The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-02-23

Letter Of COL . oh nsou.
The following letter from Col! JOHNSON breathos
the right spirit aud is jus! what might have been
expected from the scIr-co7ered hero. Would that
the country had many ike him
TO the Editor Of The Globe.
Sir: From great number of letters
received by me, from various sections of
our country, find difference Of opinion
exists as to the ground occupy relative
TO the canvass for the Offices of President
and Vice President of the United States.
And | find as great diversity of opinion
among my friends as to the course
should adop.-some advising that, under
no circumstances, should | permit my
name to be used for the vice pre.idency-
others advising that should 40. submit
my name 10 the decision Of a national
convention; and the most numerous OK
pressing wish that should accept the
nomination Tor The Office of Vice Presi-
dent, provided a majority of the delegates
10 the national convention should think
proper to selec, me as a candidate for the
vice presidency, after prelerring another
for the office of President.
In January, 1912, was nominated, at
Frankfort, Kentucky, for the presidency,
by mass meeting, composed of the dem
ocraIic members OF the Legislature and cit
liens of that State, subject to decision
of lhe national convention. In January,
l643, | was nominated for the same Of
flee by Stale democratic convention at
frankfort, Kentucky, composed of five
hundred delegates, subject to decision
of national convention. was after
wards again nominated by subsequent
State democratic convention, composed Of
more than five hundred delegates, for the
same Office, subject TO the same condition.
Each of these nominations was unani-
nous. In January, lS4a, the Democrat
ic State convention OF Indiana called upon
me, in common with others, TO know if
were willing to abide by the decision Of
national convention; and, further, if !
would sustain the nominations Of that
convention for the offices Of President and
Vice President Of the United States.
My answer to these inlcrrogatorics was
without eqnivocation: which was, that
would support the nominees. ! have no
reason 10 change that determination but.
on the contrary, have good reasons for
being confirmed in my opinion as to the
necessity of adherng to my resolution,
to insure the triumph of the democratic
party. | intend to redeem my pledge
faithfully, without respect 10 persons.
Subiec, to the foregoing conditions, /
have permitted my name TO be placed be-
fore the public, and the national conven-
ton to be held at Baltimore on the fourth
Monday of May next, for the office OF
President. need not consume time IN
referring to my nomination for the Office
of President, by friends in other States
than Kentucky. No matter how fla,ter-
ing these demonstrations Of public conf
dence, (all of which are duly appreciated.)
my asserting to their wishes was not pre-
dic,ed upon tho consideration that | was
nominated for the first Office; my assent
to their permission of the use my name
would have been equally as sincere and
cordial Cor the Office of Vice President.
4 l am now, as | ever have been, identi-
fed with the democratic party. never
expec. to change that identity. The sue
cess of the measures Of that party are too
dear TO me TO be jeoparded by any selfish
considerations on my part; and, there
fore, | ask nothing, and expect nothing,
a, the hands of the convention, that will
in any manner injure or haza1d the sue
cess Of the common cause. If the con-
, ven,ion, in ,heir wisdom, should consider