The Washington herald., 1914-08-30
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
August S64-A National Convention of the Democratic Party Assembled
Chicago, Adopted Platform which Gen. George Mcclellan Was
Nominated for the Presidency Declaring the War Fauree Plat
form Repudiated by the Nominee.
written expressly for The wa

The washington Herald.)
with declarations Of loyalty to the Union
and also with fierce denunciations OF
Lincoln and the government. An ex.
IRENE view of the convention is given
by Gen. Grant in his memoirs, in these
words: Treason was talked as boldly
in Chicago at that convention as ever
man who here talked what might have
been termed treason believed that he
had remedy for the existing Ills OF
the nation. A majority believed the
South could be won by Cancellation.
The convention was called to order by
August Belmont, of New York. chairman
Of the national committee. IN your
hands. under the ruling OF an aIl-wise
Providence rests the future Of the re-
public he told the delegates.
John Bigler, ex-governor of California,
was made temporary chairman of the
convention. In his speech he declared
the administration of Lincoln incapable
of adopting a policy to preserve the
country.
On the assembling Of the convention
on its second day. August %. Gov. Ho-
ratio Seymour. OF New York, was chosen
permanent chairman. Mr.. Seymour was
leader of The peace Democrats Of the
East as Mr.. Vallandigham was of the
West He made a forceful speech, the
keynote OF which was In these words:
This administration cannot save the
Union: We can" Cheers greeted this SEN
timent
The platform was now introduced. Il
being read by James Guthrie, a vener-
able Democrat from Kentucky. who had
been President Pierce's Secretary of the
Treasury.
Platform Put Aside.
The nominations were made on August
81. There was much discussion before a
vote was reached. On the first ballot
Gen. Mcclellan had ia votes, each dele
gate voting half vote, with IS votes
for Thomas Seymour, an ex-governor Of
Connecticut. and IL for Charles O'Con-
nor. Of New York a prominent lawyer
Cwho subsequently defended Jefferson
Davis). Just before the result was de-
clared the vote of some States was
changed. resulting in 2O215 votes for Nc
Clellan. The nomination was thereupon
made unanimous, amidst wild cheering
George H Pendleton, an Ohio Con-
gresham, known to his friends as Gen
tleman George" was nominated for Vice
President by reclamation. The conven-
ton then adjourned. IL.
The ticket thus chosen was apparent
" strong one, in spite Of the war plank
Had the Federal armies in the field not
been successful between sthe sitting Of
the convention and the election Gen
Mcclellan would have given Lincoln q
hard fight. Events, however. quickly
took a turn that robbed the platform Of
its significance, for before Gen. McClel-
Ian could be of1cially notified of his
nomination the country received the
-
senal Of the Confederacy. by Gen.
Sherman 1t thus became apparent that
the war. far from being a failure, was
RAPIDLY nearing its end.
When Gen. Mcclellan was notified Of
his nomination he showed his under
standing Of the trend of events BY re-
pudiatinG the platform on which he was
nominated. and declining to declare the
war failure.
fGen. McClellan's letter Of acceptance
will be printed September s.
tCopyrighf. lsli)
Tomorrow-Fishttng before At