THE SPIRIT OF THE CHICAGO CONVENTION. 667 been known. Such destruction of human ** tion of Sennacherib by the breath of the Such was the spirit of the harangues which were poured forth on every side throughout the sittings of Their substance that Convention. whatever name the secret, oath-bound | FAILED!!!! Such a failure had never leagues of thorough-going sympathi-life had never been seen since the destruczers with Slavery and the Rebellion chose to be known to each other, were, by evident preconcert, on hand in extraordinary strength and in immeasurable virulence. Gov. H. Seymour-who seems to have nursed secret hopes of achieving a nomination for the Presidency-made an extreme anti-War address on assuming the chair; but his polished sentences seemed tame and moderate by comparison with the fiery utterances volunteered from hotel balconies, on street-corners, and wherever space could be found for the gathering of an impromptu audience; while the wildest, most intemperate utterances of virtual treason-those which would have caused Lee's army, had it been present, to forget its hunger and rags in an ecstasy of approval-were sure to evoke the loudest and longest plaudits. For example, the ex-Rev. C. Chauncey Burr, of New Jersey, thus set forth his sympathy with the insurgents: "We had no right to burn their wheatfields, steal their pianos, spoons, or jewelry. Mr. Lincoln had stolen a good many thousand negroes; but for every negro he had thus stolen he had stolen 10,000 spoons. It had been said that, if the South would lay down their arms, they would be received back into the Union. The South could not honorably lay down her arms, for she was fighting for her honor. Two millions of men had been sent down to the slaughterpens of the South, and the army of Lincoln could not again be filled, neither by enlist ments nor conscription. If he ever uttered a prayer, it was that no one of the States of the Union should be conquered and subjugated." was tersely though coarsely summed up in the remark of Judge Miller, of Ohio, that "There is no real difference between a War Democrat and an Abolitionist. They are links of one sausage, made out of the same dog." None can say how many of the vast gathering who yelled assent to such utterances knew that they were surrounded by and mixed up with Rebel officers fresh from Canada, who had been sent here expressly to cooperate with certain domestic traitors, high in office in the secret organizations aforesaid, in the sudden mustering of a force, mainly of 'American Knights' (locally known as 'Illini'), which should first liberate the 8,000 Rebel captives then held in Camp Douglas, near that city; thence rushing with rapidly augmented numbers to the achievement of a similar success at the prison-camp near Indianapolis-thus raising the siege of Richmond and Atlanta by 'a fire in the rear-but that such a conspiracy had for weeks existed; that many Rev. Henry Clay Dean, of Iowa, then in Chicago were heartily ensaid: "For over three years, Lincoln had been calling for men, and they had been given. But, with all the vast armies placed at his command, he had failed! failed!! FAILED!!! gaged in it; and that, but for the extraordinary astuteness, vigilance, and energy, of Col. B. J. Sweet, then in command over Camp Douglas--there would have been at least a desperate attempt to execute the bloody programme-are facts which rest on testimony too positive, and drawn from too many independent sources, to be distrusted. But Sweet had mastered their secret, through the treachery of one or more who were trusted by the leaders, and had accumulated such an array of force that, when the time came for striking the blow, its failure was so plainly inevitable that a postponement was ordered.19 A strong Committee of one from each State, whereof Hon. James Guthrie, of Kentucky, was chairman, but C. L. Vallandigham, recently returned from Canada, a master-spirit, having been chosen to construct a party platform for the canvass, that Committee in due time reported the following: "Resolved, That in the future, as in the past, we will adhere with unswerving fidelity to the Union under the Constitution, as the only solid foundation of our strength, security, and happiness as a people, and as a framework of government equally conducive to the welfare and prosperity of all the States, both Northern and Southern. 66 Resolved, That this Convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the American people, that, after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense of a military necessity of a war power higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to an ultimate Convention of all the States, or other peaceable means, to the end that, at the earliest practicable moment, peace may Union of the States. be restored on the basis of the Federal "Resolved, That the direct interference of the military authority of the United States in the recent elections held in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware, was a shameful violation of the Constitution; and the repetition of such acts in the approaching election will be held as revolutionary, and resisted with all the means and power under our control. Democratic party is to preserve the Federal "Resolved, That the aim and object of the Union and the rights of the States unimpaired; and they hereby declare that they consider the Administrative usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the Constitution, the subversion of the civil by military law in States not in insurrection, the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial, and sentence, of Ameriin full force, the suppression of freedom of can citizens in States where civil law exists speech and of the press, the denial of the right of asylum, the open and avowed dis unusual test-oaths, and the interference regard of State rights, the employment of with and denial of the right of the people to bear arms, as calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetnation of a government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed. 66 of the Administration to its duty, in respect Resolved, That the shameful disregard to our fellow-citizens who now and long have been prisoners of war in a suffering condition, deserve the severest reprobation, on the score alike of public interest and common humanity. "Resolved, That the sympathy of the Democratic party is heartily and earnestly extended to the soldiery of our army, who of our country; and, in the event of our atare and have been in the field under the flag taining power, they will receive all the care and protection, regard and kindness, that the brave soldiers of the Republic have so nobly earned." There were men in that Convention whose judgment did not approve this platform; but these were intent on the nomination of McClellan for President, and feared to injure his chances "Weeks later, with larger means and a bet- fell, who had been John Morgan's Adjutant, Col. ter organization, the conspirators had prepared Vincent [brother of Gen. M. M.] Marmaduke, for an outbreak on the day of the Presidential Capt. Cantrill, of Morgan's old command, and Election; but Sweet, fully apprised of their de- several Illinois traitors, thus completely crushsigns, pounced upon them on the night of Nov. ing out the conspiracy, just as it was on the 6, making prisoners of Col. G. St. Leger Gren-point of inaugurating civil war in the North. MCCLELLAN'S NOMINATION AND PLATFORM. 669 by attempting to stem the torrent. | Convention had made an enormous In fact, the extreme "Peace" men, and probably fatal mistake; while who were hostile to McClellan, had those supporters of Mr. Lincoln, who, from the first been intent on making a few weeks earlier, had scarcely a platform whereon a Major-General hoped for success, and, even the day of the Union army could not credita- before, had regarded the issue as exbly stand; and they would seem to ceedingly doubtful, laid down their have succeeded. morning papers in joyful confidence that their triumph was secure. stupendous, so amazing a political blunder, had not been committed for the last twenty years. The Convention proceeding to designate by ballot a candidate for President, Gen. McClellan received 162 votes to 64 for others; but several delegations now changed to McClellan; so that the vote, as finally declared, stood 202 for McClellan to 23 for Thomas H. Seymour, of Connecticut. Gov. H. Seymour had voted in his delegation for Justice Nelson, of the Supreme Court; but his vote was swamped by a decided majority in that delegation for McClellan, which gave him the full vote of the State. McClellan's nomination was now made unanimous. 20 So Directly on the back of this, the tidings were flashed over the country, "Sherman has taken Atlanta!" "Farragut has carried the defenses of Mobile!" emphasized by a Proclamation " from President Lincoln for thanksgiving in all the churches on the following Sabbath, with "the National thanks" to Sherman, Farragut, Canby, and their associates, and salutes of 100 guns from every Navy Yard and naval arsenal" for Mobile, followed by like salutes " from each military headquarters and military arsenal for Atlanta. It was in vain that Gen. McClellan attempted to stem the swelling tide, so suddenly evoked, by a letter of acceptance which was in effect a repudia 22 The first vote for Vice-President showed 65 for James Guthrie, 54 for Geo. H. Pendleton, of Ohio, 32 for Gov. Powell, of Ky., 26 for Geo. W. Cass, of Pa., and 47 scattering. As Mr. Pendleton had in Congress been an unswerving opponent of the War, and, as the "Peace" mention of the platform whereon he had evinced anxiety for his nomination, just been placed. He said: Mr. Guthrie's name was withdrawn, and Mr. Pendleton unanimously nominated. The Convention soon dissolved, after providing that it might be rëconvened if necessary. "The Union was originally formed by the exercise of a spirit of conciliation and compromise. To restore and preserve it, the same spirit must prevail in our councils and in the hearts of the people. The reestablishment of the Union, in all its integrity, is and must continue to be the 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 exhaust all the resources of statesmanship practiced by civilized nations and taught by sistent with the honor and interests of the the traditions of the American people, concountry, to secure such peace, reestablish Sept. 5. When the platform was read next morning by the cooler millions throughout the land, whose blood had not been fevered by the harangues of the 'Sons of Liberty,' it was very widely felt by Democrats that the Sept. 3. 20 21 22 Sept. 7. 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 I doubt not was, although unexpressed, 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 at once, with a full guarantee of all its constitutional rights. If a frank, earnest, and persistent effort to obtain these objects should fail, the responsibility for ulterior consequences will fall upon those who remain in arms against the Union; but the Union must be preserved at all hazards. I 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 labors and 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 periled our lives. A vast majority of our people, whether in the army and navy, or at home, would, as I would, hail with unbounded joy the permanent restoration of peace on the basis of the Union under the Constitution, without the effusion of another drop of blood; but no peace can be permanent without Union." The great majority very properly recognized the Convention, not one of its candidates, as the authorized expounder of the party's principles and purposes, and the platform, not the letter of acceptance, as the authentic party creed. 23 Gov. Seward, called out 2 by a procession of the Lincoln and Johnson Association of Washington, pungently said: "Fellow Citizens: The Democracy at Chicago, after waiting six weeks to see whether this war for the Union is to succeed or fail, finally concluded that it would fail; and therefore went in for a nomination and platform to make it the sure thing by a cessation of hostilities and an abandonment of the contest. At Baltimore, on the contrary, we determined that there should be no such thing as failure; and therefore we went in to save the Union by battle to the last. Sherman and Farragut have knocked the bottom out of the Chicago nominations; and the elections in Vermont and Maine prove the Baltimore nominations stanch and -McClellan and Disunion, or Lincoln and Union. Have you any doubt of the result on that issue? [Cries of No! No!] Nor do I have any doubt. Many thanks, my friends, for this visit.” Gen. Fremont now withdrew" his name from the Presidential canvass, saying: "The Presidential contest has, in effect been entered upon in such a way that the union of the Republican party had become a paramount necessity. The policy of the Democratic party signifies either separation or reestablishment with Slavery. The Chicago platform is simply separation. Gen. McClellan's letter of acceptance is reestablishment with Slavery. The Republican candidate is, on the contrary, pledged to the reestablishment of the Union without Slavery; and, however hesitating his policy may be, the pressure of his party will, we may hope, force him to it. Between these issues, I think that no man of the liberal party can remain in doubt; and I believe I am consistent with my antecedents and my principles in withdrawing-not to aid in the triumph of Mr. Lincoln, but to do my part toward preventing the election of the Democratic candidate. In respect to Mr. Lincoln, I continue to hold exactly the sentiments contained in my letter of acceptance. I consider that his administration has been politically, militarily, and financially, a failure, and that its necessary continuance is a cause of regret for the country." A few of the ultra "Peace" men talked of repudiating McClellan because of his letter of acceptance; and some, probably, refused on account of it to vote for him; but they finally ran no ticket: so that their disaffec tion had scarcely a perceptible effect on the canvass. Not so the successive victories of Sheridan in the Valley; which did not serve to elect Lincoln and Johnson-that had been already secured-but doubtless contributed to swell their popular and electoral majority. The Autumn Elections opened, as usual, with Vermont;" which gave a sound. The issue is thus squarely made up slight Republican gain on the vote 23 Sept. 14. 24 Sept. 17. 25 Sept. 6. THE OCTOBER ELECTIONS-DEATH OF JUDGE TANEY. 671 But no election of that month was of more lasting consequence than that held in Maryland;" which State was now to adopt or reject the new Constitution which banished Slavery from her soil and withdrew the Right of Suffrage from those of her citizens who had abetted the Rebellion. The Constitution was carried-and barely carried-by the vote of her soldiers in the field: the total vote, as declared, being 30,174 for, to 29,699 against ratifying; whereof the soldiers gave 2,633 for, to 163 against it. Had not the Convention enabled them to vote in their respective camps, the Constitution would have been rejected by all but 2,000 major of 1863 for Governor," and on the whole ticket. Maine followed;" and here the Opposition claimed an encouraging gain: the vote being far less than that drawn out by the vehement contest of 1863, and the majority reduced in proportion." Both parties then held their breath for the returns from the October elections: Pennsylvania and Indiana having for an age been held to indicate, by the results of those elections, the issue of the pending Presidential canvass. Indiana now showed a change of 30,000 since 1862;" electing Governor Morton and carrying the Republican tickets throughout by over 20,000 majority, with 8 Republican to 3 Democratic Represent-ity-the vote in all the lower counatives in Congress—a gain of 4 seats to the victors. The vote was heavy beyond precedent-swelled, the losers said, unfairly. Pennsylvania elected no State officer this year by a general vote; but her representatives in Congress before 12 to 12-were now 15 to 9, with a Legislature strongly Republican in both branches, and an average popular majority of 10,000 to 15,000. Ohio, on the same day," went 'Union' by a popular majority of 54,754" on Secretary of State; while, instead of the 14 Democrats to 5 Republicans chosen in '62 to represent her in Congress, she now elected 17 Republicans to two Democrats. These results left little doubt that Mr. Lincoln would be rëelected to the Presidency. ties-that is, in all but Baltimore, Cecil, and the western countiesshowing heavy adverse majorities. The death of Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the United States, on the day which witnessed this result, was a remarkable cöincidence. Judge Taney had long been a main bulwark of Slavery, not only in Maryland, but throughout the Union. The Dred Scott decision is inseparably linked with his name. His natural ability, eminent legal attainments, purity of private character, fullness of years," and the long period he had officiated as Chief Justice," caused him to be regarded by many as a pillar of the State; and his death at this moment seemed to mark the transition from the era of |