The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-04

shades happened 10 come.
The Baltimore Nominations.
Governor .BohnsOn's EeIter of Accept
ancc.
The following is Governor Johnson's reply
to the Committee informing him of his nom
nation for the Vice Presidency:
NASHVILLE Tenn. July,2, 1864
Hon. Wm. Oenuison. Chairman, and others, Com
mittee of tue National Union Convention
GENTLEMEN Your communication of the
9th ult., informing me of my nomination
for the Vice Presidency of, the Uuited States,
by the National Convention held at Balti-
more, and inclosing a copy Of the resolutions
adopted by that body,w not received until
the 10Th ult.
A reply on my part had been previously
made to the action Of the Convention IN pre-
senting my name'in a speech delivered in
this city CD the evening succeeding the adj
iournment of the Convention, in which in
dicated my acceptance of the distinguished
honor conferred by that body, and defined
the grounds upon which thatiacceptance was
based, substantially saying what now have
to say. From the comments made upon that
speech by the various presses OF the country
to which my attention has been directed, |
considered it to be regarded as full accept
ance.
In view, however, Of the desire express
ed in your communication, will fully al
lude to few points that have been hereto
fore presented.
My opinions or the leading questions at
present agtating and distracting the public
mind, and especially in reference to the re-
bellion now being waged against the Gov
ernment and authority of the United States,
l presume are generally understood. Before
the Southern people assumed belligerant
attitude, (and repeatedly sinCe,) | took occa-
sion most frankly to declare the views |
then entertained in relation to the wicked
purposes Of the Southern politicians. They
have since undergone but ittie,if any
change. Time and subsequent events have
rather confirmed than diminished my con-
hdence in their correctness.
At the beginning of this great struggle, L
entertained the same opinion of it | do now,
and in my place in the Senate | denounced
it as treason, worthy the punishment OF
death, and warned the Government and peo-
pie of the impending danger. But my voice
was not heard or counsel needed until it was
too late to avert the impending storm. 1t
still continued to gather over us with
out lnolestation from the authorities a.
Washington, until at length it broke With
all it's fury upon the country And now,t we
would save ,the Government from. being
overwhelmed by tive must meet 1t IN the
true spirit of patriotism, and bring traitors
to the punishment due their crime, and by
force Of arms, crush out and subdue the
last Vestige Of rebel authority III every
State, felt then, as now, that the destruc-
ton Of the Government was deliberately
determined upon by wicked and designing
cousprators, whose lives and fortunes were
pledged TO carry it out and that no COM
promise short Of an unconditional recogni-
ton OF the independence of the Southern
States, could have. been, or could now be
proposed which they would accept. The
clanor for Southern Rights" as the rebel
journals were pleased to designate thei +
rallying cry was not to secure their assumed
rights in the Union and under, the Con
stitution, but to disrupt the Government and
establish an independent organization based
upon slavery, which they could at all times
control.
The separation Of the Government has
for wears past been the cherished purpose
Of tile Southern leaders Batfled in 1862 by
the stern patriotic beroism Of Andrew Jack
son, they sulleuly acquiesced, only to ma
ture their diabolical schemes, and await the
recurrence Of more favorable opportunity
to execute them. Then the preteXt was the
tariff. and jackson after foiling their schemes
of nullilication and disunion, with prophet
ic perspicacity, warned the country against
the renewed Of their efforts to dlsmembel
the Government.
In letter dated May /, 1888, to the Rev
A.. j. Crawford, after demonstrating the
heartless insincerity of the Southern nul
| lifers, he said;
therefore the tariff was only a pretext
| and disuuion and Southern ContederacJ
the real object, The next pretext will be
the negro or slavery question"
| Time has fully verified this prediction,
| and we have now only 'the negro or slave
nv question" as the pretext, but the rea
cause of the rebellion, and both must g 0
down together 1t is vain to attempt to re
| construct the Uui OH with the dlstractlnG
| element slavery lit. Experience has demon
strated its incolnpatibility with free and re
publican Governments and it would be IN
wise and unjust longer to continue it as ont
| of the institutions Of the country. While /
remained subordinate to the Constitution
aud laws ofthe United States, yielded t.
it my support, but when it became rebelliou'
and attempted to rise:above the Government
and control it's action, threw my humble IN
| fueuce against 1t.
The authority of the Government is su
preme and will admit Of no rivalry. Noin
| stitution can rise above it, whether it be
slavery or any other organized power. II
our happy form Of government all must b'
subordinate to the will Of the people, wher
reflected through the Constitution and laws
made pursuant thereto-State or Federal
This great principle lies at the foundation 0
every Government, and cannot he dlsre
| garded without the destruction of the Gov
erinnent itself. In the support and prac
tice Of correct principles we can never reacl
wrong results and by igorously adherinf
/ to this great fundamental trutlrthe end vii
be the preservation of the Union, and the
overthrow OF an institution which has made
war upon, and attempted the destruction
| the Government itself.
The mode by which this great change
/ the emancipation of the slave-can be effect
ed properly found in the power to amenC
the Constitution Of the United States. Thi;
plan is ofectual, and of no doubtful author
| itv and while it does not contravene tht
timelyWar Power by the President in his
Emancipation Proclamation,it comes stamp
ed with the authority Of the people them
selves, acting in accordance with the writer
rule Of the supreme law Of the land ano
must therefore give more general satisfac.
ton and quietude to tho distracted public
mind.
| By recurring to theprinciples contained IL
the resolutions SO UNANIMOUSLY adopted by
the Conventional find that they substan
iaIIv accord with my public acts and opin--
| ions heretofore made known and expressed,
and are therefore most cordially Endorsed
and approved and the nomination, having
/ been conferred without any solication on my