Year: 1864

NAuANr, Aug. %, 1861


Gentlemen II have TO acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter Of the 10th,
addressed to me in New Y ork.


If your letter were in effect an appeal
only to my own sentiments in favor of a
reunion of parties, should not hesitate
to rcnounce any personal views, but would
be entirely ready to defer to the public
opinion which your names represent.


But the conditions are no longer the
same as when expressed my readiness to
retire in the event of a contingency which
might have occurred at Baltimore. Hav-
ing now definitely accepted the Cleveland
nomination, | have not the right to act
iudcp cpendently Of the truly patriotic and
earnest party who conferred that honor
upon me. In any event, it would be
necessary first to consult with them. 1t
mcH., besides have only the effect still
further to unsettle the public mind, and
defeat ,he object you have in view, if we
should disorganize before first proceeding
to organize something bett r.


TO this end | suggest that direct
effort be made to OBTAIN an immediate un-
lersianding between the supporters OF
the Baltimore and Cleveland nominations,
1 in order that the frienis Of both may co.
alescc and unite upon an ear y day for
holding such a convention as you propose.
! am satisfied that do not assume toe
much in saying that my friends VIII unite
heartily in such movement.


\ really popular convention, upon a
broad and liberal basis, so that it could
be regarded as a convocaton in mass of
the people, and not the work Of politici-
ans, would command public confidence
Such convention, acting in the large and
liberal spirit in which it was called, with
out considerations of persons or political
! cliques, and without reference to bygone
situations, rising to the level of the oc-
casion and taking the conditions OF the
country as they present themselves to-
day, could safely be trusted to propose
such policy and name such man as
should, and undoubtedly would, receive
the cordial and united support of the
patriotic masses Of the people. To the
great body Of these, so far as my informa'
ton allows me to form any opinion, |
think that the following proposition would
be acceptable:


/. Respect for the practical liberty
and the constitutional rights ana dignity
Of the citizen.


=. The maintenance of the dignity OF
the United States in their relations of
foreign power.


3. The recstablishment of the Union ;
by peace if it is possible by war it the
peaceful measures cannot be made to sue
coed.


Much has been SAID Of late about
peace, and you will therefore excuse me
if | say here what understand by it
For me peace signifies the integral rees-
tablishment of the Union, without slav-
cry; because slavery is the source of ali
political dissentions, and because the in.
stitution itself IS condemned by the en-
lightened and liberal spirit OF the age
These are to me the essential condition
of peace. If 1t is practible to attain
this result, it would not be paying too
dearly for it taking ais into considera-
tion the material strength Of the South
has been permitted to acquire by the con-
duct of the war-to make concessions
upon some points Of secondary import
ance, such as that of pay ng an indemnity
for their slaves to those who have re-
maincd in sort of neutral condition dur
ing the unhappy war which has conyuls'
ed the country. To terminate this we
are now expending lite and money; it
would certainly be a gain to reduce II
simply to a question of money.


If in spite of all these efforts to spare
the South humiliation Of the losses o
capital likely to be too severely felt, the
the political chiefs who direct the Soutf
persist in war. then the policy Of tht
Convention should be to pronounce il
that case for war with all the force ant
energy of the nation. For peace, upor
any terms, and merel because it is peac
"a peace recognizing North and Soatl
would not bring about a stable equili
brium. 1t would only prepare the wa.
for new struggles, and for a condition Q
disastrous anarchy.


The paramount question is the Union
By peace, if it can be had on honorab
and right terms-by war, it the politica
leaders who are directing the South insis
upon war.


The situation of our country is un
questionably critical. 1t demands tn
devotion and the patriotism of all me
who really love their country. and it
: one Of those moments when all persona
aspirations should vanish in the face 9