Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-01
rcClelIan,s platform.
ORANGE. New JERSEY. Sept. 8


GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge tho
receipt OF your letter informing me Of my nomina-
ton by the Democratic National Convention, recent
ly assembled at Chicago, their candidate at the
next election for President Of the United States.
1t is unnecessary for me to say to you that the
nomination comes to me unsought.
am happy to know that when the nomination was
made the record Of my public life was kept in view.
The effect of long and varied service in the army,
during SRS mas Oend ed 70 bs and and
reverence for the Constitution, laws and flag of our
country impressed upon me in early youth.
These feelings have thus lar guided the course 0f
my life, aud must continue to do so to its end.
The existence Of more than one government over
the region which once owned our hagls lncompat.
BILE with the peace the power and the happiness OF
the people. 90 =,
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 when in active service, :.
have been easy, and might have reaped the bene-
fit Of our many victories on land and sea;
The Union N was originally i9rmed 6y tnS exercise T6
store and preserve it, the same spirit must prevail in
our councils, and in the hearts Of the people.
The re- establishment fthe Union in all its integ-
rity is. and must continue to be- the indispensable
condition in any settlement. So soon as it is clear
or even probable, that our present adveTsaries are
ready for peace, upon the basis of til Union, we
should exhaust all the resources of craftsmanship
practced by civilized nations, and taught by the
traditions of 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
State. The Union is the one condition OF peace
we ask no more.
Let me add what doubt not was, although unex-
pressed, the sentiment of the Convention, as 1t is OF
the people they represent, that when any one State
is willing to return to the Union. it should be recev-
ed at once, with full guarantee of all its constitu-
tional rights.
II frank, earnest and persistent effort to obtain
those objects should fail the responsibility for ute-
rior consequences will fall upon those who remain in
arms against the Union. But the Union must DO
preserved at all hazards.
] could not look in the face my gallant comrades
the and IS s M P0 s nys S, Tn 30 many
the sacrifice Of so many of our slain and wounded
brethren had been invain; that we had abandoned
that Union for which We have so often periled our
vast majority of our people, whether in the army
and navy or at home, would. as would, hail with
unbounded joy the permanent restoration of peace,
on the basis Of the Union under the Constitution,
without the effusion of another drop of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without Union A3t
As to the other subjects presented in the resoiu.
tiOns of the convention need only say that should
seek in the Constitution of the United States, and
the laws framed in accordance therewith the rule Of
my duty, and the limitations Of executive power:
endeavOr to restore economy in public expenditure
re-esablish the supremacy OF law and by the asser-
tion of more vigorous nationality, resume our
commanding position among the nations OF the
earth. - r % ffet
The condition Of our finances the depreciation of
the paper money, and the burdens thereby imposed
on labor and capital, show the necessity Of return
to sound financial SYSTEM whilst the rights of cti-
zens and the rights of states, and the binding au-
thorty Of law over President. army, and people. are
subjects of not less vital Importance in war than in
peace ltlHr nkE ll HCff rHG5 res-Cth b
Believing that the views here expressed are those
of the convention and the people you represent.
accept the nomination. s.-I I,-flfl ..-,., .,.f4 ~
/ realize the weight Of the responsibility to be
borne should thepe0ple ratify your choice. : 9..i
Conscious of my own weakness, can only seek
fervently the guidance Of the Ruler Of the Uni-
verse, and, relying on His all powerful aid, do my
best to restore Union and peace to suffering peo
pie, and establish and guard their liberties and
rights. --..t ;,. -a...... 4 .,,..,f
| am, gentlemen, very respectfully, N"iipef
Your obedient servant,
- ... '4, .d GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN,
Hon. Horatio Seymour, and othors, committed.