Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-06
CHI; Ohio 9tatesn,,ran
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Ietler FROM BON. q. v. oJohnsOn.

u Letter from Hon. Il. v. 'Johnson.
Isl .rf e.ral nor sPfkR's TuRNouT OF
IA -r t.- rr- JaGerson C0atiay, Georgia,
-r.... Dec. 70, 1850.
= Nh Dear Sir:-I duly received yourvery kind lettc
Of the 18th inst for which please accept my grateful &C
thane YOU sincerely for the very complimentary
terms In which you refer to my canvass In the North
during the late Presidential campago Yoa do me nj
m0re than justce, when you ascrbe TO me the motive
accepting the nomination for the Vice Presidency from
purely patriotic considerations was indeed actraed
by strong conviction Of duty. believed that non-ln-
teryention by Congress- on the suoee. q n ,ha
tion could be quetted and the Union saYedi the very
best basis Of Compromise on which the North and South
could hamonze sndive In peace belieyec that had
been solemnly agreed upon, by both sections, as final
adjustment and that each bound In honor to stand
by It, In good faith Ibelleved the BreckinrdSe move.
en we. directly and palpably in violation OF that prln.
oiple that It would destroy the National Democratic
party lead 10 the election Of Lincoln and perhepsj the
dissolution Of the Union. had refused the use Of any
name, my friends know, In connection with the nomi
tlon was rendered to Gov, Fitzpatrick Of Alabama and
greatly surprised when he declined IL. His declenson
was very embarrassing TO the National Democracy be-
cause 50 unexpected. The executive committee called
upon me to accept the nomination Idid 60, becauge
was unwilling to see the National Democratic party em.
barrassed because thought that the principle of
Intervention In tho utmost peril because aux.
ious to preserve fIagment at least OF The Southern
that the national organisation might bs manained for
future usefulness to the country. had idea of being
elected. knew that the rupture in the Charleston
Convention fatal to the triumph Of the national de-
mooracy and secured the election Of lincoln labored
as zeaously however, II expected success. Bnt
labored for what regarded most important prlI ciple
labored TO heal the break In the national democratic
ranks. l labored 10 remove sectional prejudices
between the Northern aud HOuthern people.
strove to inform my feowcltizens of the North Of
the real condition OF the slaves OF the South their posi-.
ton in social structure, and their true relation TO
capital as laborng class endeavored to illustrate
rights under the constitution and to show that their
and Observance indispensable to the
manent existence OF the Union. To the best Of my poor
ability, attacked without reserve, the principles and
policy Of the Republican party showed their unconst.
tutonality and hostility to the rights, equality peace
and safety Of fifteen States Of the Union. faithfully
warned my countymen Of The pers that were gathering
thick and hreateningy the temple Of our liberty
was traduced at home abused by the Republicans Of
the North; whilst overwhelming defeat stared fully
Ia the face. have met that defeat. My worst fore
bodngs realized The National Democracy is over.
thrown Lincoln Is elected and the Union 10 dissolved.
For what have done, have no regrets; for feel /
have done right Ihays no apology tomake to any party,
north SOUTH for conscious rectitude Of purpose Is
shield mpenetrsbe brass against the vulgar abuse Of
and the unconceaed censures OF the Charles.
You heard SONG Of
know now @ siernIy Northern audiences,
sect Sftne Union. And should do injuste 10 my
swn sense Of gratitude and violence to the truth, II
failed to record the loud and umultuous applause with
which the tr hearted Democracy responded TO nv ap.
peals, In favor OF S0uhern rights and Southern quaty
Most cheerfuy do endorse the following LANGUAGE al
your letter. Speaking OF your own State you remark
although We are beaten, We are rot conquered and
there yet two hundred hoe sand National Democrats
Ohio, who refuse bow the knee to Black Republics
ism and who stand ready to do battle for the
tional rights OF the South" What you saw OF OHIO K
true o, the North and West. There are million and
half OF true and brave spts who the face of ever
obstace are ready to do the South justice. They arr
overpowered now, by circumstances, which they coult
not control But do veryy believe that the conserya
tive men OF the North, II time could be allowed them h
rally, would drive Black Republcanism to the wall ant
save the Union by doing justice to their Southern broth
rem say this with sincere pleasure and think from
personal intercoure with them, last summer can say
tsuthfully. ...er.r
This, my dear sir, leads me to spesk Of the cri,i
through which passing. am nof going to,argue
the right OF secession, the one way or the other Th
revolution has begun and argument Is In vain. Soutl
Carolina has seceeded. believe Florida Georgia. Ala
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana will follow as soon al
their respective conventions assemble and act Texas
aud Arkansas will join them, and, indeed, am prepared
to fourteen Of the Southern States all severed from
the ConfedeIacy in few brief months OF the secession
OF the cotton growing States, scarcely entertain
doubt. counseling delay for two purposes first 10
give the conservative element Of the slayeholduQ
States time to rally to organize and to act As have
said above had strong hopes thatit would be able
to do the South Justice, and give such guarantees Of -
ture security would the Union. advise delay in
the second place In order to obtain cooperation among
the slave eholding States. both in making the appeal to
that conservatism, and devsing the best line OF action
Ia the event the appeal should be unayang But sir
have but little hopes OF any such delay, any purpose
There is settled resolve, by msjory-a large majority
OF the people Of the cotongrowiDg Staos to re-
cognze Lincoln asther PIesident-never to be an 10.
tegal part Of which he may ruene.
to tolerate for an hour allegiance Union ofwhich
he il chief This 10 the truth In all sobe rness and ,ad
mi mn hoxz IA .d
months ago, Immediately after heelecon the Republi.
cans had Indicated any disposition to abandon their hos.
tile poeyand give full force to the Constitutional pro-
visions for the extndon OF fugitive slaves But In.
ead Of this they taunted insuled eered and abused
the South; gloned in their own shame because their
treason was tumphant hectored because they were
densd by power threatened because they were ntoxica
ted by the bright prospects Of public punder and the
spoils OF Office. But the Rubcon ID passed. and do not
believe any power earth the Union. Indesd
the Union Is dissolved aready What Is to 10 donei
What be donef What ought to be done In my udg.
msnt nothing but for patriots, North and South to ex.
erose the greatest prudence and in order
avert the calamity of civil and bloodshed Let seces
eion bepeacea6'e " posssc9e. iSs= A., a =. I.
advocate the policy Of coercion But apprehend they
have not considered all the consequencrso Of such po.
cy. They are awful to contemplate. When men are
exaspeaed and feel that great caamies are about be
brought upon hem they apt to consider that some
body ought TO be punished and that
is clothed with power TO nhic 1t. The South on the
hand are so enraged at Lincons election and the
prospect Of enforcement OF the Republican policy,
that they VIII not make effort, nor give time 10
obtain reconciliation. They precipitatey secede from
the Union. The North, on the other hand, regarding
this as rash and rnoug, aroused TO spirit Of re-
venge and are In considerable numbers for coercion
This will not do. 1t Is fraught with woe and nothing
with unmixed evil. Look at At dispas
Would coercion save Che Union? No man can belieye
II for one moment. The FIRST blow stricken for such
purpose, would kinde blaze which would never be ex
but by the last drop OF life blood from the
heartof every Southern man. brayer or more desper
ate people never lived on the face OF the earth The
Southern States may possibly te led back and the Union
by the manifestation OF friendship and An
unressryed return to Constitutional obligations by the
Republican mejoreS OF the North. But they will suf
fer exsfminaon, sooner than to be forced to abide
political association with those who the Union as an
instrument Of injustice and oppression. n rrt0ts
But suppose the nonslaveholdng States were TO sue.
coed IN eonquerng the Southern states what sort o
Union would be? Union of force Is Union Of oI,-
preston; freedom "a gone selfgoyernment Is annha-
ted. Would the conquered states be the equals Of the
conuuoring States? Then State equality destroyed
All these are Of the essence Of that liberty which ouI
form Of government was intended to perpetuate-they
are ts constituent elements. Whatbecomeso of liberty,
ifthose elements are crushed by military powerl =, You
may punish ildietdudis toho on their oion rssponsi
biltu Utode ld1c; but TO compel States to adhere Ia
political association against their will, 10 to abolsf
freedom. Hence, you perceive, that coercion 10 adverse
to the very genius and spirit OF federal system.
r There are thousand considerations, more easy to b
imagined than described which render the very des Of co
ercon rsvoting to all the better and nobler sentiments
OF the heart How strong and tender are the ties
marriage relations betWesn the sections Fathers ans
mothers in the North, haye sons and Daughters and
grandchildren In the South; and oice craG how could
they consent to take up against their own heSh ant
bloodf There are thousands OF men In the South VII,
honestly deprecate secesson; but they would be bas
recreants, IT, they refused to share the fortunes
their respective States How could the true Democrac,
Of the North ever get their own consent TO attempt
N iha m0rd- hang them the
These are home questions; but they must be answere
whore coercion Is urged and they are questions that will
breed strife North OF Mason and Dixons ne. There ar
thousands there, who would never consent to take