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VII.

Conventions of 1864-Radical Convention at Cleveland and its Platform-Nomination of John C. Fremont and John Cochrane-Their subsequent Withdrawal-Union (Republican) Convention at Baltimore-Platform of Principles-Lincoln nominated to succeed himself—Andrew Johnson nominated for Vice-President-Sketch of his Life-Reverses to the Union Cause in the latter part of 1864-Democratic Convention at Chicago-"The War a Failure "-A lugubrious Platform-Secession influences at the Convention-McClellan and Pendleton.

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HE first of the conventions of 1864 to meet was the Radical, so named because of the call they made, which was "To the radical men of the nation." They met at Cleveland on May 31st. There was a great deal of talk. Candidates for President and Vice-President were nominated. They were John C. Fremont and John Cochrane; but later they withdrew. The platform adopted may be here quoted, as it shows the views of some 350 men active in politics at that time, although but few of them were regularly appointed delegates. The planks were:

1st. That the Federal Union should be preserved.

2d. That the Constitution and laws of the United States must be observed

and obeyed.

3d. That the Rebellion must be suppressed by force of arms and without compromise.

4th. That the rights of free speech, free press and the habeas corpus be held inviolate, save in districts where martial law has been established.

5th. That the Rebellion has destroyed slavery, and the Federal Constitution should be amended to prohibit its re-establishment and to secure to all men absolute equality before the law.

6th. That integrity and economy are demanded at all times in the administration of the government; and that in time of war the want of them is criminal.

7th. That the right of asylum, except for crime and subject to law, is a recognized principle of American liberty; that any violation of it cannot be overlooked and must not go unrebuked.

8th. That the national policy known as the "Monroe Doctrine" has become a recognized principle; and that the establishment of an anti-Republican government on this continent by any foreign power cannot be tolerated.

9th. That the gratitude and support of the nation are due to the faithful soldiers and the earnest leaders of the Union Army and Navy for their heroic achievements and deathless valor in defense of our imperiled country and civil liberty.

10th. That the one-term policy for the Presidency adopted by the people is strengthened by the force of the existing crisis and should be maintained by Constitutional amendment.

11th. That the Constitution should be so amended that the President and Vice-President shall be elected by a direct vote of the people.

12th. That the question of the reconstruction of the rebellious States belongs to the people through their representatives in Congress and not to the Executive. 13th. That the confiscation of the lands of the rebels and their distribution among the soldiers and actual settlers is a measure of justice.

The next convention to assemble was that of the Union party. They met at Baltimore on June 7th. On the report of the Committee on Credentials the delegates from South Carolina, the "Conservative" Unionists from Missouri, the Territorial delegates, those from the District of Columbia, from Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas should not be allowed to vote; but the Convention decided on passing Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Nevada. The committee's report as to the exclusion from the balloting of Virginia, Florida and the remaining Territories was adopted. The platform was as follows:

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Resolved, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to maintain, against all their enemies, the integrity of the Union and the paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that, laying aside alldifferences of political opinions, we pledge ourselves, as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and aiming at a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the government in quelling, by force of arms, the rebellion now raging against its authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes the rebels and traitors arrayed against it.

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Resolved, That we approve the determination of the government of the United States not to compromise with rebels, nor to offer them any terms of peace, except such as may be based upon an unconditional surrender' of their hostility and a return to their allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the

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United States; and that we call upon the government to maintain this position, and to prosecute the war with the utmost possible vigor to the complete suppression of the Rebellion, in full reliance upon the self-sacrificing patriotism, the heroic valor, and the undying devotion of the American people to the country and its free institutions.

"Resolved, That as slavery was the cause, and now constitutes the strength of this Rebellion, and as it must be always and everywhere hostile to the principles of republican government, justice and the national safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil of the Republic; and that we uphold and maintain the acts and proclamations by which the government, in its own defense, has aimed a death-blow at the gigantic evil. We are in favor, furthermore, of such an amendment to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits or the jurisdiction of the United States.

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Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to the soldiers and sailors of the army and navy, who have periled their lives in defense of their country and in vindication of the honor of its flag; that the nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance.

"Resolved, That we approve and applaud the practical wisdom, the unselfish patriotism, and the unswerving fidelity to the Constitution and the principles of American liberty with which Abraham Lincoln has discharged, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, the great duties and responsibilities of the presidential office; that we approve and indorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to the preservation of the nation, and as within the provisions of the Constitution, the measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the nation against its open and secret foes; that we approve, especially, the Proclamation of Emancipation, and the employment, as Union soldiers, of men heretofore held in slavery; and that we have full confidence in his determination to carry these, and all other constitutional measures essential to the salvation of the country, into full and complete effect.

"Resolved, that we deem it essential to the general welfare that harmony should prevail in the national councils, and we regard as worthy of public confidence and official trust those only who cordially indorse the principles proclaimed in these resolutions, and which should characterize the administration of the government.

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Resolved, That the government owes to all men employed in its armies, without regard to distinction of color, the full protection of the laws of war; and

that any violation of these laws, or of the usages of civilized nations in the time of war, by the rebels now in arms, should be made the subject of prompt and full redress.

"Resolved, That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the wealth, development of resources, and increase of power to this nationthe asylum of the oppressed of all nations-should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy.

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Resolved, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the railroad to the Pacific coast.

"Resolved, That the national faith, pledged for the redemption of the public debt, must be kept inviolate; and that, for this purpose, we recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures and a vigorous and just system of taxation; and that it is the duty of every loyal State to sustain the credit and promote the use of the national currency.

"Resolved, That we approve the position taken by the government, that the people of the United States can never regard with indifference the attempt of any European power to overthrow by force, or to supplant by fraud, the institutions of any republican government on the Western continent, and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to the peace and independence of this, our country, the efforts of any such power to obtain new footholds for monarchical governments, sustained by a foreign military force, in near proximity to the United States."

There were only two candidates for President, Abraham Lincoln and General Grant. As the Missouri delegates were the only ones who voted for Grant, the nomination of Lincoln was made unanimous. The most important candidates for Vice-President were Andrew Johnson, Daniel S. Dickinson, and Hannibal Hamlin. The ballot was respectively: 200, 108, and 150. The announcement was followed by a change of votes that gave Johnson 494 and the others only 26. Johnson was nominated. In his letter of acceptance later he expressed very clearly his views and those of the War Democrats on the slavery question. In it he said: "It is in vain to attempt to reconstruct the Union with the distracting element of slavery in it. Experience has demonstrated its incompatibility with free and republican governments, and it would be unwise and unjust longer to continue it as one of the institutions of the country. While it remained subordinate to the Constitution and laws of the United States, I yielded to it my support; but when it became rebellious, and

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