The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-09
The Democratic Convention.

New Jersey; for vice president, George H.
Pendleton of (C;ncinnati) Ohio; and brief
but weak and wicked platform, intended to suit
alike war-for-the- and peace-at-any-
price people. There vas a bitter and violent
demo nstration against Mcclellan by the ex-
treme copperheads in and around the con-
vention but his nomin alton was a similar
necessity to that of Mr.. Lincoln by the re-
publicans-there was nobody else to nomln-
ate with any prospect of success-there was
a sort Of negatire pregnant that carried
them both through with great unanimity.
Chicago, Gen. Mcclellan had all but little
knot of impracticables whose favor would
have worked him more harm than good. As
it is, the circumstances of his nomination
and the platform, compromise his claims to
patriotism and zeal in the war against the
rebellion, and are heavier accusation against
his reputation than his hesitation before Rich
mond and after Antietam.
The political situation has been revolution
lied in three months. That time ago, Gen
Mcclellan was the weakest candidate almost
the democrats could nominate, and any effort
on their part TO contest the election seemed
forlorn enough. To-day, he is their strong
est man,-chietiy because, while he repres-
ents opposition to Mr.. Lincoln, who bore
with him as commander-in-chief only too
long, he still holds some of the once consid-
cradle personal popularity he had with the
people and the army--and with him they en-
ter upon the campaign with large hope. and
certainly fair prospect of success. How the
struggle now opening, and TO be sharp and
bitter and exciting beyond all precedent, is
to progress and e2d depends greatly upon
the experience of our armies in the field dur
ing these next two months, something upon
the unanimity and zeal with which the re-
publicans, Of lac discordant and factious,
rally round Mr. Lincoln and something up
on the continued success of the puzzle which
the democrats, by their candidates and their
platform, are practiclng upon the country.
With substantial victories over the rebels at
Mobile, Atlanta ard Richmond, the temper
of the people would change,-ther moral
sense would be reinvigorated, and they would
see and reject the danger, the disgrace and
the futility of any peace that did not stand
on the basis of the submission of the rebel
lion and the restoration of the Union. and
promise at least TO lead TO the extinction of
slavery. Without such victories, the danger
is that the majority will vote to rush blindly
on a change in administrative policy involv-
ing experiments for peace that will threaten
both the Union and the prolons alton of the
war, and surely involve US in national dishon-
or before the world.
Of Gen. Mcclellan and his fitness to lead
in such doubtful experiments as the democ-
racy propose, his military leadership has al
ready afforded abundant occasion to speak
With respectable talents, pure character
and patriotic purposes, he is wanting in that
high neral sense that perceives the truest
truth, and that high moral courage that does
and dares in its behalf He waits. he hesi-
tates in the presence of great opportunities
he compromises with time and with truth
and he is no fit man to deal with the sharp
occasions and the sublime exigencies of this
hour He wants and would try TO save the
country but he would hinder rather than
help the people. who lriN save it, in the lors
run. DESPITE their own occasional fcklenes.
and fa.nt-heartedness, because he fails to see
and Use quickly the moral and material agen
cies by which it is to be saved, and because
he is no match for the men who are bent OF
its ruin.
Mr.. Pendleton. the candidate for vice presi
dent, has no national reputation, and vii
bring no personal strength to the contest
He is member of Congress from Cincinnati
and only less conspicuous member of tn
copperhead faction than Nallandsham ant
Long. He was put on the ticket to concili
ate them in their chagrin that they did no
control everything at the convention, whic
ought to drive away more votes than he vi
= draw to the war e. candidate ior presi
dent.
i The platform. We repeat, is weak in word
S and wicked in Intention. 1t lacks vigo
q sharpness and tligh principle. The breakin
purpose shines through every sentence. Il
words for the Union are hesitatiug, guarde
5 shutting; while its clamor for experiment
/ that would endanger it, its want of conden
y nation for those who have struck at it an
! still hold aloft the bloody flag of dis-uniC
i and destruction ard its petty arraignmer
of those vino are welding the power of Il
J. government to sustain and secure it, for Il
! incidental exisencies or possible errors of Il
1t struggle, all show that the real sympathy
le its authors is with the enemies rather tn;
81 the defenders of the Union,-and that tn
J. are ready, with opportunity, to pardon al
s embrace Jefferson Davis ard Gen. Lee, al
'e Danish Abraham Lincoln, Gen. Grant al
ID Sherman. We are very sure that Meth
IN the ticket nor the people who will vote for
'e all of them-are so mean as this plattol
'e seems to us.-jSpringfeld Republican.
!;
h. JEFF. DAVIS TERMs.-The n. \. Event
q Dos,