The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-09-23
LETTER FROM JOHN VAN BUREN,.
He Declares for Mcclellan and Pen
dletcn.


Tbs following letter was read at dem
ocratic mass meeting at Albany on Thurs
day:
GESTLEMEN-lt will not be in my power
to attend the meeting at Albany on We'd
nesday, but | hope before the campaign
closes to have the privilege of addressing
my old friends at the capital. Wi,hou,
undertaking to dictate to others, | had
marked out course which it seemed to
me the part of patriotism to pursue. While
war was raging and no presidential cans
vass was pending, endeav ored to give to
the head Of the government cordial and
unreserved support. should have pre-
terred to continue so doing till the 9th of
March, when the official term of our chief
magistrate closes. But the president
precludes this course by stepping into the
arena before any candidate is nominated
against him, and demanded through his
office holders aud friends re election
lie does this against the pro.es: of res
pectable body of his former supporters,
! WIZ present lol tuo OlICeo VI pEtSlu6ut
and Vice president, the former republican
candidate for president and the present
| republican Attorney General Of this state
| The representatives of the democratic
party, with wise forbearance, had deferred
| the nomination Of candidates until the
4th Of July, some two months later than
the usual time, and afterwards in coniunc-
ton with conservative men Of other par
ties, had again postponed the commence
ment of the canvass until the end of Au-
gust thus leaving barrel ly time for the del
egates from distant states, like California
and Oregon, to attend the convention and
return home to participate in the election.
| Under such circumstances the name of
General Mcclellan, tried and able SOL
| dier, a cultivated and accomplished gen
tleman and a thorough patriot has been
| presented IL oppositlon to his own wishes
for the chief magstracy. A contest thus
challenged by the president, and deferred
till The latest moment by his opponents, is
now before US, and it is lnporssnt at The
outset to bear in mind how it originated.
Although short in duration, it is likely to
be severe beyond all previous example
The enormous patronage Of the govern
meut will be used without reserve to per-
pe.uate power in the hands that now old
1t. A trained band of Office holders con
stituie an effective political organization
Executive constraiat Of the press, the mai
and the telegraph, puts the means of com
muncation 10 q vast extent in the power
of the president. Agains, this formidable
combination an undisciplined mass of men
is to contend. But have no appreheu,
sions as TO the result. Much associations
with the American people and hourly Oh.
servation oftheir intelligence, courage and
sagacity, inspire me with entire faith as tc
their action now.
They will, as heretofore, pour forth
their blood and treasures without stint, tc
put down the rebellion. They will holc
up the hands and strengthen the hearts o
those gallant soldiers, Grant, Sherman
| Meade, Hancock, Smith, Blair. Granger
Thomas, Rosecrans, Sheridan, Fitzpatrick
Stoneman, Averill, Butler and their asso.
clates and those enterprising sailors, Far
ragut, Porter, Dahl gren, Wipslow, Du
pont, Wordon, Drayton, and others
They viii TINS, | trust, overthrow the or
ganized and armed resistance Of the rehe
states despite OF ali the obstacles 20 sue
cess that have been, or may be interposet
at Washington. But the discharge O
those sacred duties will nos interfere viii
the careful ard intelligent: selection Of
new chief mag gistrate who is not only com
petent to make war, but able to max,
peace.
There are two men who obviously ca,
never make peace that will receive th
sanction of the American people The,
are Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
He former has declared the abolition o
slavery an Indispensable preliminary to
proposition for peace. The latter avow
that the confederate states accept no al
tentative bun independence OF annihiIa
ton. With the former we have to deal a
this election. The latter must be left t,
the fortunes Of war, or the fate that til,
rebel states have in store for him. Bu
unless we are prepared for an eternal war
and the slaug ghter, debt, taxation, and th'
suspension Of constitutional liberty tha
attends it, Abraham Lincoln must b,
made to retire on the 4th Ct March next
and president must be chosen in hi;
stead who will consent to peace on the
basis Of the Union and the constitution
Such man is General Mcclellan, and
cannot allow myself to doubt that the 10y
al people of the United States will cal
him to the discharge Of this, as well as al
the other grave duties that belong to the
chief agis,racy. The overthrow Of Davi.
and his associates at Richmond, will soor
follow, and peace once more smile on ou,
distracted couEtry.
Truly yours,
j. VAN BUREN.
fF~ 1t is supposed that suf1ic:en. re-