Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-17

! GENTLEMEN In answer to the letter
which have had the honor to receive
from you, on the part OF the ren- e i a
! tives of the people assembled 2. o-eTe
land, on the 3lst of May, 1 desi--,e . ea
press my thanks for the CONF enot
which led them to offer me the hcnora'
BILE and difficult position Of their candi.
date in the coming Presidential election
very honorable, because in offering it tC
me you act in the name OF a great mum.
ber 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 can
didacy you propose to me, am exposed
to the reproach of creating schism in
the party with which have been iden-
titled.
Had Mr.. Lincoln remained faithful to
the principles he was elected to defend,
no schiSm could have been created and
no contest could have been possible
This is not an ordinary election; it is a
contest even for the right to have candi-
dates, and not merely, as usual, for the
choice among them. Now, for the first
time since ,76, the question of constitu-
tional liberty has been brought directly
before the people for their serious con-
sideration andvote. The ordinary rights
secured under the Constitution and laws
of the country have been violated, and
extraordinary powers have been usurped
by the executive. 1t is clearly before
the people now to say whether or not
the principles established by the revolu-
ton are worth maintaining. If, as we
have been taught to believe, these guar
antees of liberty, which made the dis
tinctive value and glory Of our country,
are in truth inviolably sacred, then there
must be protest against the arbitrary
violation, which had not even the ex-
cuse of necessity. The schism is made
by those who force the choice between a
shameful silence and protest against
wrong. In such considerations origina-
ted the Cleveland Convention.
1t was among its objects to arouse the
attention of the people to such facts, and
10 bring them to realize that while we
re saturating southern soil with the
est blood of the country in the name OF
berty, we have really parted with it at
nome. .....
To-day we have in the country the
abuses of military dictation, without its
unity of action and vigOr of execution
an Administration marked at home by
disregard of constitutional rights, by its
violation of personal liberty and the lib.
erty Of the press, and as croWnina
shame, by its abandonment of the right
Of asylum dear to all free nations abroad
Its course has been characterized By 6
teebleness and want of principle which
has misled European powers and driven
them to a belief that only commercial
interests and personal aims are concern
ed, and that no great principles are in
volved in the issue. The admirable con
duct OF the people, their readiness tc
make every sacrifice demanded oftlem
their fOrbearance and silence undor the
suspension Of everything that couid be
suspended, their manly acts of herOism
and sacrifices, were all rendered fruitless
by the incapacity, or, to speak more eX-
actly, by the personal ends for which the
war was managed. This incapacity and
selfishness naturally produced such re-
suits as led the European powers, and
logically enough, to the conviction that
the North and its greatly supericr opu-
lation, its numerous resources its
credit, will never be able to rec, he
South. Sympathies which woul ave
been with us from the outset of e war
were turned against us, and in tn way
the Administration has done the coun-
try double wrong abroad. 1t created
hostility, or at best, indifference among
those who would have been its friends,
if the real intention Of the people could
have been better known, while at the
same time it neglected no occasion for
making the most humiliating conces-
sions.
Against this disastrous condition of
affairs, the Cleveland Convention was a
protest. The principles which form the
basis of its platform have my unquali-
tied and cordial appreciation; but can
not so heartily concur in all the meas
ures which you propose. do not be-
lieye that confiscation, extended to the
property of all rebels, is practicable, and
il it We're l do not think it a measure of
belonging to the people themselves to
decide, and is a proper occasion for the
exercise of their original and sovereign
authority. AS a war measure in the be-
ginning of a revolt which might be
quelled by prompt severity, understand
the policy of confiscation but not rs a
final measure of reconstruction, after
the suppression Of an insurrection.
In the adjustments which are to fol-
low peace, no consideration ofvengeance
can consistently be admitted.
The object Of the war is to make per-
manently secure the peace and happi-
ness Of the whole country andthere was
but single element in the way of it's
attainment. This element of slavery
may be considered practically destroyed
in the country, and there it needs only
your proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution to make its extinction conf
plete.
With this extinction of slavery the
party divisions created by it have disap-
| ;,,f ho h;,%o 81
try there has ever been time when the
or anotherof the political divisions, were
allied upon to give solemnly their voice
in a matter which involved the safety of
the United States, it is the present time.
If the Convention at Baltimore will
nominate any man whose past life justi-
fies a well grounded onfidence in his
fidelitySto our cordial principles, there
is no reason why there should be any
division among the really patriotic men
of the country. TO any such 1 should
be most happy to give cordial and ac-
tive support.
My own decided preference is toad in
this way and not to be myself candi-
date; but if Mr.. Lincoln be re-nomi-
mated, as 1 believe it would be fatal to
the country to endorse policy and re-
new q power winch mas cost us the lives
of thousands of men, and dneedlessly put
the country on the road to bankruptcy,
there will remain no alternative but to
organize every element of conscientious
opposition, with the view to prevent the
misfortune of his reelection.
In this contingency, l accept the NOM
ination at Cleveland, and as a prelimi-
nary step have resigned my commits
sion in the army. This was a sacrifice
it gave me pain to make. But I had for
long time faithfully endeavore6 to OBJ
tain service. I make this sacrifice low
only to regain liberty of speech sad to
leave nothing in the wayof disca2rging
set for me. l
With my earnest and sincere tanks
for your expressions of confidence and
regard, and for the many honorable
terms in which you acquaint me with