Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-09-15

Mcclellan refuses to endorse these planks,
and coldly and sneeringly observes that
"as to the other subjects presented in the
resolutions of the Convention. he should
seek in the Constitution and the laws the
rule of his duty anil the Limitation of
Executive power" This is slap in the
face OF the Convention. Mcclellan, hav
ing interiered with elections in Maryland,
suspended the habeas corpus by military
force, and arrested and incarcerated a
whole Legislature, could not very consis-
tently endorse the planks of the Dem
ocratic platform which denounce those
"despotic" acts. In the history of parties
there never was such a spectacle exhibited
to the American people before as candi-
date for the Presidency accepting a nomin-
alton. and at the same time rejecting the
princil les of the men at whose hands he
received the honor. He wants the votes
of the "peace Democrats. but tries to
steal the war sentiments of the Repubi-
cans. Under such circumstances, how can
any Democrat" tell what principle he is
voting for? Is it Mcclellan, war, arbitia
ry arrests and suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus. or Pendleton and immedi.
ate cessation of hostilities and armistice
with the rebels? 1t is an extraordinary
proceeding for a candidate to refuse to
accept the platform of his party. The
Chicago platform is the law OF the demo
cratic" party. binding upon every member
OF It, The Convention was composed OF
delegates chosen by the masses of the
party in their primary meetings and local
conventions. The Chicago Convention
was the whole "Democratic'' party con.
densed, for convenience. into three hun
dred picked agents. and the resolutions
adopted unanimously express the senti-
ment' AMI political creed of the party on
the great issues before the American peo-
pie to the extent therein avowed. The
Chicago platform is as binding ON Demo-
cra.s, in party sense. as a law of Con
gress is obligatory on the people in legal
sense, anil Mcclellan has no more right
to r@pudiate his platform than he has to
disobey the laws of his country
The fact is. no Democrat" is under
any sort of party obligations to vote for
him. because he refuses to be an exponent
OF the avowed principles of the organiza-
ton. Suppose the Cardinals of the
Catholic Church should elect a new Pore
to fill vacancy, and the candidate. when
notified of his appointment. should write
letter of acceptance, taking the office bu,
repudiating the leading dogmas of the
Church, and avowing himself in principle
TO be a Protestant. would the Catholic
world tolerate his Popedom? Would nor
the Cardinals re assemble forthwith. and
depose him for being a hereto. and elect
some other man who subscribed to the
dogmas of the Church? OF course they
would
How can the magnates of the
democratic" party help calling together
the Convention to nominate some candi
date who will represent the principles OF
the party? The Wickliffe resolutions
declares "thsi the Convention shall not be
dissolved by the adjournment at the close
OF Its business, but shall remain as organ
izel, subject to he called together at anv
time and place that the Executive Com
mitiee shall designate" The contingency
that has happened is therefore provided for
by that resolution. Peace democrats"
cannot possibly vote for Mcclellan with
out trampling on their platform and
shame'ully stultiiying themselves; while
war Democrats cannot afford TO throw
away their suffrage> on a candidate whose
relations to this party are so dubious and
involved. a war Dem ocrat. if an honest
man. must vote for the candidate that
stands squarely on war platform.
MIR. Van Allen of New York. delegate
to the Chicago Convention, in public
speech from the Sherman House balcony.
said. "In fact. gentlemen, the nomination
of George B. Mcclellan qudshes the indict-
ment ,chich are (DemocIats) hare dramn
against the administration" That is the
nnioubtel effect of it-coupled with his
letter Of acceptance. The Indictment
against the Administration is quashed
and the Republican party, in its policies
and management of the war, stands
acquitted by its opponents of The charges
heretofore preferred against it. The can
dida,e of the "Democrcy" refuses to sane
ton a single allegation in his party plat
form against the Administration. Bear
that important fact constantly in mind
1t is most triumphant vindication of Mr.
Lincoln and the Republicans from the
long list of accusations brought against
them by the Copperheads. The election
ought now to go by default. and Mr. Lin
coin be rec ected unanimously McClel-
Ian himself is in honor bound, since he has
repudiated the Democratic platform, to
cast his vote for Old Abe, and if he is an
honest man he will not fail to do it.