By Elaine Grublin
The following excerpt is from the diary of Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch.
Friday, Sept. 8th
The convention, spoken of above, finished its work with the contradiction of nominating a war candidate, Gen. McClellan, with a peace platform. Meanwhile, continued successes near Mobile, & the taking of Atlanta, Georgia, indicate the probability that we may have peace without buying it by the surrender of union or of the national honor pledged to the blacks.
Friday, Sept. 30th 1864
Success has continued to attend the national arms, in the victory of Sheridan over Early in the Shenandoah Valley. The political campaign is waged too with much ardor. Night before last, a great ‘Union & Lincoln’ meeting in Boston was assailed by rowdy violence. The side-candidate, Fremont having withdrawn, the contest is now between Lincoln, representing those who seek peace through war, & McClellan, with those who seek peace through compromise. As I see neither honorable ground for compromise, nor hope of its success, I am for Lincoln.