The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-09-17
General McClellan's Letter of Acceptance

The telegraph, under date Of New York
cepted the nomination of the National Dem
ocratic Convention, held at Chicago, and
gives the following extract from bis letter.
The existence of more than one Govern
ment over the region which was once owned
by our flag, is Incompatible with the peace
power or happiness Of the people. The pre-
servalion of our Union was the sole avowed
object for which the war was commenced
and it should have been conducted for tha,
object only, and in accordance with those
principles which | took occasion to declare
when in active service Thus conducted, the
work of reconciliation would have been easy,
and we might have reaped the benefit of our
many victories on land and sea- The Union
was originally formed by the exercise of a
spirit of concIiatiou and compromise. To
restore and preserve 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 must continue to be
the indispensable con lition of any settles
;nent. So soon as it is clear, or even prob
able, that our present adversares are ready
for peace, upon the basis of the Union, we
should exhaust all the resources of states
manship praclised by civilized nations, taught
by the traditions of the American people,
consistent with the honor and interests of
the country, to secure such peace, re-estab'
lish the Union, and to obtain guarantees for
the future constitutional rights Of every State.
The Union is the one condition Of peace; we
ask no more. Let me add what dcubt not
was, although unexpressed, the sentiment of
the Convention, AS it is of the people they
represent, that when any one State is willing
to return to the Union, it should be received
at once, with full guarantee of all its Com
s,ilulional rights. If frank, earnest and
persistent effort to obtain those objects
should taiI The responsibility for uIlerior con-
sequences will fall upon those who remain in
arms against the Union. But the Union
must be preserved at all hazards. A vast
majority of cur people, whether in the army
or navy or at home, would, as | would, hail
with unbounded JOY the permanent restora.
tion Of peace, on the basis OF the Union un
der the Constitution; but no peace can be
permanent without Union. As to other SUBJ
jects presented in the resolutions Of the Con
venlon, can mere say l should seek in
the Constitution of tho United States, and
in the laws framed in accordance Herewith,
the rule of my duty and the limits Of Execu
tive power and endeavor to restore economy
in public expenditures, re- sabish the su
premacy of law, and by operation of more
vigorous nationality, resume our command
ing position among the nations Of the earth.
The condition of our finances, the deprecia>
tion of our paper money, and the burdens
thereby imposed on labor and capital, show
the necessity of return TO a sound financial
system; while the rights of citizens, and the
rights of States, and the binding authority of
law, over the President, army, and people,
are subjects of not less vital Importance in
neace than in war"