Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-09-19
mcCleIlan,s Platform.
ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, Sept. 8.

.. ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, Oept o.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge. tho
receipt OF your letter informing me Of my nomina-
tion by the Democratic National Convention, recent
ly assembled at Chicago. as their candidate atthe
next election for President of the United States.
1t is unnecessary for,me to say to you that the
nomination comes to me unsought;
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 service in the army,
during war and peace, has been to strengthen and
make indeibe in my mind and heart the s. love We and
country impressed upon me in early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the course Of
my life, 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 preservation of our Union was the sole ayowed
object for which the war was commenced. ltshould
have been conducted for that object G only, andin %
accordance with those principles which TOOK occa-
sion to declare when in active service. m . .
Thus conducted, the work Of reconciliation would
have been easy, and we might have reaped the bene-
fit of our many victories on land and sea. 90 p
The Union was originally formed by the exercise
of a spirit of concation and compromise. 10 re-
our councils and in the hearts of the people.
The establishment ofthe Union in all its integ-
rity is, and must continue to be, the indispensable
even probable, that our present adversarles are
ready for peace, upon the basis Of tie Union, We
should exhaust all the resources of statesmanship
practiced by civilized nations, and taught by the
traditions of the American people, consistent with
the, hOnr and interests Of the country, to secure
for the future the constitutional rights OF every
State. The Union is the one condition OF peace
we ask more. rf - So
Let me add what doubt not was although unex-
pressed the sentiment Of the Convention, as it is of
the people they represent, that when anyone State
is willing to return to the Union, 1T should be receiv-
ed 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-
rior consequences will fall upon those whoremain in
arms against the Union, But the Union must DO
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 ab0rs 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.
A vast majority of our people, whether in the army
and navy or at home, would. as j would, hail with
unbounded joy the permanent restoration Of peace.
without the effusion of another drop of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without Union. iF8
As to the other subjects presented in the resolu-
seek in the Constitution of the United States and
the laws framed in accordance Herewith, the ruo Of
my duty, and the limitations Of executive power;
endeavOr to restore economy in public expenditure.
re-esablish the supremacy OF law and, by the asscr-
ton of a more vigorous nationality resume our
commanding position among the nations Of tho
earth.
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 citr
gens and the rights of states, and the binding au-
thority OF lawover PRESIDENT army, ana people, are
subjects of not less vital Importance in war than IN
believing that the views here expressed are those
Of the convention and tho people you represent,
- / realize the weight of the responsibility 10 be
borne should the people ratify your choices
feryenty the guidance Of tho Ruler of the. Uni-
verse, and, relying on His all powerful aid, do my