Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-07-12
Mistellaneous.
SPEECH OE hon. Il. Y. JOHNSON.
Democratic Nominee for Vice
President, Accepting < the N Omi-
nation, at Washington, june


President, Accepting Z the N Olni-
nation, at Washington, june
26.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, GENTLEMEN OF THE Ma
TIoNAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND Fellow
CITIZENS: l was taken by surprise when l
received telegraphic message in Balti-
more, at three o'clock this day, that the
Hon. Benjamin Fitzpatrick had declined
the nomination rendered him by the Dem
ocratic Convention, and that it was de-
manded of me to accept it. 1t is known
to many of you that my name was free
ly mentioned in Baltimore in connection
with this nomination and that persist
emily refused to countenance it, but inva-
riably argued that if Georgia were to be
thus honored, it was due to another of
her sons, most distinguished for his tai
ents and great gublic services.
This was my earnest desire, and the de-
sire of the delegation of which l was a
member. But the Convention in it's wis
dom deemed it best to nominate a states
man o0Alabama. 1t was entirely salts
factory. Alabama is the child of Geor-
gia, and the mother cordially responds to
any compliment bestowed upon her daugh
ter. These are the circumstances under
which 1 have been assigned this distin-
guished position, and which demand that
discrimination should yield to the voice
of duty.
The National Democratic party is in a
peculiar condition. 1t is assailed in the
house of its professed friends, and threat
ened with overthrow. The country is in
a peculiar condition. 1t is on the eve of
sectional conflict, which may sweep
down all political parties and terminate in
a dissolution of the Union. 1t is tho du-
ty of patriots and statesmen to unite in
averting these threatened calamities.
1t may not be inappropriate to refer to
the circumstances which imperil the Ma
tional Democracy The Alabama delega-
tion went to the Convention at Charles
ton, instructed to demand the incorpora-
ton into the platform of the party the
proposition that Congress should inter-
vene for the protection of slavery in the
Territories, and to withdraw if the demand
should be refused. 1t was refused, and /
think properly refused. That delegation
did retire, and with them large portion
of the delegations from the cotton States.
Why should they have retired? The rec
ord shows that if they had remained at
their post, they bad the power to prevent
the nomination of any candidate who
might be obnoxious to the South.
Thus reduced by the secessions, the
Convention adjourned to Baltimore, and
requested the States to fill the vacancies
in their respective delegations. The Con-
vention reassembled on the 18th. The
seeding delegations were returned-some
accredited to ichmond-instructed to
make the same demand, and withdraw if
it be refused Delegates were appointed
in Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia, by
the National Democrats of those States,
to fill the vacant seats af the seceders.-
Those of Alabama and Louisiana were
admitted, and the seeding delegates re-
jected, and the seeding delegates from
Georgia were admitted to seats, and they
all took umbrage at the decisions of the
Convention touching the various contests
for seats. They retired, organized, and
nominated candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency. And they claim
to be the National Democracy of the Uni
ted States!
Now, If they were actuated by princi-
Pile; if it was their purpose, in good faith,
to obtain the recognition of the principle
OF Congressional protection for slavery
in the Territories, why not wait until a
proper time to bring that subject before
the Convention, and then according tc
their instructions, withdraw from tho
body? The reason is papable; they were
waging war against distinguished man,
not for the maintenance of principle
They were willing to jeopardze the integ'
rity of the Democratic party, and the tri'
umph of its cherished principles, rather
than see its will proclaimed in the nomi-
nation of its favorite. Admitting for the
sake of argument, Mr.. Douglas to be as
obnoxious as they allege he is, yet there