The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-07-14
The Presidential Nomination.

The correspondence between the Commit
tee of the National Union Convention and
President Lincoln, including the official no.
tifcation of the Presidents nomination and
his letter of acceptance, was as follows +
New YORK, June IA, 1864
Hon. Abraham Lincoln
| SIR: The National Union Convention,
which assembled in Baltimore Oh the 7th of
June, 1864, has instructed us to inform YOU
that are you nominated with enthusiastic
unanimity for the Presidency of the United
States, for four years from the 4th of March |
next.
The resolutions of the Convention which |
we have already had the honor Of placing
in your hands, are full and clear state
ment of the principles which inspired it's &C
ton, and which, as we believe, the great
body of Union men in the country heartily
approve. Whether those resolutions express |
the national gratitude to our soldiers and
sailors, or the national scorn of compromise |
with rebels and consequent dishonor, or the |
patriotic duty of Union and success wheth- |
er they approve the Proclamation of Imam
cipation, the Constitutional amendment. |
the employment Of former slaves as Union
soldiers, or the solemn obligations of the
Government promptly to redress the wrongs
of every soldier of the Union of whatever
color or race whether they declare the in
volatility Of the pledged faith of then alton,
or offer the national hospitality to the OPP
pressed Of every land, or urge the union by
railroad of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
whether they recommend pnblic economy
and vigorous taxation, or assert the fixed
popular position to the establishment by
armed force of foreign monarchies in the
immediate neighborhood of the United States
or declare that those only are worthy of
official trust who approve unservedy the
views and policy indicated in the resolutions
they were equally hailed with the hearth
ness profound conviction.
Believing with you, sir, that this is the
peoples war for the maintenance of a Gov
eminent which you have justly described
as ''of the people, by the people, for the peo-
ple," we are very sure that you will be glad
to know, not only from the resolutions them
selves, but from the singular harmony and
enthusiasm with which they were adopted
how warm is the popular welcome of every
measure in the prosecution of war, which is
as vigorous, unmistakable and unfaltering
as the national purpose itself No right, for
instance, is so precious and sacred to the
|
Its violation is regarded with just, instant
and universal jealousy. Yet in this hour
of peril, every faithful citizen comedies that,
for the sake of national existence and the
common welfare, individual liberty may,
as the Constitution provides in case ofrebeI-
lion, be sometimes summarily constrained,
asking only with painful anxiety that in
every instance, and to the last detail, abso-
Iutely necessary power shall not be hastily
or unwisely exercised.
We believe sir, that the honest will of the
Union men of the country was never
more truly represented than in
this Convention. Their purpose we believe
to be the overthrow of armed rebels in the
field, and the security of permanent peace
and union by liberty and justice under the
Constitution. That these results are to be
achieved amidst cruel perplexities, they are
fully aware. That they are to be reached
only by cordial unanimity of council is I'M
deniabe. That good men may sometimes
differ as to the means and time, they know.
That in the conduct of all human affair
the highest duty is to determine, in the an
CRY conflict of passion, how much good may
be practically accomplished, is their sincere
persuasion. They have watched your Off
cial course with unHagging attention; and
amidst the bitter taunts OF eager friends and
fierce denunciatIon of enemies now moving
too fast for some, now too slowly for others,
they have seen you throughout this tremen~
dous contest patient, sagacious, faithful,
just; leaning upon the heart of the great
people, and satisfied to be moved by its
mighty pulsations.
1t is for this reason that, long before the
Convention met, the popular instinct had
plainly indicated you as its candidate; and
the Convention, merely recorded the popu-
lar will. Your character and career prove
your answering fidelity to the cardinal
principles ofAmerican liberty aud the Amer
lean Constitution. In the name of that
liberty and Constitution, sir, we earnestly
request your acceptance Of this nomination;
reverently commencing our beloved coun-
try, and you, its Chief Magistrate, with
all its brave sons, who on sea and land, are
faithfully defending the good old American
cause of equal rights, to the blessing of
Almighty God