Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-05
PendletNn.

The exigencies of the campaign have at
last extorted letter from PENDLETON. He
sturdily resisted all appeals for some express
sion of his views on the great question of
national unity until after the disasters to the
Comprehend ticket in Ohio, Indiana and
Pennsylvania. Now he comes out in letter
avOwing his regard for the Union, and de-
claring his persistent opposition to the es-
adjustment Of another government over any
portion of territory ever within its limits.
But he carefully avoids any expression favor
able to the maintenance of the Union against
traitors in arms. He has no method for pre-
serving it except by concessions to the de-
mands of treason.
From this tardy letter, written under the
pressure of the political canvass after remark
able manifestations of an unexampled popu-
lar uprising in support of the Union, we turn
to the speeches of Mr.. PENDLETON in Congress,
as officially given in the Globe, and there we
read Mr. PENDLEToN's real views, uttered when
not seeking votes, but when he was giving the
whole energies of his nature to an attempt to
secure peaceful breaking up of the Union.
Then he used this language:
"My voice to-day is for Cancellation; my
voice is for compromise, and it is but the
echo of the voice of my constituents. l beg
YOU, gentlemen, who with me represent the
Northwest; you who with me represent the
State of Ohio you who with me represent
the city of Cincinnati-beg you, gentlemen,
to hear that voice. If you will not; if you
find Cancellation impossible; if your differ
ences are so great that you cannot or will not
reconcile them, then, gentlemen, let Tie Seced-
ing States depart ia peace; let them establish
Meir government and empire and a0ork oft their
destiny according 10 the wisdona which God has
giUet hea."
The recent letter of PENDLEToN, so far
from helping the ticket, will sink it deeper
than ever into the abysses of popular con-
tempt. Hitherto, while he has been de-
nounced for his reasonable proclivities, he
has retained a certain measure of respect
which will attach even to openness and
frankness shown in a bad cause. 1t was
even thought that while he was heartily in
sympathy with the rebellion, he had a eer-
tam Integrity Vi CAidEdCteE, budI hlLcu hAili
above the level of the vascillating, weak and
temporizing MCCLELLAN. But his letter cor
reefs this impression. 1t will deceive no
body, it will convince no one that he has
undergone any real change of heart, or that
he feels differently towards the rebellion
now. or that he loves the Union now any bet
ter than he did when in Congress, when he
advocated letting the seeding States depart
in peace, and when he voted against raising
a man or a dollar to defend the Union from
the attacks of traitors in arms. 1t only shows
that Mr.. PENDLEToN is demoralized poll
tician, alarmed by events, and ready to lie
and cog and equivocate, and double upon his
own track, in the desperate hope of securing
votes by duplicity and fraudulent pretences.
sT The Chicago Convention struck out
the words "insist on maintaining the national
unity" from their platform. These words
were in it as originally written.