Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-08-04
LETTER FROM ANDREW
JOHNSON. fa
He Accepts the Nomination for
the ,yicc-Presidency.
NAsHYILLE, TENN, July 2. 1854.

OdtiDore, anu lnclOslDg copy OF the res
olutions adopted by that body, was not re
ceived until the 9th ult.
A reply on my part had been previousl
made to the action of the Convention il
presenting my name, in speech delvere,
IN this city on the evening succeeding tn
day of the adjournment Of the Convention
~ which indicated my acceptance of th
distinguished honor conferred by that body
and defined the grounds upon which tha
acceptance was based, substantially sayin,
what baye now to say. From the com
ments made upon that speech by the variou
presses OF the country to which my atten
ton has been directed, | considered il to b,
regarded as full acceptance.
In view, however. of the desire expressed
IN your communication, will more full,
allude to few points that have been here
toiore presented.
My opinions on the leading questions at
present agitating and distracting the public
mind, and especially in reference to the Re
belion now being waged against the Gov.
ernment and authority of the United States
presume are generally understood.
Before the Southern people assumed O
bbelligerent attitude land repeatedly since,
took occasion most frankly TO declare the
views then entertained in relation to the
wicked purposes of the Southern politicians.
They have since undergone but little, if any,
change. Time and subsequent events have
rather confirmed than diminished my con.
dence in their correctness.
AT the beginning of this struggle I en-
tanned the same opinion of it that do now,
and in my place in the Senate | denounced
It as treason. worthy the punishment of
death, and warned the Government and
people of the impending danger. But my
voice was not heard or counsel needed until
1t was too late to avert the storm. 1t still
continued to gather over US without moles.
tation from the authorities at Washington,
unit ut length it broke with all its fury up
on the country. And now, if we would
save the Government from being overwhelm-
ed by 1t we must meet it in the true spirit
OF patriotism, and bring traitors to the
punishment due their crimes, and by force
OF arms crush out and subdue the last
vestlge of Rebel authority in every State.
felt then as now, that the destruction of
the Government was deliberately determin-
ed upon by wicked and designing conspira-
tors. whose lives and fortunes were pledged
to carry it out, and that no compromise.
short of an unconditional recognition of the
independence of the Southern States, could
have been, or could now be proposed, which
they would accept. The clamor for "South-
ern rig hts" as the Rebel journals we're
pleased to designate their rallying cry, was
not to secure their assumed rights in the
Union and under the Constitution, but to
disrupt the Government, and establish an
independent organization, based upon slav-
cry, which they could at all times control
The separation of the Government has
for years past been the cherished purpose
of the Southern leaders. Baffl.d in 1882,
by the stern, patriotic herosm of Andrew
jackson, they sulleny acquiesced. only 10
mature their diabolical schemes; and await
the recurrence of more favorable oppoi.
tunity to execute them. Then the pretext
was the tariff, and Jackson, after foiling
their scheme of notification and disunioD,
with prophetic perspcuity warned the
country against the renewal of their efforts
to dismember the Government. ...
In letter, dated May /, 1883, to the Rev.
A. j. Crawford, after demonstrating the
heartless insncerity of the Southern null
lifers, he said: ..-.. +.
Therefore the tariff was only pretext,
and disunion and a Southern Confederacy
the real objet The next pretext will be the
negro or Slavery question"
Time has fully verified this prediction, and
we have now not only the negro or slavery
question as the pretext, but the real cause
of the Rebellion, and both must go down
together 1t is vain to attempt to recon-
struct the Union with the dstracting ele-
ment Of Slavery in it. Experience has de-
monstrated its incompatibility with free
and Republican Governments, and it would
be unwise and unjust longer to continue it
as one of the institutions of the country
While it remained subordinate to the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States,
yielded to it my support, but when it be.
came rebellious and attempted to rise above
the Government and control its action, l
threw my humble influence against it.
The authority Of the Government is su-
preme, and will admit of no rivalry. No
institution can rise above it whether it be
Slavery or any other organized power. In
our happy form of government all must be
10 the will Of the people, when
reflected through the Constitution and laws
made pursuant thereto-State or Federal.
This great principle lies at the foundation
OF every government. and cannot be disre.
garded without the destruction of the gov
itself In the support and practice
OF correct principles we can never reach
wrong results; and by rigidly adhering to
this fundamental truth, the end will be the
preservation Of the Onion, and the over
throw of an Institution which has made war
upon, and attempted the destruction of the
Government itself ''.'.''H - p.
The mode by which this great change
the emancipation Of the slave-caIi be ef-
fected, is properly found in the power to
amend the Constitution of the United States.
This plan is effectual, and of no doubtful
authority and while it does not contravene
the TIMELY, exercise OF the war power by
the President in his Emancipation Procla-
nation, it comes stamped with the author
ity of the people themselves. acting in ac-
cordance with the written rule OF the SUI
preme law of the land, and must therefore
give more general satisfaction and quietude
to the distracted public mind. h4E
BY recurring to the principles contained
in the resolutions so unanimously adopted
by the Convention, find that they sub
stantially accord with my public acts and
opinions heretofore made known and ex-
pressed. and are therefore most cordially
indorsed and approved; and the Domina-
tion, having been conferred without any So
licitation on my part, is with the greater
pleasure accepted.
In accepting the nomination I might here