Year: 1864




We publish below Gen. McClellan's
letter Of acceptance, for fear our neighbor
will not. and to place it on record for fu-
ture reference. 1t will be seen he adopts
the alvice of the Ne~ York Herald and
virtually spits upo:. the Chicago Platform.
But this may be specimen Of his strategy
to deceive the people, a part of the pro-
gramme he has been instructed to play. If
so it will soon become apparent, for every
body knows that Vallandigham, Long.
Harris, Voorhees,, Reeve, and men Of
their kidney, who have been dcnouncing
the war from the start, and refused to vote
a man or dollar to prosecute it, would
not support HIM an instant if they believ-
ed he intended to carry ont the principles
enuncated in this letter, II elected. They
would rather vote for Lincoln at once.
1t may therefore bc taken for granted il
these men continue to support Mcclellan
that there is secret understanding be-
tween them and little Mae that the latter
should make certain pledges in order to
catch loyal voters, which he does not in
tend to live mp to, in case he is elected
/ We will see how this game will work
But here is the letter. Read it and then
compare it with the platform:


ORANGE. n. j., Sept. s.


Gentlemen: have the honor to ac-
| knowledge the receipt IF your letter infor-
ming me OF my nomination by the Demo-
cratic National Convention, recently as
sembled at Chicago, rs their candidate at
.he next election for President OF the Uni
ted States. 1t is unnecessary for me to
say to you that the nomination comee to
me unsought. Lam happy to know that
when ,he nomination was made the record
OF my public lite was Kept in view. The
effect of long and varied service in the a.
my during war and peace has been to
strength hen and make inaellible in my mind
and heart the love and reverence for the
j Union. the constitution. the laws and flag
of our country which was impressed upon
me in early youth. These feelings have
thus far guided the course of my life, and
must continue to do so until its end. The
existence OF more than one government
over the region which once owned our flag
is incompatible with the pea'e. the power
and the happiness Of the people The
preservation of our Union was the sole
avowed object for which the war was com-
menced. 1t should have been conducted
for that object only. and in accordance
with those principles which took occa-
sion to declare when in active service.


Thus conducted the work of reconcilia-
tion would have been easy. and we might
have reaped the benefit of orr many victo-
ries on land and sea. The Union was orr
ginally formed by the exercise of spirit
of concilation and compromise. To res
tore it the same spirit must prevail in our
councils and in the hearts Of the reople.
! The reesiablishment Of the Union in all its
integrity is and must continue to be the in
dispensible condition of 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 exhaust all the resources of states
manship, practiscd by civilized nations,
taught by the tradition of the American
people consistent with the honor and in
terests Of the country, to secure such peace
Re- establish the Union, and guarantee for
the future the constitutional rights of eve
ry State. The Union is the one condition
of peace, we ask no more.


Let m aid what / doubt not was, al
though unexpressed. the sentiment of the
Convention as it is Of the people they rep
1resent, that when any one State is willing
to return to the Union it should be receiv-
ed at once with full guarantee Of all its
constitutional rights. =


/ If q frank. earnest and persistent effort
to obtain these objects should fail, the res
: possibility for ulterior consequences will
fall upon those who remain in arms against