Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-20
mcCleIIan,s Platform.
ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, Sept.

= ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, Sept. 8.
GENTLEMEN: +: I have the honor TO acknowledge the
receipt q your letter Informing me Of my nomna-
lyassembled at Chicago, as their candidate at the
next election for President Of the United States.
1t is unnecessary for me to say TO you that the
nomination comes to me unsought.
lam happy to know that when the nomination was
made the record of my public life was kept in yiew
The effect of long and varied service in the army
Aduring war aud peace, has been TO strengthen and
make indellible in my mind and heart the love and
reverence for the Constitution laws and flag Of our
country impressed upon me in early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the course Of
mylife, and must continue to do SO to its end.
The existence Of more than one government over
the region which once owned our flag is incompati-
Bile with the peace the power. and the happiness Of
the people.
object for which the war was commenced. 1t should
have been conducted for that object only, and in
accordance with those principles which took occa-
sion 10 declare when in active service.
Thus conducted, the work Of reconciliation would
have been easy and we might have reaped the bene-
ft Sf opr many victories on land and sea;
of spirit Of consultation and compromise. To re-
store and preserve it. the same spirit must prevail in
our councils, and in the hearts Of the people.
The re-establishment ofthe Union in all its integ
rty is, and must continue to be. the indispensable
condition in any settlement. SO soon as 1t is clear
even probable, that our present adversar1es are
ready for peace upon the basis Of tie Union, we
should exhaust all the resources of statesmanship
practieed by civilized nations. and taught by the
the honor and interests Of the country, to secure
such peace. re-establish the Union. and guarantee
for the future the constitutional rights OF every
State. The Union is the one condition Of peace
we ask no more.
Let me add what doubt not was although unex-
pressed the sentiment Of the Convention, it is Of
the people they represent, that when any State
is willing to return to the Union, il should be receiv
ed atonce with afu guarantee Of all its constitu-
II frank, earnest and persistent effort to obtain
those objects should fail the responsibility for ute-
arms against the Union. But the Union must be
preserved at all hazards.
could not look in the face my gallant comrades
bloody battles, and tell them that their labors and
the sacrifice Of so many Of our slain and wounded
brethren had been in vain; that we had abandoned
that Union for which we have SO often periled our
lives.
vast majority of our people, whether in the army
unbounded 10y the permanent restoration Of peace,
on the basis Of the Union under the Constitution,
without the ehusion Of another drop Of blood. But
NO peace can be permanent without Union.
As 10 the other subjects presented in the resou-
tionsof the conventions need only say that should
Se laws amsd IN secopdaDes a s tberewtb tbe rule of
my duty, and the limitations Of executive power;
endeayort 70 restore economy in public expenditure,
.tion Of q more vigorous nationality, resume our
commanding position among the nations Of the
The condition Of our finances, the depreciation Of
the paper money, and the burdens thereby imposed
on labor aud capital show the necessity of return
10 sound financial system; whilst the rights of cti
lens and the rights Of states, and the binding au-
thority Of law over President, army, aud people,
subjects not less vital Importance in war than in
Believing that the views here expressed are those
Of the convention and tho people you represent,
qeaiizs The weight Of the responsibility TO be
borne should the people ratify your choice.
Conscious Of my own weakness, can only seek
,easen,y 'ns s' Ig. I'll nwspfn ID AZ NV