Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-10-26
Letter from Hon. f. Wheeler, Democratic Hem
of Congress from the 5th District.
He bolts the Cessation Platform.
Abraha am Lincoln must be Ke-EIected
BERLIN, Oct Is, 1864.
,r offbe Berlin Coarant

BERLIN, Oel 10y Acort
Edftor of The Berlin Courant
SIR Since the Chicago Convention, l
have received number of communica-
tons inquiring as to the position L occupy
in the present political campaign. L de-
sire to ans wer, through your paper. some
of these inquiries, which / should have
answered publicly long before this but for
q serieas illness with which have been
afflicted The only practical and 1mpor-
tant question is, whether we shall aban-
don the war and yield to the rebes al
thew demand, or whether we shall prose
cute tbe war until the rebellion is crushed.
The Chicago Convention reSotoed that
Justice, humanity liberty and the public
wei fare, demand that immediate efforts
be made for the immediate cessation of
I hostilfties. with view to an ultimate con-
ycntion of the States, &c" The war dem
ocrats, who support the nominees OF shat
convention, claim that this resolution IS
mere trap to catch the votes of peace Dem
ocrats, and that tie real policy of the party
is indicated by McCfelian's letter of &C.
ceptance But if the peace men had in
fuence enough to procure the adoption OF.
this resolution they will certainly have in
fuence enough to dictate the future policy
/ Of the party, if successful In this election.
Gen. McClellans letter is entirely silent
on this, the, only real important question
at issue. The truth is, that by accepting
the nomination at the hands of the con-
vention without distinctly regulating this
resolution. he adopts it Assuming then,
| that the Chicago Platform truly expresses
| the future policy of the Democratic party,
what would result from the success of that
| party? Immediate efforts would be made
| for the cessationlof hostilities. How wod
these efforts be made? By disbanding
| our armies, giving up all that we have
| won. and Welding to the rebels al they
| claim ? This would undoubtedly cause a
| cessation. of hostihties for the present.
| Or should he make these efforts by agree
| inc upon an armistice Then our army
would be kept in idleness during the
| existence of this armistice, at the same
! expense as now, awaiting the experiment
| of a concenti0a, to restore the Union for
twelve or eighteen months; or it would
! have to be disbanded to be collected and
reorganized, in case the experiment did
| not succeed, with as great an expense and
! loss of time, as 10 raising and organizing
| the army originally Again If our forces
were not completely withdrawn from rebel
! territory and all places conquered from
| them given up, they at least would have
to be left free from a | restraint or control
during the armistice, the Blockade would
have to be raised, and the rebels left to
! gather supplies, munitions and arms, and
| to place themselves IN q condition to fight
| the Government for three or four years
! longer 1t would in fact, be yielding
| every advantage to the rebels, and gaining
nothing ourselves. The result V ould IN
evitablv be the separation OF the Northern
Al foil hot
/ probably, a division among the Northern
! States and finally the destruction of our
| Government Such pc icy, leading to
such results. / cannot do otherwise than
oppose and believe the ouly eaeetual
way to oppose this party is to advocate the
re- election of Abraham Lincoln.
| | know it is charged by the position L
/ have taken | misrepresent the party in
this district by which | was elected But
this is not so The Democratic Conven-,
| ton Of this district, ut Oshkosh In Sep
TENDER, 1862, unanimously adopted a res
1 o'ution in which | find this language -
/ 'sNe pledge our every effort to support
| and sustain the Government against all
and every Of its foes at the expense of all
our blood and treasure" In my letter
| accepting the nomination, and at all times
| during the canvass, and since, whenever
| | have sad anything on the question: /
have favored the prosecution Of this war
with all the means and all the energy in
! our power until the rebels should lay
down their arms. and submit to the laws.
believe a large majority of the people of
| this district still hold to this doctrine
I Now, / cannot change any sentiment /
have felt, nor retract anything / have
uttered on this question, merely because
the delegates to the Chicago Convention
have chosen to misrepresent the great
body Of the Democracy of the nation.
Respectfully yours,
/ Ezp, NTur.7rrp