Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-09-14
GEN. IcCLELLANs LETTER OF ACCEPT
ANcE.
ANcE.
ORANGE, N. J., Sept. s. 1864.

knowledge the reception of your letter in
forming me Of my nomination, by the
democratic convention, recently assembled
at Chicago, as their candidate for the
coming election for President of the Uni.
ted States. 1t is unnecessary for Inc to
say to you that this 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 indelible in nv
mind and heart love and reverence for the
Union, Constitution, laws and flag of our
country. Impressed upon me in early
youth, these feelings have thus guided
the course of my life, and must continue
to do SO until its end. a.I
The existence of more than Que gov
eminent over the region where once waved
our flag, is incompatible with the peace,
the prosperity and the happiness of the
people. The preservation of our Union
was the avowed object for which this war
was commenced. 1t should have been
continued for that object only, and in ac-
coldance with the principles which took
occasion to declare when in active service.
Thus conducted. the workof reconciliation
would have been easy, and we might have
reaped the benefits of our many victories
on land and sea. The Union was origin
ally formed by the exercise of spirit of
CANCELLATION and compromise. 10 restore
it and preserve it, the same spirits must
prevail in our councils and the hearts of
the people. The re-establishment of the
Union in all Its integrity is, and must
continue, the indispensable condition in
any settlement. AS soon as it is clear,
or even probable. that our present adver-
saries are ready for peace upon the basis
of the Union, we should exhaust all the
resources of statemanship practiced by
civilized nations, and taught by the ira
ditions Of the American people, consist
ent with the honor and interests of the
country, to secure such peace, re-estab-
fish the Union, and guarantee for the fu-
ture the constitutional right of every
State. The Union is the one condition of
peace; we ask no more. Let me add,
what doubt not was although uncx-
pressed, the sentiment of the convention,
as it is of the people they represent, that
when any one State is willing to return to
the Union, it should be at once received
with full guarantee of all its constitu-
tional rights. =.
If frank, earnest and persistent effort
to obtain these points should fail, the re-
sponsibility for Interior consequences will
fall upon those who remain in arms
against the Union But the Union must
be preserved at all hazards. ! could not
look in the face of my gallant comrades
of the Army and Navy, who have sur
vived SO. many bloody battles, and tell
them that their labors and the sacrifice of
so many of our slain and wounded breth-
rem had been in vain; that we had aban-
doned the Union, for which we have Sc,
often perilbd our lives. A vast majority
Of our people, whether in the army or na-
Wy. or at home, would, as | would, hail
with unbounded joy the permanent rcstor-
alton Of peace on the basis of the Union
under the constitution without the effusion
of another drop of blood But no peace
can be permanent without union. As to
the other subjects presented in the reso-
lutions of the convention, need only
say that | should seek in the constitution
of the United States and the laws passed
in accordance Herewith, the rule Of my
duty, and the limitations of executive
power, endeavor to restore economy in
public expenditures, re.establish the SUI
promacy of law, and by the operations Of
more vigorous nationality resume our
commanding position among the nations
of the earth. The condition Of our I'm
ances, the depreciation Of the paper mon
ey, and the burdens thereby imposed ON
labor and its capital, show the necessity
nf n .Lreiurn To sound financial system.