Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-04
The PolIticaI situatlon.

party seemed thoroughly parslyzed, and
had that Convention declared for the one
.erm principle-for diplomsey and finance
founded upca our true nationality-for
war while ta9 Union is endangered, with
ahemp for the leaders and grape for the
masses" of the rebellion, and in calm and
manner arrayed itself against
Mr.. Lincoln, with General Dix or General
Sherman for its candidste-it might have
struck the keynote of popular sympathy,
and possibly swept every vote in the elee-
toral college. But, Iured by our despond-
ency, and confident of triumph, it followed
the evil counsels of Vsllsndigham, Pow
ell and Pendleton,-it declared the war a |
failure, demanded its Immediate cessa-
tion," and spoke for peace at any price.
In nominating a soldier, it but followed the
''policy" example of the Wings Of ls48.
Henry Clay was their leader and idol, but
General Taylor had greater popular charms
for the hour. So, to-day, Hqatio Sey-
mour is the leader aud idol of the Democ-
racy, but "Little Mac" has better qualities
for catching votes. Seymour, timid and
hesitating, feared he might not be elected,
and had rather be the premier and power
behind the throne of anothsr's admins
tration than defeated candidate for the
Presidency itself. And Vallandigham
supports the Chicago nominee because, as
he asserts, the Convention endorsed him,
and he don't care fig for 'oar President
on a peace platform, hedged up with a
peace Cabinet. And who better could we
hope for to compose McClellan's Cabinet
than HorstiO Seymour, Pierce Pugh,
Woodward and Guthrie? and might we
not reasonably eEpset Vallandigham, Tom
Seymour and VOORHEES, to fill up this nest
of unclean, congenisl spirits
McClellan's letter of scceptsnce-repu-
dated by the peace men because not squared
by the platform, which was adopted with
such great unanimity and entlusiasns--ex-
hibits the best side of the Democracy. Let
US see what its ultimatum is. It says =" the
Union is the one condition Of peace-we
ask no more" If by peace he does not
mean restoration his words are rhetorical
generalities, and he means nothing at all
| And if he does mean restoration he mak2s
the laying down of arms and return to ale
glance its only conditions. This looks well,
| but it does not mean that he will declare the
laws and proclamations on slavery not only
] void for the future, but also for the past
that fugitives shall be returned as formerly,
and that our gallant "eolored troops" are
to be stripped of their emblems Of loyalty
and of liberty and again reduced to bo7adGgs
Does it not mean that he will declare 9
general amnesty to traitors-not only to
the rank and file but to the leaders them
selves. Does it not mean that the pardon.
ed rebels shall be represented by whom
l they Will in the Federal CongPess-by
their ring-leaders in iniquity and treason
BY Davis, SLidsJL, I0onlbs and WigfGL u
they choose Does it not mean that the
rebel States shall have their proportionate
representation in the diplomatic corps anC
the cabinet-tHat Mason mag become ols7
Minister to EfaeLGnd, Be7yGnsia oar Score
tary of State, and Lee our manager of tn
Var port folio ? r If it does not mean al
these things-abhorrent as they are--it doe
not mean anytIint When nothing bu
the laying down of arms and scknowledg
ment Of the national authority is made
conditional to restoration, it means return
to citizenship by every man with not righ
impaired or a privilege restricted. 1t i
unlimited in expression-it includes Davi!
and all his vipeus. It means Congress
again degraded by the architects Of oul
misfortune-the authors of our calamity
1t means assumption oftheC Confederate deb
and consequent bankruptcy. 1t mean
national humiliation, an era of crime, anC
a darnning record ofinfamy.
An arnaistics between belligerents mus
be entered into by the highest authority
on each side and "ananesty is oblivion 0
the past" Who does not know that JET
ferson Davis is sovereign of the Oonfeder
acy-that the brains of the rebellion are il
{ heads most amenab.e 10 the halter, RnC
that peace cannot come by diplomacy aac
compromise but through the very mel
most endangered1 As Davis, Lee anC
their co-conspirators are crystallzed int
embodiments Of notification, to surrende
them would be to abandon that theory
, And as the Confederacy is penetrated ant
imbued with that heresy, so will it cling t
its leaders and share their fortunes No
until these leaders, are dethroned, the inquisi
: ton crushed and the shackles remove
from the peoples limbs and lips by Fedora
arms, will the masses learn to see and &C
! for themselves and return to their old an,
true allegiance General Mcclellan vel
: knows, what the record teaches and sags
g city foretells, thst.any proposition from hir
4 for compromiseznot including the rebt
chieftains wouldibe secuted with contemp
and answered by more bitter and bruts
q war. 1t is hard to believe that q soldie
g can really mean what is language dc
: clares-the atrocious proposition to restor
the arch traitors to the full rights and i'm
, munities of citizenship Yet such is
: part of the Democratic programme as eI
o pressed or implied in the platform of it
D | Constitution and its candidate.
The Democracy present to the countr
E this plan--to close the war and restore tn
r Union on the old basis, with not slav
freed, lot traitor hung or banished, no
8 punishment inflicted on the rebellion, o
> its vile instigatorI. Laying down Of arm
: is alone asked, with reptile traitors stil
the movers Of the Southern mind, an
treason the ruling sentiment of the South
e ern heart. And the nation is invoked t
/ confirm this unnatural and monstrou
: union Of loyalty and treason, of the brav
q defenders of the Constitution and its par
: ricidal enemies-l0ithout indemnify for th
4 past or security for the future.
5 This proposition strung the loyal nerv
a and swoke the sleeping nation. Thank
Y to the cowardice and treason Of that Con
+ vention, that the Union patty aroused, OF
4 ganized sndspEsng to the contest for tn
life of the Republic Their brave van
q guard at the Front opened the ball G
+ Union victory; and they have caught u
e its triumphant echoes. Their apathy
= entirely dispellsd-thanks to the pusillan
a unity of that Convention and the soul
: thriiIinn alnnuanca of Sharrnan and Shari