,
integrity is, and must continue to be,
the indispensable condition in any set
clement, so soon as j. is clear or even
probable that our present adversar;es
are ready for peace upon the basis OF
the Union. We should exhaust all the
resources Of craftsmanship practiccd by
civilized nations, and taught by the ira
ditions Of The American people, consist
ent with the honors of our country, to
secure such peace as will re establish
the Union and guarantee for the future
the constitutional rights Of every State.
The Union is the one condition Of
peace-we ask no more. Let me adj
what l doubt not was, although unex-
pressed, the sentiment Of the convention
AS it is Of the people they represent
that when q Slate is willing to return
to the Uuion it should be received at
once, With full guarantee ofits consti
tu,ional rights. II frank, earnest and
persistent effort 10 obtain these objects
should fail, tho responsibility for ulter;or
consequences will fall upon those who
remain IN arms against the Union; but
the Union must. be preserved at all
hazards. 's
could not look in the face of my
gallant comrades Of, the Army and Navy
who have survived SO many blood,
battles, and tell them that their labors
and the sacrifices Of 50 many Of our
slain and wounded brethren had been
in vain, that We had abandoned the
Uaion for which we had 80 often psriled
our lives. A vast majority Of our
people who sso - the army and navy
or at homo would hail with nnbounded
joy. the permanent restoration Of peace
on the basis Of Union under Ii. Con
sti,u,ion without the effnsion # another
drop Of blood ; but no peace can be
permanent without Union Asao other
subjects presented in tho resolutions Of
the Convention, Isss should seek in
the Constitution Of the United States,
and the laws framed in accordance
Herewith, The rule Of my duty, and the
limitation OF executive power; to en-.
deayor 70 restore economy in the public
expenditure, and to 70 establish the su,
premaoy Of The Lars. and BY ,he opera
tien Of . moro vigorous nationality re.
sume our commanding position among
the nations Of the, ea.th. Tho eondi.
ton Of our finances, the depreciation Of
paper money, and the burden thereby
imposed on labor and capital show the
aercssity Of a return to sound finan.
cial system, while the rights Of citixens
and she rights Of States ssd the hind
! ing authority oflaw over the President,
army, end people ars subjects o. not
lees importance - war tbsnio peace.