finally declared as 2021/2 for McClellan and 231/2 for
Thomas H. Seymour. For Vice-President two ballots were taken. On
the first, James Guthrie of Kentucky had 651/2 votes; George H.
Pendleton of Ohio, 541/2; Governor Powell of Kentucky, 321/2; George
W. Cass of Pennsylvania, 26. Mr. Guthrie had been identified with
the war party; Mr. Pendleton as a member of Congress had opposed
the war and was the favorite of the Peace party; and on the second
ballot Mr. Guthrie's name was withdrawn and Mr. Pendleton unanimously
nominated. This act completed the work of the Convention.

RE-ACTION AGAINST THE DEMOCRACY.

The response of the country to the action of the Democratic
representatives was an immediate outburst of indignant rebuke.
There were thousands of patriotic Democrats who deeply resented
the hostility of the Convention to the loyal sentiment of the
people, and who felt that it was as fatal as it was offensive.
The general expression of condemnation, and the manifestations on
all sides foreshadowed the doom of the Chicago ticket. General
McClellan and his friends felt the necessity of doing something to
placate the aroused sentiment which they could not resist, and he
vainly sought to make his letter of acceptance neutralize the
baneful effect of the Democratic platform.

In truth General McClellan practically disavowed the platform. He
ignored the demand for a cessation of hostilities and the declaration
that the war was a failure. "The re-establishment of the Union,"
he said, "in all its integrity is and must continue to be the
indispensable condition in any settlement. So soon as it as 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 the
traditions of the American people, consistent with the honor and
interests of the country, to secure such peace, re-establish 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." While thus proposing to "exhaust the resources of statesmanship"
to secure peace, he indicated that if such efforts were unavailing
the responsibility for consequences would fall upon those who
remained in arms against the Union. But the letter failed to attain
its object. Its dissent from the dangerous and obnoxio