The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-21
HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER
FROM HON. Ftp BLAIR.
His Effort to Persuade Gen. Nc
Clellan to Retire from
the Canvass.
AN INTERESTING EXPOSE,

y
the whole of the remarkable document:
Invent to New York, to heal the division in
the Unien party by presenting. my views to
leading men. These men had in their hands
means of giving direction to various and large
sections of that party. went to leading men
and leading organizations of public opinion,
there to ascertain in what way harmony would
best be attained. believed that united oppoei.
ton to the rebellion could be concentrated on
no other candidate for the Presidency than on
the man against whom the enemy had declared
war, because the nation had made him its Chief
Magistrate, and for whom the delegates of
great party electing in the first instance had
again given its preference by denomination.
I went on this account, without consulting the
President-without giving him, directly or In
directly, the slightest intimation Of my object,
Iapprised no one but my sou when reached
New York. first saw the editors of the Epen-
mo Post This press had evidenced dissatisfac-
ton with the Administration. Its conductors
felt that they had good grounds for discomfort.
l explained to Mr.. Bryant the attitude of til
President, as l understood it, in reference to
the matter that aggrieved him. both as regards
vital measures for the safety of the Republic,
and of minor concerns of q personal character
toward Mr.. Bryant the honest patriot which
tho whole of his life has shown him. He con-
sidered Mr.. Lincoln, with all statements, the
only man on whom We could rely for the main
tenance of the cause in which we had embarked,
for the union of its strength and the restOra-
ton of the National Government.
next saw Bennett Of the Herald. / had a
long agreeable and enlightened conversation
with him. I expressed my views with earn
estnees and ftankness, and as he did, enter
tanned them, not forgetting the old score Of
differences and as left his office he give me.
in pretty emphatic Scotch accent, his last
words for the President Tell him to restore
Mcclellan to the army. and he will carry the
election Try default"
came down on Mr.. Greeley Ay interview
with him satisfied me that his best efforts
would not be wanting to secure the peace of
the country through the reelection Of the
President
Through Mr.. Burton, an Intimate personal
and political friend of Gen. Mcclellan, who
was not in the city, let it be known that
would be gratified by an opportunity of con-
versing with him. Esc came to town and
visited me in my lodgings at the Aston House.
had an hours conversation with him, which
I prefaced by telling him the motives which
had brought me to New York, as have stated
them above, and by stating distinctly to him
that did not come from Mr.. Lincoln, and had
no authority or even consent from hun to
make representations or Overtures of any sort
to him; that he (Mr. L.. had not been appraised
of my visit or purpose, which was in part to
advise with him (Gen. McClellan> as one whom
he knew to be his friend, with regard to the
public interest and his own. l told him had
little doubt he would be the nominee of the
Chicago Convention, and that if he accepted
he would be defeated, and defeated, his fate
would be that of all previously defeated cands-
mates who had played for the Presidency-Clay
Calhoun, Webster and the rest. That although
aspiration to the chief place in the republic WIS
an honorable ambition, there was an instinct in
the public mind which always excluded from
general confidence one who sought It with the
least suspicion of selfiShness at the expense OF
great considerations, and if the public once
pronounced its ban by voting him down, as
having sought the place without duly weighing
its great exigency, and especially in such rev.
dictionary crisis as the present, he could never
rise again. / urged that he ought to consider
that at this moment q schism of the Union par
ty of the North in the issue of the Presidency
was looked upon everywhere at home and
abroad as the only way possible through which
the rebellion could accomplish its object, the
dissolution of the Union; that believed that
the General was the only man who had posi-
ton that enabled any party in the North to rally
or command offers that could make breach in
the patriot Union party so as to defeat it in
any essential degree, or be liable to give success
or even the hope, to the enemies of our gov
eminent, foreign or domestic; and on this
ground appealed to him to withhold his name
from the sO-calied peace men who were soon to
assemble at Chicago. | expressed the opinion
that it was his duty to his country, and, there
fore. his own true policy, as it regarded his
fame and aspirations to public fame, to address
q note to Mr.. Lincoln asking q command
in the army, discaimng, at the same time,
that he did not seek it with a view to recon-
mend himself to Presidential nomination;
that thought. and hoped he too thought that
no man, especially in revolutionary times,
ought to lead an army in the field and aim
through the strength Of that position at once
to grasp the civil power OF the government.
That no man had ever marched to the civil
power from the battle field by an army which
he disciplined and had led in person, that did
not find himself able and willing to use that
army to secure that position. l urged, there
fore, that if he wished to exert the high military
attainments which his friends, and among the
rest, believed belong to him, for benefit of the
country in its life and death struggle that he
should abandon the idea of being candidate
for the Presidency. If he entertained it and
returned to service in the field, | said if the
President refused he would then be responsible
for the consequence If he assented the result
would be that he would cOnfOund his enemies
who had Us believed urged on the war COM
mttec, and impressed it on the public mind
that the delays Of the great army he had CON-
manded in achieving decisive results was the
consequence of an ambition to clutch the Pres
idency by lengthening out the war and his
command to the end of the Presidenta
term, that he might make the President
agree and hold the means to forward his pur-
pose. This was source of argument to Gen.
Mcclellan on the topics referred to. 1t was
honestly meant, and designed to promote the
public good and bis own. He seemed so to
consider it, di5daining any desire to be a Presi-
Dental candidate. He thanked me for the in
terest 1 had always taken as his friend in the
relations of which spoke. He said that the
suggestions had made were worthy of deep
consideration, and they would be well weighed;
that he was called to the country by a sick
child, and regretted he could not probably see
me again.
I mentioned to Mr.. Lincoln, on nv return,
the attempts had made for the Cancellation of
parties in New York, with view to defeat the
opposition in the North by restoring harmony
among all favorng of crushing the rebellion
by arms, and told him thought it probable
Gen. Mcclellan might write to him with re-
spect to himself. He neither expressed APP
proval or disapproval Of what had done, but
his manner was as courteous and as kind as
al oltn t,t- hal