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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.1

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.

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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 de

mand 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

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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 insurrection, the arbitrary military arrest, of the civil by military law in States not in imprisonment, trial, and sentence, of American citizens in States where civil law exists in full force, the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press, the denial of the right of asylum, the open and avowed disregard of State rights, the employment of unusual test-oaths, and the interference with and denial of the right of the people to bear arms, as calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetuation of a government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.

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of the Administration to its duty, in respect Resolved, That the shameful disregard have been prisoners of war in a suffering to our fellow-citizens who now and long 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 ariny, who are and have been in the field under the flag of our country; and, in the event of our at

taining power, they will receive all the care the brave soldiers of the Republic have so and protection, regard and kindness, that 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 19 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- 1 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, who were hostile to McClellan, had from the first been intent on making a platform whereon a Major-General of the Union army could not creditably stand; and they would seem to have succeeded.

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 2024 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.

The first vote for Vice-President showed 65 for James Guthrie, 543 for Geo. H. Pendleton, of Ohio, 32 for Gov. Powell, of Ky., 26 for Geo. W. Cass, of Pa., and 474 scattering. As Mr. Pendleton had in Congress been an unswerving opponent of the War, and, as the "Peace" men evinced anxiety for his nomination, Mr. Guthrie's name was withdrawn, and Mr. Pendleton unanimously nominated. The Convention soon dissolved, after providing that it might be reconvened if necessary.

and probably fatal mistake; while those supporters of Mr. Lincoln, who, a few weeks earlier, had scarcely hoped for success, and, even the day before, had regarded the issue as exceedingly doubtful, laid down their 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.

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 repudiation of the platform whereon he had just been placed. He said:

"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. Sept. 7.

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.

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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.

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Gov. Seward, called out " 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:

been entered upon in such a way that the "The Presidential contest has, in effect 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 Between these may hope, force him to it. 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 sentiI 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."

ments contained in my letter of acceptance.

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 disaffection 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 slight Republican gain on the vote 24 Sept. 17. Sept. 6.

sound. The issue is thus squarely made up 93 Sept. 14.

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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 p 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.

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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

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Slavery to that of Universal Freedom. Though he held his office and discharged its functions to the last, it was notorious that he did not and (with his views) could not sympathize with the Republic in her struggle against red-handed Treason. Originally an ultra-Federalist, Slavery had transformed him into a practical disciple of Calhoun.

Indiana..

Illinois.
Missouri
Michigan
Iowa...

California

Wisconsin.
Minnesota.
Oregon
Kansas.
West Virginia.
Nevada..

Total........

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2,213,665 1,802,237

Lincoln's popular majority, 411,428. Fourteen of the States had authorized their soldiers in the field to vote; those of New York sending home their ballots (sealed) to be cast

The choice of Presidential Electors was made simultaneously' 35 in every State; and the result was such as all intelligent observers had for weeks anticipated. Gen. McClellan secured the Electoral votes of New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky-by their next friends. Of course, no 21 in all the residue-212 "—were cast for Lincoln and Johnson. The only States wherein the voters were divided with a near approach to equality were New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and perhaps New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Oregon.

No election was held in the ten States which were or had been most completely under the sway of the Rebellion; and, though Lincoln and Johnson electors were chosen in Tennessee, their vote was not accepted and counted by Congress.

gregate poll in each loyal State was

one can say how her soldiers voted.
The vote of the Minnesota soldiers
did not reach her State canvassers in
season to be counted, and were pro-
bably destroyed unopened. So with
most of the Vermont soldiers' vote.
Of the States whose soldiers voted so
that their ballots can be distinguished,
the Army vote was returned as fol-
lows:
Maine....
New Hampshire.
Pennsylvania.
Maryland....
Ohio...
Kentucky.

Vermont...

LINCOLN. MCCLELLAN.

4,174

741

2,066

690

243

49

.26,712

12,349

2,800

321

The ag

1,194

2,823

.41,146

9,757

Michigan..

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as follows:

Iowa....

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Wisconsin..

LINCOLN. MCCLELLAN.

.11,372

2,458

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New Hampshire.

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Massachusetts.

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Lincoln's majority, 85,461-over 3 to 1.

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a right to do; but one of them failed to appear, "Nevada chose three electors, as she had and his colleagues did not fill his place.

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