Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-09-15
mcClelIan,s Platform.
ORANGE. New JERSEY, Sept.

ORANGE NEW JERSEY, oept. D.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge. the
receipt Of your letter informing me of my nomina-
tOn by the Democratic National Convention recent
ly assembled 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 meunsought;
am happy to know that when the nomination was
The effect Of long and varied service in the army,
during war and peace, has been to strengthen and
make indellible in my mind and heart the love and
for the Constitutions laws and nag OF our
country impressed upon me in early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the course 6
mylife, and must continue to do so to its end.
The existence of more thaH one government over
the region which once owned our flag is incompati-
Bile with the peace the power, and the happiness Of
The preservation of our Union was the sole ayowed
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 to declare when in active service.
Thus conducted, the work Of reconciliation would
have been easy, and we might have reaped the bene-
ft Of our many victories. on land and sea;
The Union was originally formed by the exercise
of a spirit of conciliaton 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,
or even probable, that present adversaries arc
ready for peace, upon the basis OF tie Union, we
should exhaust all the resources Of statesmsnship
practiced by civilized nations, and taught by the
traditions OF the American people, consistent with
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
Let me add what doubt not was, although unex--
pressed the sentiment of the Convention as tits Of
the people they represent, that when any one State
is willing to return to the Union it should be recev
ed at once, with full guarantee Of all its constitu-
II frank earnest and persistent effort TO obtain
those objects should fail the responsibility for ulte-
I0r S T a upon & shose ms ba
preserved at all hazards.
/ could not look in the face my gallant comrades
of the army and navy who have survived so many
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
A vast majority of our people, whether in the army
and navy or at home, would. as would, hail with
unbounded JOY the permanent restoration OF peace,
on the basis Of the Union under the Constitution,
without the effuson of another drop Of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without Union.
tons Of the convention, need only say that should
seek in the Constitution Of the United States, and
the laws framed in accordance herewith the rule Of
my duty, aud the limitations of executive power;
endeavor to restore economy in public expenditure,
reestablsh the supremacy OF law and, by the asser-
tion of more vigorous nationality resume our
commanding position among the nations Of the
earth.
The condition of our finances, the depreciation Of
the paper money, and the burdens thereby imposed
on labor and capital, show the necessity of return
to sound financial system; whilst the rights Of cit-
zens and the rights of states, and the binding au-
thorty of law over President army, and people, are
subjects of not less vital Importance in war than in
peace.
Believing that the views here expressed are those
of the convention and tho people you represent,
accept the nomination.
| realize the weight of the responsibility TO be
borne should the people ratify your choice.
Conscious of my own weakness, can only seek
fervently the guidance Of the Ruler Of the Uni
verse, and, relying His all powerful aid, do my
best to restore Union and peace to suffering peo-
ple and establish and guard their liberties and
rights. 4r r
am, gentlemen, very respectfully, =
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE b. McCLBLLAN.
Hon. Horatio Seymour, and Others, committee.