Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-01-31

Our readers Will pernse with pleasure
the following patriotic letter from Hon.
HERscHEL V. JOHNSON, Democratic can
didate for Vice President at the recent
election. The letter was addressed to j.
p. Jelfries, Esq, of Wooster, and first
published in the Wayne Co. Democrat.
SPIER's TURNOUT
Jefferson County, Gcorgia,}
Dec. 2S, 1860.
My Dear Sir:--I duly received your very kind
letter of the 5th inst, for which please accept my
grateful Acknowledgements.
thank you sincerely for the very compmenta
ry terms, in which you're fer to my canvass in the
North, during the late Presidential election You
do me no mere than justice, when you ascrbe to
me the motive of accepting the nomination for the
Vice Presidency, from purely patriotic cons.dera-
tons. was indeed actuated by a strong c0nyic-
ton of duty. believe that non.lnterventon by
Congress, on the subject of slavery in the territor-
les, was the only principle upon which the agita-
ton could be qucted and the Union saved; the
very best basis Of Compromise, on which the
North and South could hermonze and live in
peace. believe that it has been solemnly agreed
upon, by both sections, as final adjustment and
that each ws> bound in honor, to stand by it, in
mcnt was directly and pap,bly in violation of that
principle; that it would destroy the National Dem
ocratic party lead to the election of Lincoln and
perhaps, the dissolution of the Union. ! had re
fused the use OF any name, rs my friends know, in
connection with the nomination in Baltimore;
was gratfcd when that distinction was rendered
to Gov. Fitzpatrick of Alabama, and greatly sur
priscd when he declined it, His declcnson was
very embarrassing TO the National Democracy
] l,an
called upon me TO accept the nomination. | die
so, because | was unwilling to see the Nationa
Democratic party embarrassed; because though
that the principle of non intervention was in tht
utmost pcril because was anxious to preserve
! fragment, at least, of the Southern Democracy
organized upon that principle in the hope, tina
the nai,onai organizations might be maintained
for future usefulness to the country. l had m
idea of being elected. | knew THAT the rupture
III the Charleston Convention, was fatal to the
triumph Of the national democracy and securc'
the election of Lincoln | labored as zealous
however, as if expected success. But laborc
for what regarded most important principle.
labored to heal the break in the national demo
cratic ranks. laborcd to remove sectional pref
ud os between the Northern and Southern people
! strovc to inform my fellow citizens OF the North
of the real condition OF the slaves of the South
their position in our social structure, and their tru
Idcavorcd to illustrate our rights under the conSti
tuition and to show that their rccOgn ition and oh
servance were Indispensable to the permanent ex
iStcnce of the Union. 70 the best of my poo
ability, attacked, without reserve, the principle
and policy Of the Republican party, showed thei
unconst'tutionality and hostility to the right:
equality, peace and safety of fifteen States Of tn
Union. l faithfully warned my countrymcn q
the pcrils that were gathering thick and threaten
.ll In.
ed ut home; abused by the Republicans of tn
North; whilst overwhelming defeat stared me full
in the face. | have met that defeat, My wors
torebodingS are realized. The National Dcmoc
racy is ovcrthrown Lincoln is elected and the Un
ion is dissolved For what have done, hav
no regrets fer feel that have done right.
have no apology to make to any party, North o
, South; for conscious, rectitude Of purpose is
shield impenetrabe as brass, against the vulga
abuse o. the Republicans, and the unconceale
ccnsures of the Charleston disruptionlsts. lO
, heard some of my speeches and you know ho,
stcrnly | insisted, before Northern audiences, uI
Oh the full measure of the Constitutional rights O
my section of the Union, And should do injus
uce To my own sense of gratitude aud violence
the truth il failed to record, the loud and tumuli
uous applause, with nhich the true hearted Dem
ocracy responded TO my appeals in favor q
Southern rights and Southern equality. Mos
NhS'iiuill w tlluOIse tHe lOHoWlllS laHSuaSe u
your letter. Speaking of your own State, you re
mark, "Although We are beaten, we are not con
quercd and there are yet two hundred thousan
National Democrats in Ohio, who refuse to bov
the knee 10 Black Repbicanism, and who stanC
ready to do battle for the constitutional rights o
the South" What you say Of Ohio is true of tn
North and West There are n million and hal
of true and brave spirits, who in the face ofever
obstacle, are ready to do the South justice. The
are orerpowered now, by circumstances, whic
they could not control But do verify belicv
that the conservative men Of the North, If tim
could bc allowed them TO rally, would drive Blacl
Republcanism to the wall and save the Union b,
doing justice 50 their Southern brcthern | sa
this with sincere peasure,and think, from per
sonal intercourse with them, last summer, ca
say it truthfully.
This, my dear sir, leads me to speak of the cri
sis through which We are passing. | am not go
ing to argue the right Of secession, the one way
: the other. The revolution has begun and argu
ment is in vain. South Carolina has seeded
believe Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana will follow, as soon as their respeC
tive Conventions assemble and can act, Texa
and Arkansas will join them and indeed, al