The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-03
McClellan's Letter of Accept.
ance.
ORANGE, New Jersey, September 8.

ORANGE, New Jersey, September :.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge
tho receipt of your letter informing me of my NOM
ination by the Democratic National Convention
recently assembled at Chicago, as their candidate
at the next election for President Of the United
States.
It is unnecessary for me to say to you that this
nomination comes to me unsought.
am happy ., 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 indslible in my mind and heart the love
and reverence for tho Union, Constitution laws
and flag of our country impressed upon me in
early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided the course
of my life, and must continue to do 90 to 1ts end.
The existence of more than one government over
the region which once owned our flag Is incompat-
IDLE with the peace, the power, and the happiness
of the people.
The preservation of our Union was the sole
ayowed object for which the war was commenced
1t should have been conducted for that object only
and in accordance with those principles which /
took occasion to declare when in active service.
Thus conducted the work of reconciliation would
have been easy and We might have reaped the
benefits of our many victories on land and sea.
The Union was originally formed by the exer-
else of q spirit Of Cancellation and compromise
To restore and preserve it, the same spirit must
prevail in our councils, and in the hearts of the
people
The ret establishment of the Union in all its in
tegrity is and must continue to be, the ndspensa-
BILE condition in any settlement So soon as it is
clear, or probable, that our present adverse
les are ready for peace, upon tho basis Of the
Mon, we should exhaust all the resources of
.stesmanship practiced by civilized nations, and
aught by the traditions of the American people,
onsistent with the honor and interests of the coun
try, to secure such peace re-establish the Union,
and guarantee for the future the constitutional
rights of every State. The Union Is the one con-
dition of peace-we ask NO more,
Let me add what doubt not was, although un-
expressed, the sentiment Of the convention, as it
is of the people they represent that when any
State is willing to return to the Union it should be
received atbnce, with full guarantee Of all its
constitutional rights.
If a frank earnest, and persistent effort to OBJ
tain those objects should fail the responsibility for
Interior consequences will fall upon those who 1e-
main in arms against the Union. But the Unicn
must be preserved at all hazards. s..
could not look in the face of my gallant comrades
Of the army and navy who have survived so many
toody battles, and tell them that their labors and
the sacrifice of so many of our slain and wound \
brethren had been in vain that We had abapI ~
that Union for which wo have so often Do. Aou
lives. iN0U Jul
A vast majority of our people, 'uho,h., :, ,ha
army and navy or at home, W" MD ss nor,d
hail with unbounded joy ore n.rmanent rsstora,
Ion "a pace on the tasi;s of the Union under the
Constitution, without the effusion of another drop
of blood. Eat no pesco can be permanent without
Union.
As to the ether subjects presented in the resolu-
tions of the Convention, l need only say that
should seek in the Constitution of the United States
and the laws framed in accordance Herewith, the
rule of my duty, and the limitations of executive
power; endeavor to restore economy in public ex-
Penditure, re-establsh the supremacy Of law, and,
by the operation Of a more vigorous nationality,
resume our commanding position among the ma
tions of the earth.
The condition of our finances, the depreciation
Of the paper money, and the burdens thereby i'm
posed on labor and capital, show the necessity of
return to sound financial system while the rights
of citizens and the rights of States and the bind
ing authority of law over President. army, and
people are subjects of not less vital Importance in
war than in peace
Believing that the views here expressed are
those of tho Convention and the people you repre-
sent, accept the nomination.
realize the weight of the responsibility to be
borne should the people ratify your choice.
Conscious of my own weakness, | can only seek
servently the guidance of the Ruler Of the Uni
verse, and, relying on his all powerful aid do my
est to restore Union and peace to suffering peo-
pie, and to establish and guard their liberties and
rights. | am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your 0bedient servant, .-
GRoRaE b. MCCLELLAN.
Hon. Horatio Seymour and others Committee