Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-21
mcClellan,s Platform.

ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, Dept o.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter informing me of my nomina-
f0n by the Democratic National Convention, recent
ly assembled At Chicago as their canaips.e az 'ne
III is unnecessary for me TO say TO you that the
nomination comes to me unsought,
81 am happy to know that when the nomination was
made the record Of my public life was kept in view
The effect of long and varied SCI vice In the army,
and peace has ea SsaS 70 be oye and
reverence for the Constitution, laws and nag OF our
country impressed upon me in early youth. r.
Thesefeelings have thus lar guided the coursed
,mylife aud must continue to do so to its end.
The existence Of more than one government over
the region which once owned our flag Is ncompatles
BILE with the peace, the power, and the happlnessoi
The preservation of our Union was the sole ayowed
object for which the war was commenced. IL should
have been conducted for that object only, and in
accordance with those principles which took occa-
linus conducted, the work Of reconciliation would
have been easy aud we might have reaped the bene-
cHI %Sny as orirnay formed BY the exercise
of a spirit of conciaton and compromise 10 re-
store and preserve it. the same sPrlt muss in
fiThe re-establshment ofthe Union IN al IT'S lnteg-
rtyis, and must continue to bs, the indsPens9aoie
condition in any settlement. SO soon as II Is clear
ar even probabie that our present adversaries are
roady for peace, upon the basis OF tie Union, We
should exhaust all the resources oi ssh 20 tbpp
traditions Of the American people, consistent with
the honor and interests of the country, 70 secure
such peace, I6-6SthUllSn tho
for the future the constitutional rights OF every
Stale. The Union is the one condition Of peace
Lei me add what doubt not was. although unex..
pressed the sentiment Of the Convention, rs Is OF
he people they represent fnat wnsh any Sas
cd at once, with full guarantee Of all its consttu-
II frank, earnest and persistent effort TO obtain
those objects should fail the responsibility for ulte-
Iior consequences will fall upon those who remain IN
arms asainst the Union. But the Union must be
r,rrazcrvad n ALL hazards.
/ could not look in the face my gallant comrades
Of the army and navy Who nave sa5pveH pnr So many
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 peried our
A vast majority Of our people. whether in the army
AMI navy Or at home, would. as wouia nsn ~ ua Win
on the basis of the Union under the Constitution,
without the efusion Of another drop Of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without Union.
As TO the other subjects presented in the resolu-
tions Of the convention need only say that should
The laws framed in accordance thercwith the rule Of
my duty, and the limitations OF executive power;
re.estab,isI the supremacy Of law and by the asser
ton OF more vigorous nationality, resume our
commanding position among the nations Of the
rbs condition Of our finances. the depreciation Of
the psper money and the burdens thereby imposed
And sga sn0w HS n Se tights Of ss o
1ens and the rights Of states, and the binding au-
fhority Of lawover President, army. ana people, ~
subjects Of not less vital Importance in war tnan In
HsI;evinr that the views here expressed are those
of the convention and the people you REPRESENT
accept the nomination.
horne should the people ratify your choice.
Conscious Of my own weakness can OILY MY seSk isn;
xerse and relying on His all powerful aid, do my
best 10 restore Union and peace to suffering peo,
pie, aud establish and guard their Liberties ana
''sAss'i am. gentlemen. very resPoctfulIy,
s4 ~' Your obedient servant,
= - - ,tA GEoRGE B. MCCLELLAN.
Hon. Horatio Seymour. and others, committee.