Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-08-02


ocralic ticket. Let the loyal voters Of the coun-
Try look well 10 the company they keep.
Andrew Johnson's Letter of Acceptance
The following letter from Hon. Andrew John
800, accepting the nomination for the Vice Pres.
idency, is published 10 the Nashville Union:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July %, 1864.
Hon. William Dennison, Chairman, and Others
Committee of The National Union Convention :
Gentlemen-Your communication OF tue gth
! ultimo informing me Of my nomination for the
| Vice Presidency of the United States by the
National Convention held at Bltmore, and en-
closing copy of the resolutions ADOPTED by
that body, was not received until the 25th ult
A reply on my part had been previously made
to the action of the Convention in presenting
my name, in speech delivered in this city on
the evening succeeding the day Of the adjourn.
ment of the Convention, in which indicated
my acceptance Of the distinguished honor con
ierred by that body, aud defined The grounds
upon which that acceptance was based, substan-
TALLY saying what now have TO say. From
the comments made upon that speech by the
various presses of the country to which my at
teutiOn has been directed, considered it " BE-
regarded as full acceptance.
10 view, however, OF the desire expressed in
your communication, | will more fully a.lude
to a few points that have been heretofore pr.
sented
My opinions on the leading questions at
presen agt ing and disIracting the public mlno
and especially IN reference to the rebellion now
/ kn,. no
ty OF the United States, presume are geuorally
| Understood.
Before the southern people assumed btLig-
erent attitude, land repeatedly slnce,) | took
Occaslon most frankly 10 decla The views ! chen
entertained IN relation " the wicked purposes
Of the SUI hern politicians Ihey nave since
undergone but httie II any change. Time
and subsequent events have rather confirmed
than dlmIulshed my confidence IN their correct
ness
At the beginning OF this great struggle en-
tertalned the SINE opinion VI IL that 10 now,
and IN my place III The SENATE denounced /, DIS
treason, worthy the punishment ot death and
warned the government aud people VI Tie IN.
pending danger. But my voice was not Leard
or counsel needed until 1t was 100 late 10 avert
tn, storm Ii still continued to gather over us
without mOleslation from the autholues at
Washing tOn, until AZ length 1t broke wlth all
It's fury upon the country And nov, il we
would save the government from being over
whelmed by 1t, we must meet 1t IN the rue
spirit of PATRIOTISM, aud bring tlaltUfs 10 the
punishment due their crime, and by lrrce of
arms crush out and subIue the last yestlge of
rebel authority IN every State. | leit then, us
now, that the destruction OF tue government
Was deliberately determined upon by wicked
and designing cOnsplraIUrs, whose lives and lUr-
tunes were pledged " carry IL out, and that no
compromise, short vi all unconditional rec0gn-
ton Of the independence OF the Southern States,
could have beeu, or could low he proposed
which they would accept Inc clamVr for
- Southern rights, as the rebels were pleased
to designate their rallyng cry, was not To secure
/ their assumed rights IN the Union and uoder
the Constitution, 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
years past been the cherished plan Oi the South
ern leaders. Baiiled, IN 1892, by the stern,
patriotic herosm Of Andrew jackson, they sui.
lenly acquiesced, only to mature their diabOical
schemes, and await the occurrence OF more ia
, vorabe opportunity to execute them. Then the
pretext was the tariff, and jackson, alter ioillng
their schemes Of notification and disunlOn,
with prophetic perspicacity, warned the country
against the renewal of their efforts to dismember
the government.
10 letter dated May lst, 1888, to the Rev.
! A. j. Crawford, after demonstrating the heart.
} less inslncerty of the Southern nullihers, he
said
" Therefore the tariff was only u pretext, and
disunion and the Southern conlederacy the real
object. The mex. pretexi will be the negro, or
: slavery question. ,"
! lime mas fully verified this prediction and
we have now not only )" negro or 81 very
question as the pretext, but the real cause OF
, the rebellion, and both must 70 down together
Ii is IN VAIN TO attempt to reconstruct the Union
with the dstracting element Of slavery in it.
Experience has demonstrated IT, inCompatbility
with free and republican governments, and il
would be unwise and unjust to continue it as
; one Of the institutions OF the country. While
i; remained subordinate to the constitution and
laws Of the United States, | yielded to it nv
support, but when it became rebelious and al.
tempted to rise above the government and Goa
y Tul w dV'Oni tuich my uumDlo influence
; against IT,
The authority of the government is supreme,
and will admit OF no rivalry, No institution
; can rise above it, whether it be slavery or any
other organized power. In cur happy form Of
government, all must be subordinate 70 the will
Of the people, when reflected through the Con.
stiiutljn and laws made pursuant thereto=-State
or Federal. THIS great principle lies at the
foundation Of every government and cannot be
disregarded withou, the destruction OF the poy
ernment itself. 10 the supper, and practice of
correct principles we can never reach wrong re-
suits End BY rigidly adhering to this iunda
mental truth the emu will DO Tie preservation
Of the Union and the overthrow Oh ah institution
which has made war upon, and attempted the
destruction OF The government itself.
The pcde by which this great change-lhe
! emancipation Of the slaye--can be effected. i
properly found 10 the power to amend the Con-
+ s!ituliOn VI the United State, This plan is Of
ieoiual, and Of no doubtful authority and
while u does not % travene the timely exercise
of the Mar Power by the President in hls eman.