North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-06-15

summoned 10 the neld again, may near MS
clarion voice rallying them to victory and
the salvation of the republic.
We are, general,
very respectfully,
your friends and servants,
WORTH INGToN G, SMGTHERS,
of Maryland, chairman,
Edward Gilbert, of New York,
Caspar Butz of Illinois,
Charles E. Moss, of Missouri,
n. ?, Sawyer, of Pennsylvania
To Major-Genpral John G. Fremof. Ny
GENERAL FREHoNT's ACCEPTANCE.
GENTLEMEN: In answer to the letter.
which beve had the honor to receive from
you, on the part of the representatives of the
people asssmbIed at Cleveland, the 3Ist Of
May, | desire to express my thanks for the
| confidence which led them to offer me the
honorable and difficult position Of their can-
didate ID the approaching presidential elec
ton.
Very honorable, because in Offering it to
me, you act in the maine of great number
of citizens, who seek above all things the
good Of their country, and who have no sort
Of selfish interest in view. Very difficult,
because in accepting the cAnd dacy YOU pro-
pose to me- ! am exposed TO The reproach Of
| cresting schism in the party with which
have been identified.
Had lL'. Lincoln remained faihiuL to The
principles he lras elected to detend, no sch>m
could have been created and no contest
would have been possible, THIS is not an
ordinary election ii is a contest for the
right even to have candidates, and not mere
", as usual, for the choice among them.-
Now for the first time since I776 the ques-
lion oi constitutional liberty has been bro't
directly before The people for their serious
cons Iteration and vote. The ordinary rights
secured Hnder the Constitution and the laws
of the country hare been rjoiated and er
traoydiaary poeers hare been uSurped by
The Erecutire. 1t is directly before the peo
pie n0?- TO say whether or not the principles
estabs she'd by the revolution are wQrth main
tanning.
II, as we have been tau ght to believe, these
guarantees for liberty which made the dis
tinct;ye name and glory of our country are
IN truth inviolably sacred, then there must
! BE protest against the arbitrary violation
which had not even the excuse Of necessity
! The schism is made by those who force the
| choice between shameful silence or pro-
test against wrong In such considerations
| originated the Cleveland Convention. Il
was among its objects to arouse the attention
| Of the people to such facts, and to bring
| them to realize that while Sc are saturating
southern sUif with the best blooi Of the
country in the name OF liberty, we haze re-
! ally parted with L al home
To-day lre hare in the country the abuses
| Of military dictdtlon tcUhOut its uniiy Of
action and rigor Of e.recUtion. An admins
tration marked at home ty disregard of CON
stitutional rights, by its violation of person
al liberty and the liberty of the press, and,
as crowning shame, by its Abandonment of
the right of asylum, right especially dear
characterized by feebleness and want Of
priuciple which has misled European powers
and driven them to belief that only COM
mereial interests and personal aims are con-
cerned, and that no great principles are in
volved in the issue. The admirable conduct
| Of the people, Their readiness to make every
sacrifice demanded of them, their foroear
ance and silence under the suspension ofev
erything that could be suspended, their ma
nv acts of heroism and sacrifices, were all
rendered fruitless by the incapacity, or, to
| speak more exactly, by the personal ends tor
| which the ardr ards managed. This inca
such results as led the European powel s.
and logically enough, to the conviction that
the North, with its great, superior popula
lion, its immense resources, and its credit,
will never be able to cnerce the south
Sympathes which should have been with Us
from the outset of this war were turned
against US, and in this way the adminsIra-
ton has done the country a double wrong
difference, among those who would have
been its friends if the real intentions of the
people could have been bette known, while
at the same time it neglected no occasion for
making the m ,st Illuminating concessions.
Against this dsaatrous condition of affairs
the Cleveland Convention was protest.
The principles which form the basis of its
platform have my unqualified and cordial
appreciation, but cannot SO heartily concur
in all the measures which you propose.
do not believe thot co .fscdtion, extended TO
10 the property of all rebels, is practicable ;
and it were so, do not think it measure
of sound policy, It's, in fact, aquestlon
belonging to the people themselves to decide,
| and is proper occasion for the exercise OF
their original aud sovereign authority. AS
in 4ha hap,npiup oF a ravnIf