North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-11-02
GENERAL McCLELLAN.S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE, "
ORANGE, NEw JERsEY. D
September 8, 1864 &

edge The receip: OF your ;etter informing me
OF my n'm'nau~n by the Democratic Na,Ion-
a. Convention, recently assembled al Chicago,
| as their Candidate Al the next election Tor
Presldsst Ut the United States.
ltis unnecesssry for me to say to you tha,
this coInes unsoushi. ....r... ....-....
am ixppy - know that when the nomin-
alton wa made, the record ol my public lie
was kept IN view.
The eftec' OF Ion and varied service in the
army durilg var aid peace, has been to
strengt hen anu make indeIlbe in m, mind
aud heart The love and reverence iCr tue Tn
on, Constitutions, laws, q, flag OF our coun
Try, impressed upon me i'll early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the
Course oi my lle, and must continue to do so
10 Irs end.
The existence Of more than one government
over the region which once owned vur fla. is
Incompatible with the peace, the power, and
| the happiness Of the people.
The preserva ION ot our Union was the sole
, avowed object for which the war was com
| inenced. 1t should have been conducted ior
that ubject only,a IN accordance with thuse
principles WHOM | too> occasion to declare
when in active service. .t
Thus conducted, the work of reconciliation
| would have been easy, and We might have
reaped the benefits OF our mary victories on
land and sea.
| The Union was originally formed by the
exercise of spirit ot concillstion aud COM
promise To restore aud preserve il, th.
same spirit must prevail In our councils, and
in the hearts Of the people.
| The reestau auiishuent % ;he CI;o.. IN al It's
integrity is, and mus. Continue to be, the
| indispensable Condition in any settlement
So soon as IT is clear, or even probable, that
our present adver,aries are ready for peace
| upon the bass of the Union We sh,uld ex
hauSt all the resources of fstatesmanshlp prac-
tised bv civilized nations, and taught by the
TRADITIONS of the Amer can pe pie, consistent
| with the honor and interests of the country,
to secure such peace reestsblsh the Union,
al rights of every State. The Union is ht
one condition Of peace-we ask no more.
Let me add what, doubt not was, altho'
unexuresssd, the sentiment If the Convention
as it is Of The people they represent, ,hs,
when any one State Is willing to return Il.
the Union, il should be received at ouce.
with ull guarantee Of all its con titutonal
rieh;s
IfA frank, earnest, and persistent effort 70
obtain those objects should fail, the RESPONSE.
b'l'ty for ultertor consequences will fall upon
those who remain in arms against the Uninn.
But the Union must be preserved at all haz
ards.
| could not / ok in the face "f my gallant
cemi AIDES of the army and navy, who have
survived so many bloody battles, and tell
them that their iabors and the sacrl tica OF so
many ofUur slain and wounded brethren had
beeh in vain chat we had abandoned thai
Union for which we have SO often periled our
lives.
vast majority of our people. whether in
the army and navy or q; nome, would. as I
would, hail with unb 'unded joy the perma.
nent restoration of peace, on the basis of the
Union under the Constitution. wi,h.ut the
tffusion of another drop of blood Bnt no
peace eau be permanent EIthout Union,
As to the other subjects presented in the
resolutions of tho Convention, I need only
say tina, should seek, in the Constitution of
the United States and the laws famed in
accordance 'herewith, the rule of my dury,
and the Limitations OF executive power; en-
deavor to rest"ie economy m public cxpendi.
ture, rees'abtsh the supremacy Of law, aud,
by the operation of a more vlg,r .us national
lty, resume our commanding positions among
the nations of the earth.
The condition of our Frances, the deprecra
ton Of the paper in''ney, and the burden,
thereby Imposed on labor and capital, show
the necessity Of n return to u sound financial
system while the rights of citizens, and th.
rights of States and the binding authority o;
law over President, army. and people, are
subjects of not less vital Importance IN war,
than in peace.
Believing that the views here EXPIRE ssed are
those OF the Convention and the people you
represent, | accept the nomination.
realze the weight Of the responsibility
to be born, should the paople raufy your
choice.
Conscious OF my wn weakness, can onl y
seek fervently the guidance of the Ruier of
The universe, and, relying on HIS al powerful
aid, do my best to restore union and peace To-
suffering people, and to establish and guard
their liberties and rights. r
am, gentlemen, ....
very respectfully,