Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-10-12
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM AND CAM
OIDATE


Certainly, the men who made the Chicago
platform ought TO be authoritative exponents
as TO its meaning. Mr. Fallandigham was
on the Committee Of Resolutions, and in
deed. came within one of being It's chair
man. He is, Therefore, qualified to speak
as to the intention of the trainers of the plat
form, and Its true meaning. In his late
speech at Sydney, Ohio, he stated the fol-
lowing in relation to General McClellan's
construction of the platform
claim, as the member from Ohio of the
Committee on Resolutions In that conven-
ton, to have official personal knowledge that
he General Mcclellan Is mistaken. The
two principal points IN that letter Of accep-
tance to which | object were brought before
the committee. IheoHe containing the threat
of future scGF tcGs undniBl0uSty rejected. The
other, 10 the effect that, until the States and
people of the South had returned 10 the
Union, we would not exhaust these ''arts OF
statesmanship, as they are called, Tfcetred
but three U0tes n that c0Hn5ttee, though
presented almost in the very words Of the
letter itself.
From this it IS clear that the committee
did not mean to threaten the South with a
further prosecution OF the war in case they
turned deaf ear to the appeal for an armis-
tice They mad no thought Of continuing
1 the war under any contingencies, and hence
unanimously rejected the proposition to
warn the South against the protraction Of
/ the war. Again, Gen. Mcclellan declares
J that, so sgon as Il IS clear, or even proba-
( bic that our preseGt adrersaries are ready
tor peace upon the basis Of the Union. we
should exhaust all the resources Of states
manskip pTacticed by civilized nations, ana
taught by the traditions of the American
people, consistent with the honor and inter
ests Of the country, TO secure such peace
and reestabiish the Union, and guarantee
for the future the constitutional rights Of eve
~ State But, until our present adver-
saries are ready, what is to be done? Now,
if Er Fallandigham means anything by
the foregoing extract he means TO deny this
statement Of his candidate which was vo-
ted down, also, with three votes only in It's
favor; so that the committee were for drop
ping the war, even before it was probable
that our present adrcrsaries' what deli
cate phraseology !-'-are ready for peace on
the basis of the Union.
We ask candid Democrats what becomes
Of the consistency and fair dealing Of their
nominee, who, in the face Of these facts,
presnmes to declare that, believing the
vention and the people you represent, I ac-
capt the nomination. " No public man has
ever made more painful and pitiable exhi-
bition of himself when consenting to be put
forth as the candidate ola great party. The
Chicago Convention was peace convention
It's controlling spirits were for peace. It's
vast attending crowd shouted itself hoar.e in
| applause of Long and Yallandigham The
war was denounced on all sides in a spirit of
the bitterest hostility, and the men who are
waging it we're spoken OF with the tenderest
forbearance. The platform was the natural
product Of such influences Yet General
Mcclellan yields it his endorsement, while
explaining it away into different meaning,
and then coolly claims to be representing the
! opinions of its framers Time was when the
Democratic candidates gave no such uncer-
tain utterances of opinion; but then the par
ty pipcd not sanctimoniously for peace, but
stood Loyalty by the flag, and upheld it a
gainst all assailants whether of native or of
foreign birth.