Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-15
Our Candidate for Ylce-President

resent the name of Andrew johnson,
he patriot of Tennessee, as our candi-
late for President. This, of course,
s subject to the approval of the Union
men of the country, in whatever form
hey may see proper to make it known.
There are several War Democrats, any
one of whom we will cheerfully support
for the second office in the gift of the Am
erican people Indeed,it is difficult to Sc
lect from such worthy names as Joe.
Holt, Daniel S. Dickinson, John Dix,
Benjamin Butler, and Andrew Johnson.
His residence or location will have much
to do with the selection of candidate
for Vice-President. Mr.. Lincoln being
re-nominated, the candidate for Vice
President must, of necessity, come FROM
either the Eastern or Southern part of
the country. We think there are excel
lent reasons for preferring man, other
qualifications being equal, from the
South.
1t has been the great absorbing idea
with the present Administration to pre-
serve the unity of the States. "Not star
shall be erased from our flag, not stripe
dimmed," has been the war cry of our
soldiers. Equally true is it, that the
South has been persevering in the I'M
equal struggle in the hope that, weary
with war and bloodshed, the Northern
States will at last consent to a division
of the Government for the sake of peace.
Every manifestation of restlessness and
hostility to further prosecution of the
war in the North, has neryed the South
to continuation of the struggle. On
the other hand, despair seems to prevail
in proportion as they discover the un-
yielding determination of the North to
urge the war to the extent of the last
man and the last dollar, unless the
rebels yield and forsake their rebel
lious organization. Hence, abuse of
our government gives them encour-
agement and grounds for hope;
while an enthusiastic endorsement of its
war measures proportiortionately depress-
es and disheartens them. We believe
no single act would have so powerful an
influence in convincing the rebels of the
unyielding determination of the Govern
ment to retain within its possession every
foot of soil held by it at the commence
ment of the struggle, as the nomination
and election to the second highest posi-
ton within the gift of its people, of a
man who has always lived in the South,
been identified with all its interests, and
whom, in other days, it delighted to hon.
or Such man is Andrew johnson of
Tennessee.
There is yet another reason why Mr..
Johnson is preferable as a candidate for
Vice President to many others mentioned
in connection with that position. The
Southern States have need to be convinc-
ed Of the fact that hereafter loyalty to the
Union is the test for positions of honor in
the Government Her etofore, the pass
port to official favor and positions of in
huence and profit has been unstinted
abuse of the Union. To get seats in the
Cabinet man had to denounce the big.
gest half of the Government, stigmatize its
citizens and threaten, on the least provo
cation, to break up and destroy the Union.
To secure seats in the United States
Senate every knee was compelled to
bow to the divinity of slavery, every
tongue sing praises to its civilizing and
humanizing influences, and every effort
made to spread it all over the territories
belonging to the General Government.
The nomination of Andy Johnson and
his triumphant election would teach the
South different lesson.
Again, by his election, they will
learn that the Government is making
no war upon the South. The highest pc
sitions are within reach of its citizens, if
they will only remain true to the Union
No other qualification is demanded.
The triumphant election of Andrew
Johnson will be saying to every aspiring
heart within the limits of the Southern
States: See how much more doth it profit
man to be true to his government than
to prove false; to be patriot rather
than traitor.
Besides convincing the rebels of the
unalterable determination of the Govern
ment to maintain its geographical, as
well as its political, unity, and showing
them, at the same time, its appreciation
of loyalty, the nomination of Mr..
Johnson, and his election, will naturally
direct their attention to the neces-
sity of quickly availing themselves
of the Presidents Proclamation.
They will see they have altogether
mistaken the intentions of the Govern
ment,; they viii become convinced that
they have been deceived as to the char
acter of the northern people; and above
all, they will become satisfied that the
war is not being waged in a spirit Of
revenge or hostility to the institutions OF
the South, but solely for the preservation
of the Union and the perpetuation of
a Republican form of Government
Once convinced on this point, all who
were not parties to the conspiracy at its
inception, will be ready to ground the
weapons of their unequal warfare and
return to the Government who never
treated them ought than kindly. These
are some of the reasons which induce us
to place the name of Andrew johnson
at the head of our columns for Vice
President. More may be given at anoth
| er time.