In this peculiar fashion he pledged
himself and his administration to accept loyally the verdict of
the people if it should be against them, and to do their utmost
to save the Union in the brief remainder of his term of office.
He gave no hint to any member of his cabinet of the nature of the
paper thus signed until after his reelection.
The Democratic convention finally came together in Chicago on
August 29. It declared the war a failure, and that efforts ought
to be made at once to bring it to a close, and nominated General
McClellan for President McClellan's only chance of success lay in
his war record. His position as a candidate on a platform of
dishonorable peace would have been no less desperate than
ridiculous. In his letter accepting the nomination, therefore, he
calmly ignored the platform, and renewed his assurances of
devotion to the Union, the Constitution, and the flag of his
country. But the stars in their courses fought against him. Even
before the Democratic convention met, the tide of battle had
turned. The darkest hour of the war had passed, and dawn was at
hand, and amid the thanksgivings of a grateful people, and the
joyful salute of great guns, the real presidential campaign
began. The country awoke to the true meaning of the Democratic
platform; General Sherman's successes in the South excited the
enthusiasm of the people; and when at last the Unionists, rousing
from their midsummer languor, began to show their faith in the
Republican candidate, the hopelessness of all efforts to
undermine him became evident.
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