Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-06-10

Ghrt rStx In ~% 70 me
Awh;G hsje had the hoHdfto recc've rom
YOU on the part OF the representatives Of the
Ionic assembled at Cleveland on the 3lst
~ Nav. desire to express my thanks for
rho confidence which led them to OFF, me
|,hc honorable and difficult position Of their
r.nIdate in the approaching Presidential
. IT, I.
.e,, honorable, because in Offering it to
me YOU act in the name Of great number
III c,.ixeas who seek above all things the
good OF their country. and who have no sor;
Of selfish interest in view. Very difficult,
because IN accepting the candidacy you
propose to INC. am exposed to the reproach
Of creating schism in the party with
which have been identified
Had MI. Lincoln remained true 70 the
principles he was elected TO defend, no
schism could have been created. and no con-
test would have been possible. This Is not
an ordinary election, it is a contest Tor the
right even to have candidates. and not mere
IL. a. usual for the choice among them
.>ow. for the first time since ~, the ques
ion Of constitutional liberty has been
brought s1narcly before the people for their
serious consideration and vote. The ordi
ia.y rights secured under the constitution
and the laws OF the country have been yio-
lated. and extraordinary powers have been
usurpe.; Wy Tie Executive. 1t is directly
before the people nov to say whether or not
the principles established by the Revolution
are worth maintaining.
II, as we have been taught to believe,
| those guarantees 81 Liberty which made
the distinctive value and glory OF our coun-
try ar IN Truth nviolaLiy sacred, then there
J mus. he a protest against the arbitrary ,io
la!ion ahich had not even the excuse Oh
| uc..-a;tv The schlsm y made by those
who force the choice between shameful
sil,nc, OF protest against wrong. In such
considerations originated the Cleveland con
yen;ion. II was among its Objects 70 arouse
| the attention of the people to such facts,
and to bring them to realize that while we
! are saturatiny southern soil with the best
| blood Of the country, in the name OF Liber-
". We have really parted with il ut home.
To-day We have ia the country the abuses
of military dicta.ion without its unity Of
| action and yigor Of execution. An admin
! istration marked at home by disregard Of
constitutional rights, BY its violation OF per-
sonai liberty and the liberty Of the press.
and. as q browning shame. by its abandon
meu; Of the right Of asylum-a right espec-
ially dear to all free nations Abroad, its
course has been characterized by feeble
ness and want Of principle which has mis-
led European powers ara driven them to a
belief that only commercial interest and per-
| sonal aims are concerned and that no great
principles are involved in the issue.
The admiral conduct Of the people, their
readiness to make every sacrifice demanded
Of them. their forhcarancc and silence, I'M
der the suspension Of everything that could
| be suspended, their many acts of heroisn.
and sacrifices, were ali rendered frnitles> by
The incapacity, or, to speak more exactly,
by the personal ends for which the war was
managed This ncapacty and selfish
ness naturally produced such results as led
the European powers. and logically enough,
to the conviction that the North. with II .
greatly superior population, its immense re-
sources, and its credit, will never b.. able TO
recover the South Sympathies which
should have been with us from the outset
Of the war were turned against us, and in
tn : way the administration has done the
country double wrong abroad. 1t created
hcs ill,y, Or, ut best Indifference, among
those who would have been It's friends il
| The real intentions OF the peop.c could have
been bett known; While, at the same
time. it neglected no occasion for making
the most huniliating concessions.
Against thiS disastrous condition of a!
fairs the CIey,llnd Contention was pro
test.
The principles which form the basis OF
its Platform have my unqualified AMI cor.
dial appreciation, but ca mot 50 he .rtily con
aur in all the measures which you propose
| do not believe that confiscation extended
1 TO the property Of all re- els is practicable
and. if it were so, do not think it meas
IRE Of sound policy. 1t is question be
longing to the people themselves to decide
and is Il proper occasion for the exercise o.
their original and sovereign authority. 4,
a war MEASURE, in the beginning of revolt
which might be qncllcd by prompt seycrit, .
understand the policy of coniiscation bu
not Is Il final measure Of reconstructlon;alte
the suppression of an instruction.
In the adjustments which are to follow
peace, no considerations CT vengeance ca,
consistently be admitted.
The object If the war is to make perma
nently secure the peace and happiness o
the whole country, and there was but
single clement in the way Of its attainment
This element OF slavery may be con>idcre,
| practically destroyed in the country, and i
needs cnly your proposed amendment to Ia
Constitution to make It's extinction con.
plete.
With this extinction Of slavery, the part,
divisions created by it have also disappeared
And if, III the history Of the country, tlcr
has ever b en- q time when the American
people. without regard to one or another Q
: the political divisions, We're called upon +
; give solcmnly their voice in a matter which
involved the safety Of the United States. !
is assure,.lv the present time
II the convention at Baltimore will nomi
nate any man whose past life iustiiies wei
grounded confidence in his fidelity to on
cardinal principles, there is no reason VIII,
there should tie any division among TIN
really patriotic men vi the country. To an,
such shall he most happy to give cordia
and active support
Ny own decided preference to aid in th
way, and not to be myself a candidate
But. If Mr. Lincoln should he renomnated
as believe it woul.l be fatal to the coun.r,
t to indorse policy and renew power which
has cost US the lives Of thousands Of men
and nccdessly put the country on the roa.
to bankruptcy, there will remain no alterna
tive but to organize against him every Gle
meht Of conscientious opposition, with tn,
|, view to prevent the misfortune of his re-
election.
In this contingency accept the nomina
J ton at cleveland, and as preliminary ste,
| have r, signed my commission in the army
| This was a sac lice il gave M. main tn max -