Year: 1864


GENTLEMEN: | have the honor to acknpw
edge the receipt of your letter informing
me of MY nomination by the Democratic
National Convention; recently assembled at
Chicago, as their candidate at the next cleo
tion for President of the United States.
1t is unnecessary for me to say to you
that this nomination comes to me unsought.
am happy to know that when the nom-
nation vas 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 aud make indeible in my
mind and heart the love and reverence for
the Union, Constitution, laws, and flag of
our country, impressed upon me in early
youth.


Those feelings have thus fan guided the
course of my life, and must continue to do
so to its end ...


The existence of more than one govern
ment over the region which once owned our
flag is incompatible with the peace, the
power, and the happiness Of the people.


The preservation of our Union was the
! sole avowed object for which the war was
commenced. 1t should have been conduc-
ted for that object only, and in accordance
with those principles which took occasion
to declare when III 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. ..t
| The Union was originally formed bt the
exercise of 4 spirit of concliatioh and coh-
promise. To restore and preserve it, the
same spirit must prevail in our councils, and
tn the hearts of the people.


| The re-cstablishment of the Union in all


its integrity is, and must continue to be, tho
indispensable condition in any settlement.
| So soon as it is clear, or even probable, that
our present adversaries are ready for peace,
upon the basis of the Union, we should ex-
haust all the resources of craftsmanship
practiced by civilized nations, and taught by
the traditions of the American people, con-
! sistent with the honor and interests of the
country, to secure such peace, re-estabish
| the Union, and guarantee for the future the
constitutional rights of every State. The
| Union is the one condition of peace-we ask
| no more.


Let me add what doubt not was, although
uncXpressed, the sentiment of the convention
as it is of the people they represent, that
when any one state is willing to return to
! the Union, it should be received 1T once,
with full guarantee of all its constitutional
rights.
If frank, earnest, and persistent effort
| to obtain those objects should fail, the re-
| sponsibility for Interior consequences will
! fall upon those who remain in arms against
the Union. But the Union must be preserv-
| cd at all hazards.


| | could not look in the face my gallant
comrades Of the army and navy who have
survived so many bloody, battles, and tell
them that their laburs aid the sacrifice of so
many Of our slain and wounded brethren
| had been in vain; that we had abandoned
| that Union for which we have so often per-
lied our lives.


| \ vast majority of our people, whether
| in the army and navy or at home, would, as
would, hail with unbounded joy the peri
manent restoration of peace, on the basis OF
the Union under the Constitution, without
the etfusion of another drop Of blood. But
no peace can be permanent without llnien,


As to the other subjects presented in the
resolutions of the convention need only
say that should seek, in the Constitution
Of the United States and the laws framed
i'll accordance Herewith. the rule of my du-
ty, and the limitations of executive power;
endeavor to restore economy in public ex-
penditure, re-establish the supremacy Of
law, and, by the operation of more vigor-
GUS nationality, resume our commanding
position among the nations of the earth.
The condition Of our finances, the depreci-
alton of the paper money and the burdens
thereby imposed 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 binding authority of
law over President, army, and people, are
subject Of not less vital importance in war
than in peace.


Believing that the views here expressed
are those Of the convention and the people
you represented, except the nomination.
realize the weight of the responsibility
to be borne should the people ratify your
choice. e~FE


Conscious Of my own weakness, can on
ly seek fervently the guidance of the Ruler of
the universe, and, relying on His all power
ful aid, do my best to restore Union and
peace to suffering people, and to establish
and guard their liberties and rights.


| am, gentleman, very respectfully,


Your obedient servant.


GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
Hon. HoRATlo SEYMOUR, and others Com


mittca