Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-06-18
The Cleveland Nominations.
General Ftemonts Letter Of Acceptance.

GENTLEMEN /: In answer TO the letter,
which have had the honor to receive
from you, on the part of the representa-
tves of the people assembled at Cleveland,
the 3lst of May, l desire to express my
thanks for the confidence which led them
to offer me the honoy able and difficult po-
sition Of their candidate in the approach
ing presidential election.
Very honorable, because in offering it
to me, you act in the name of great num-
Der 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 candida
cy you proposeto me, am exposed tothe
reproach Of creating a scbism in the party
with which have been identi6e d.
Had Mr., Lincoln remained faithful to |
the principles he ,Oas elected to defend. no
schism could have been created and no con-
test would have been possible. This is
lot an ordinary election; it is contest for
the right even to have candidates, aud not
merely, as usual, for the choice among
them. Now for the first time since l776,
the question Of constitutional liberty has
been brought directly before the people for
their serious consideration and vote. The
ordinary rights secured under the Constitu-
tion, and the laws of the country have
been ciolated and extraordinary powe's
} haze been us,Dpeab by The erec,diue. 1t is
directly before the people now to say
whether or not the prioiples established by
) the revolution are worth maintaining.
If, as we have been taught to believe,
those guarantees for liberty which made
the distinctive name and glory of our ,un-
try are in truth inviolably sacred, then
= there must be protest against the arbi:
{ trary violation which had not even the ex-
: cuse of necessity. The sohism is made by
l those who force the choice between shame.
full silence or protest against wrong. In
( such considerations originated the Cleve
e land Convention ltwas among its oh.
}, jects to arouse the attention Of the people
y to such facts, and to bring them to realize
n that while we are saturatbg southern sci
IS with the best blood Of the country in tn
n name of liberty, we have really parted will
IT it a. home.
l. To-day ,ce haze in the country the abuse
h Of a military dsctation withons It's u,sity 9
D. action and vigor Of erecution. An admin
IS istration marked at home by disregard O
% constitutional rights, by its violation O
'. personal liberty of the press, and, as
ID crowning shame, by its abapdonment Q
d the right Of asylum, right especially dea
is to all free nations by leebleness ,aud wan
is OF principle which has msled Europea
o. powers, and driven them to belief tha
r. only commercial interests and persons
aims are concerned, and that no grea, prir
IN ciples arc involved 10 the issue. The ad
<. mirable conduct Of the people, their read
t, ness to make every sacrifice demanded {
st them, their lorbearance and silence unde
IN the suspension Of everything that could b
a suspended, their many acts Of heroism an
r. sacrifices, were all rendered fruitless b
" the incapacity, or, to speak more exactly
e, by the personal ends for aohich the Dar wa
D. managed. This incapacity and selfshnes
- naturally produced such results as led tn
st European powers. and logically enough
to the conviction that the North, With
W great, superior population, its immense II
,g sources, and its credit, will never be ab
IS, to cosrce he South. Sympathies whic
b, should have been with US from the ons
ID of this war we're turned against US, and i
cd this way the administration has done Il
el country double wrong abroad. 1t crea
I'd ed hostility, or at best indifference amor
'al those who would have been its friends
ID, the real intentions ofthe people could ha'
lis been better known, while at the same tin
Ill it neglected no occasion for making Il
Dir mos. humiliating concessions.
ve Against this disastrous condition Of @
$50 fairs the Cleveland Convention was q pr
ID. test.
10 The principles which form the basis
. its platform have my unqualified and 90
l'' dial spprobatioD, but canuos SO hear.i
N concur in all the measures which You PR
pose. I do not believe tina. confssasio
extended to tho property of all rebels
'ut practicable (; and if i. were so, do n
10 ia' think it measure of sound policy. 1t
ed in fact, question belonging to the peop
". themselves to decide, and if proper o
casion for the exercise of their origin
and sovereign authority. As war met
Is ure, in the beginning of revolt, viii
TO- nigh. be quslled by prompt severity, I u