The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-09-20
McClcllan's Letter OF Accept
snu

/ There could be n, more humiliatinl
and pitiable spectacle than that il
which General Nc Clellan places him
self in the acceptance of the Chicago
nomination. Since the Convention, Fed
eral arms have won signal victories and
gained advantages demonstrating that
the Confederacy is in its death struggle
which must soon close, if Grant contin
ues to hold his firm grasp. ~
In accepting the nomination, there.
fore, Mcclellan, seeing only defeat if he
indorses the platform makers, finds i,
expedient to ignore both in his accept.
ance, and make up little patriotic talk
of his own. f-
Now we suppose there are few men
who do not know as well as McC Clellan
himself that if elected, it is n moral inn
possibility for him TO do otherwise than
to carry out the doctrines of the plat
form and party placing him in power.
He must make up his Cabinet from the
leaders on his party, the Seymours and
the Vallandighams, and carry oht the
doctrines of their platform His posi-
ton is placed beyond his control, and
all his words in favor of war, the ad-
mission of States, &C., are arguments
in favor of the support and continuance
IN power of Lincoln's administration.
Knowing JEFF. Davis to be relentless,
this, administration has offered every
encouragement for the return and reor7
ganization of States, which policy Nc
Clellan approves, but should he (AIc-
Clellan) be elected, he is precluded
from the adoption of such policy, for he
is the property of those "evil spirits, y
who hold council at Richmond, in Can
ada and at Chicago, and they will lead
"Little Mac" whithersoever they will.
On the other hand Mcclellan and
Pendleton are equally required to so
act, ,,i
that immediate efforts be made for
acessation of hostilities, with view to
an ultimate Convention OF all tie States
or through peaceable means, to the end
that at the earliest practicable moment
peace may be restored on the basis of
the Federal Union of the States" [Chi-
cago Resolution. -.
The record is made up, and here
without disguise, without mistake is the
issue joined. The support of Lincoln
and Johnson is the suppression of the
rebellion by vigorous prosecution OF the
war and maintenance Of the Union by
Che submission of the rebels to their
just allegiance. a
The success Of Mcclellan and Pen
dleton is the immediate cessation of
hostilities. Whatever blatant orators
and mercenary presses may say about
the soldierly qualities of Mcclellan, are
all aside this question. He may have
been a true and faithful warrior, he
may desire the success of our arms,
but he is irrcvocably pledged to make
efforts for the cessation of
hostilities. ,.4
Disguise it as they maT by vague
declarations Of" Unswerving fidelity to
the Union," that party at Chicago is
pledged to Withdraw our armies, for
how else can there be a cessation of
hostilities. ..
The result therefore is recognition
of the Confederacy or an ignoble and
disgraceful compromise. ni.a
No other possible result can follow.
For what purpose do the Chicago par
ty demand "an immediate cessation of
hostilities," They say thatit is with
a view to an ultimate Convention ofthe
States" How can this Convention be
and what does itinply? hon
First hostilities must cease, that is
our armies must be withdpawn, the
blockaded ports opened, and then the
States proceed to elect delegates =
and his host Of traitors
must be allowed to return home, Price
md Quantrel and their murderous bands
Will again return to Missouri, for with
)ut them the Democratic ticket could
not be elected. So West Virginia, Ten
iesee, Arkansas and Louisiana must be
oyerborne by hosts Of returning rebels.
Can any sane man doubt who would |
'epresent the Southern States i'm this |
Conventions. The men who
iave led the Confederacy and fought
or it are the men whom it is proposed
% hold Convention with.
They never can be satisfied with the |
present Constitution, for against that
hey have rebelled. Then new provis-
ons and new guarantees must be given
hem or else there can be no agreement.
In other words, there can be no settle
nent unless jeff. Davis and his party
ire again put in power, They were
atisfied so long as they could rule, but
when they were put in a minority they
ebelled. Therefore I'VE say there must
,e ignohle and disgraceful compromise,
II else there win be no agreement. III
he Convention cannot agrec-and how
an the people of the North ever again
ubmit to the rules of that slaveholding
lristocracy,-wc say if the Convention
'annot agree, then is the Southern Con
ederacy established. For how again
'an these peace men ever resume the
var. All that years Of fighting, and
Millions Of lives, and treasure have
gained, will already have been lost and
,iven up. What shall prevent the
Southern States during the pcndcncy of
he Convention from importing arms
nd making every preparation for the
uture.
The whole scheme is impracticable,
nd disguise it as they may, the success
f Nc Clellan and Pendleton is rccog-
ition of the Confcderacy and dis