The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-12
GENERAL MeCLELLAN's POSITION.


In reviewing, few days before the assembling
{ the Chicago Convention, an elaborate effort by
dr. George Ticknor Curtis, intended to efface or
ignore the antagonism necessarily existing be-
tween the National or Webster and the State
Rights or Calhoun conception of our Federal
Onion, We yentured the prediction that this effort
Aust prove failure. Mr.. Curtis, though strong
nan and an able logician, was clearly unable to
lenvince himself of the soundness of his posi-
ZION; how, then, should he convince others
\ Himself a lifelong Wing and admiring disci-
Ole of Webster, he believes in the right of the
Federal Government to Yindicate its authority
Ind maintain its existence by force whenever
force shall be necessary; his trouble is that their
,ssailants are not AbOlitiOnists (as he has long
Expected they would be) but Shareholders; so
nat his affections are divided and his instincts
Confused; his principles ally him with the de-
fenders of the National integrity, while his SYM
hathies allure him into dangerous proximity to
.he camp of the Rebels.
General McClellau's flank movement on the
Rebel party in the North, In his letter accepting
he Chicago nomination, eXcites Il commotion
Which Is great and striking proof of the correct
ness of our position. For the moment, there is q
how of fight on the part of the semi-Rebels. Mr..
II Fallandigham throws up his appointments in dis
lyust and turns back from his speaking tour to
Dayton. Mr.. John Mullaly declares that his
raitorous Metropolitan Record will no longer
support "Little Mae" And the Hon. Ben. Wood,
q guarded lyet pungent leader of his Daiiy
hetoS intimates that General McClelans letter
{ acceptance is decidedly choker to all who,
Ike himself, are opposed on principle to "the
doctrine OF the armed coercion or States" that is
, all who agree with jeff Davis aud hlmsel in
( garding each State as sovereign, the Union but
league, and the Federal Government as an
ifgent" which any State may dismiss or disaVow
pleasure. On another point discussed else
lere) is impossible not to feel the force of Mr.
roed's logic. He says that accepting nomina-
on, and repudiating the platform on which il
as made, Is like bridegroom after the cere-
ODy accepting the iOitune of his bride, but de-
lining all personal association with her. There
Al be much more like this, all OF 1t urged with
.-eat plausibiity and even cogency.
But, putting the morality of the procedure out
sight, we feel confident that General McClel-
has rendered his canvass less desperate by
s letter OF acceptance. Had he taken his stand
hequiyocally on the Chicago platform, be was
;aten at the start. The fate of T. II. SEYMOUR
Il Woodward, OF Ynlandigham, and of so many
yhers, gave mute but eloquent warning to all
no entered upon that path. No man can give
! instance wherein a Democratic candidate
lndng on what is called the Peace" plat
rm, did not run below his party's strength;
lile there are instances all around
of Democrats who owe their success TO pro-
ssions Of devotion 20 the National cause Here.
e example, are MeSsrs Odell, Winfield Nelson,
riswold, Herman, and Ganson-six, at least, of
70 seventeen Democrats now representing this
ate in Congress who were all elected substan-
hlly on the basis Of General McCiell llns letter,
"a would al have been bea'en on that oi the
giesgo platform And so with twenty or thirty
hers HOTatio Seymour was beaten candidate
3. Governor of our STATE uulil, in his Brooklyn
eecb, he Pledged himself TO the unconditional
aintenance of the Union.
All attempts 10 coax or bully General MCClel-
n into a change OF his attitude before the public
lst fail, for obvious reasons. NOthsng that he
hereafter say will induce the Nallandigham
ton TO put faith In hin; ; and they cannot bolt
20, however much they may desire and threaten
fdo so. They are candidates for Congress,
DYernor &c, &C., in nearly every State, and
lting him will put themselves out of the can
/ ss. A few of them will refuse to vote for Pre-
lent but these will hardly affect even a local
| suit; and any effort 10 get up third candidate
bst prove futile.
Il is too late. Either Lincoln or Mcclellan
| ast be our next President; and il IS hardly
obable that a single electoral vote could hence
nth be obtained for any one else. Now, the
iousands of Democrats who wOnd have been
4 enated by General McClellan's adherence TO
pe Chicago platform would have voted for Lin
BIN, each counting two against the Chicago
2ket; while those who will now bolt will either
hhold or throw away their votes, counting but
le each.
I'VE shall be disappointed if to-day's result in
aine as compared with that Of last Tuesdays
ctiop in Vermont, does not show that General
] tClellan'S letter has improved his prospects.
party will OF course be beaten In Maine but
think not so badly as they were last year;
ereas in Vermont they were beaten decidedly
rse than last year. We judge that he cannot
elected unless the Rebels should win two or
ee stunning victories; but, running on his let
as platform, he will poll a good vote in
rly every State, and probably carry five or six.
rhe British, French, and Rebel publicists who
fe been joyfully reporting "the North sick
the war and ripe for disunion peace, will
! 'ase take note OF this new development. The
smocIatlc party, through its chosen chief,
rms that the war for the Union must not close