Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-25
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

0o u 'ho BeneTai renecuons inspired In our
mind by the near approach of the Chicago Con-
vention, to which men of all parties are looking
with equal intensity of interest, if not with the
same expectations and hopes founded on the result
of its deliberations.
We think it hardly too much to say that
this assemblage will hold the hearts Of the peo-
pie in its hands, and, according as its counsels
shall seem to be prompted by the spirit Of COM
prehensive and catholic patriotism, or by the spirit
of faction and dissension, it may count upon the
judgment which will be pronounced on its labors
Mems thoughts no longer run in the old channels.
Party names have lost all their power 20 charm.
The people are every where looking for leader
who will offer them under his guidance, the pros
pect OF an escape from the terrible evls by which
the country is environed. The people, we say,
want leader, aman " with heart, head, and hand"
equal to the crisis in which he shall be called to
aot--a man who by his native qualities or by his
antecedents shall inspire confidence not only in his
disposition but in his capacity to bring healing to
this distracted land
Many names have been canvassed, in public or
in private, with reference to the honor Of nomi-
nation by that Convention. Among them we need
but enumerate the names of Major General Nc
CLELLAN, Ext President FILLMORE, Governor SEY-
MoUR, of New York, Mr.. Justice NELSON of New
York, Ex-President PIERCE, Hon. ROBERT G.
WINTHROP, of Massachusetts,, Hon. EDGAR Cow
AN, of Pennsylvania, Judge GEORGE w. WooD-
WARD, Of Pennsylva Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE,
of Kentucky, and several others. 1t is not our
intention to canvass the merits of any of these
distinguished gentlemen, much less to institute
any comparisons among them. But the mere ar
ray or combination of these names is instructive
for the light they shed on the completeness, with
which the castiron moulds of party have been
fused by the fires of the ordeal through which the
nation is now passing. For here are men belong
ing to all "parties," parties have been hereto
fore known among US down to the present time,
and yet these members of several different political
organizations supposed, amid many differences
on other points, to share such identity of opin
ion with regard to the emergent issues of the hour
that all former Determinations are now lost in the
simple question, "What does he think of the Re
public|
If the choice of the Convention should fall on
any one of the soldiers who have sgnalized their
devotion to the Constitution and the Union by ser
vice in defence of both on the teld of battle, it
cannot be doubted, we think, that that choice
will rest on Major Gen. Mcclellan man who
more fully than any other among his COM
rades in-arms has evinced from the first clear per-
cepon not only Of the magnitude of the contest in
which We are engaged, but also insight into the
principles on which it should be conducted and
the ends to which it should be directed He has
ever recognised the fact that wise and just civil
policy is the necessary complement of military
force, however gigantic the latter may be in its
proportions, while the prosecutions of which he has
been made the object, and the unjust oboquy by
which he has been persistently followed, combine
with the popular traits of bis character to give him
powerful hold upon the hearts of the soldiers whom
he has led and of the people whom he has served
There is a magnetism in his name which betrays
its presence and its power alike in the walks of
civil life and in the camp wherever his name is
mentioned; and when we consider how his popu-
larty has constantly grown under the studious ef-
IortS OF MS eneiies 10 uestroy MS reputation, we
may readily infer that he has In his character as
many elements Of strength as of enthusiasm.
Among the eminent civilians whom we have
classified in the category above given we shall not
be suspected Of making an invidious distinction
if, in giving expression to old personal and poti-
cal attachments, We point 10 the first place to the
commanding qualities which Ex-Presdent FILL
MORE would bring to the difficult duties Of the
high Office for which he is again suggested, after
having once filed it with such conspicuous wisdom
and ability in day requiring talents and states
man.hip not unlike those which are demanded by
the present and the impending crisis He is
man sngularly qualified, by the habits of his mind
and by the traditions of his ife to deal with ques
tions that call for the exercise of the highest wis
dom in counsel united with frmness in action.
Possessing weight of character and a tenacity Of
resolve which would enable him in the future as
in the past to moderate against the extremes of
opinion in whatever direction they might tend, he
would keep steady hand on the helm in the foul
est as in the fairest weather, and il the ship of
State can be rescued from the breakers into which
she has fallen, may be sure that he would leave
nothing undone which it is in the power of brave