The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-09-09
The Presidency.
General McCieilap's Letter Of Acssp,

Inc presidency.
Orange, Nsr Jerssy. sept. 5, lsSa. a.--or,rlr-
nts IL have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter, informing me e my domination ey
the Democratic National Convention, recently as.
scmbled at Chicas> ~ their candidate at the mex,
election for Presldcn, Of tbe United States.
1t Is unnecessary Tor inc ~ say to you that ,h,s
nomination comes to me unsough,. am happy "
know that when the nomination was msje, the
record Of my public life WAS kept in view.
The effect q long and varicd service in the army,
during war and peace, has bcen to strengthen and
make indctlo In my mind and heart, the love and
reverence for the Union, Constitution. Laws. and
flag OF our country impressed upon in early
youth. These feelings have thus Tar guided the
course of my le and must continue W do 80 10 its
end.
The existence Of more than one government over
the re,ion which once owned our fsg is uconpsN-
Die with the peace, the power. and the happiness Of
tho people. The preservation II our Union was
the sole avowcd object for which the war was com.
mcnccd. II should have been conducted for that
object only, and iii accordance With those princ-
pies which took occasion to declare when ia active
service.
Thus conductci the work Of reconciliation
would have been easy, and we might have reapcd
the benefits OF onr many victories on land aud sea,
The Union was originally formed hy the exercise
OF spirit OF conciliation aud compromise. To re-
store and preserve Il the same spirit must prevail
In our councils and In the leafts of the people.
The re-estsblshment of the Union IN all It's In
tegIty Ia and must continue TO be, the indisren-
sable conditon IN any setilotnent. 80 soon as II Is
clear probable that our present adversarics
are really for peaoc, upon the bass II the Unonwe
should exhaust all The i.sourccs of ststrsmanshp
! practccd 10y civilized nations ami taught
| by the traditions of the Amer1c,n people. cons,s.
teut with the honor and interests 81 the county,
| u secure such peace, re-cstsblsh the tnion an1
guarantee Tor the future the constitutional rights of
every State. The Union Is the one condition Il
| pcace--we nsk no more.
| Let me aid, what doubt not was although un-
cvvrcssc the son'imon, Of the Convention, as II s
| 81 the people thev represent, that when any one
| ftatc Ia Wiling to return to the Union u should
bc received vt nee with afull guarantee Of all ts
| constitutional righp.
II frank, esrucs, and persistent effort to obtain
those Objects should fail, the responsibility inr ue-
nor consequences viii fall upon those who rcslain
In arms agsins, the Union. But the Union must
lie preserved at all hazards.
Icou'd Lot look In tho face of my gallant COM
radcs OF the army and navy, who have survived ~
! many bloody battles, and tell them that their abors
Ind the sacrifice of many Of our slain and
wounded brrthren had been IN vain that VIC had
abandoned that Union ici which We have TO often
perilcd our iivca.
a vast majority Of our people, whether In the
Army and Navy 90 at home, would, rs ! would,
hill with unboundcl jor, the p' rinanent rcstora-
ton ~ peace, ON the bR,.s ~ the Union under the
constu tuition without the eiIlson Of another drop Il
lluod. hut no peace Cat bc permanent without
Union. A. 10 the pthcr subjects presented in tho
resolutions Of the Convention, need only say that
] should teek, Ia the Constitution of the United
sn.ea, and the laws framed Ia accordance there
With, the rule of my duty, and the Limitations
OF executive power ; sndcsvor 10 restore economy
, In public expenditure, It-cslallsh the supremacy
| Of law, and by the oror.t o. n more rRorons
| tonnlity, resume our roumanding position among
| the nations oi thu carte.
| The condition ot our finances, the depreciation
| of the paper monty, and the burdens thereby im-
4 sod On labor and capita, show the necessity of
return to a sound financial system, while the rights
OF ci,1 ps and the iShts Of stses and the binding
sutLorty ui law oyer President, army, and people,
subjects OF not less Wtal Importance in war than
In peace.
Believing that the views here expressed aro those
o. the Convention AMI he people you represent,
accept the nomination. realize the weight Of the
responsibility ~ la Doine should the people rntfy
your choice.
| Conscious OF ~, yvn weakness, eau only seek
fcrvently the rrl ancc ofthe Ruler Of the Universe,
and reyns u. HIS all powerful Md, do my host
I. restorr lion AMI peace toa suffering people,
all to establish md guard their liberties sui
rights.
am, gentlemen,
! Very respectfully, your obadient servant.
Cko. u. MCCLELLAN.
Hon Hora.io seymour, and others COmnstee.