Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-22
A Vice Presidential Nominee on the
Crisis and its Demands.
Speech of Goy. Johnson at Nashville.

A Union mass meeting was held at Nash
Vile on Friday night at which Gov JOHNSON
was the principal speaker. We find the fol
lowing report in the Nashville Tunes:
The appearance of Governor johnson OF
the steps of the st. Cloud, was greeted BY the
vast crowd with loud applause. All were
anxious to see and hear the next Vice Pres
ident Of the United States.
After thanking the assembly for the com
pliment they had bestowed on him. and fe "
other preliminary remarks, Gov. Johnson pro
ceeded to say that We are engaged in great
struggle for free government in the proper
acceptation of the term.
So far as the head of the ticket is concern
ed, the Baltimore Convention has said, not
only to the United States but to all the ma
tions of the EARTH that We are determined to
maintain and carry out the principles of free
government. TApplause. That Convention
announced and confirmed a principle not to
be disregarded. 1t was that the right of Sc
cession, and the power of State to place it
self out of the Union, are not recognized
The Convention had declared this principle
by its action. Tennessee had been in rebel
lion against the Government, and waged
reasonable war against its authority just as
other Southern States had done. She had
seeded just as much other States had and
left the Union as far as she had the power to
do SO. Nevertheless, the National Conven-
ton had declared that a State cannot put it
self from under the national authority. 1t
said BY its first nomination, that til. present
President, take him altogether, was the man
to steer the ship of State for the next four
years. Loud Applause.l Next it said-if
may be permitted 10 speak of myself not in
the way Of vanity, but to illustrate princi-
ple-"We VII go into one of the rebellious
States and choose candidate for the Vice
De- .Ny.y.g ~ -
its belief that the rebellious States are still
in the Union, and that their loyal citizens are
still citizens of the United States. And now
there IS but one great work for Us to do, that
Is TO put down the rebellion. Our duty Is to
sustain the Government and help it with all
our might to crush out rebellion which IS in
violation Of all that is right and sacred.
Governor johnson said he had no impas-
stoned appeal 10 make to the people in his
own behalf He had not sought the position
ASSIGNED him hy the National Convention.
Not in all the land can truthfullv say
that nave asked him to use his influence in
my behalf in that body, for the position al
Iotted to me, or for any other. On the con
trary | have avoided the candidacy. But
while have not sought it, still being con
terred upon me unsought, | appreciate it the
more highly. Beng conferred on me without
solicitation, l shall not decline it. Applause
Come veal or woe, sue IS or defeat, sink OF
swim, survive or perish / accept the nomina-
ton, principle, be the consequences what
they may. / viii do what | believe TO be my
duty. | know there are those here who pro
fess to feel contempt for me, and l. on the
other hand feel my superiority to them. |
have always understood that there is a sort
of exclusive aTistocracy about Nashville
which affects to contemn all who are not
Wi thin its little circle. Let them enjoy their
opinions. / have heard it said that,
This aristocracy has been the bane Of the
slave States, nor has the North been wholly
free from its curse. It's class which have
always forced to respect me, for | have ever
set II at defiance. The respect of the honest
intelligent and industrious class | have en-
deayored TO win by my conduct as a MAN.
One Of the chief elements of this rebellion
Is the opposition of the slave aristocracv To
being ruled by men who have risen from the
ranks of the people This uristocracv hated
Mr. Lincoln because he was of humble origin.
rail-spHttcr in early life. One of them, the
private secretary Of Howell Cobb, said to me
one day after long conversation, I'VE peo-
pie Of the South viii not submit to be GOV
erugd by a man who has come up from the
ranks OF the common people, as Ace Lincoln
has" lie uttered the essential fcelu and
spirit Of this southern rebellion. Now it has
just occurred to me, if this aristocracy IS So
violently opposed to being governed by Mr..
Lincoln what in the name of conscience will
it DO with Lincoln and Johnson? TCreat
laughter. I reject with scorn this u hole
idea of arrogant arisjoCTucy. ! believe that
man is capable Of selfgoverument, irrcspec-
tive OF his outward circumstances, and
whether he be a laborer, a shoemaker, a tai
lor. on 4 grocer. The question IS, whether
man is capable of scli-government | hold
With Jefferson that Government was made
for the convenience OF man, and not man for
the Government. That laws and constitutions
were designed, as mere instruments, TO pro
mote his welfare. And hence, from this prin-
eipit | conclude that governments can and
ought to be changed to conform to che wants.
TO the requirements and progress Of the peo-
pie, and The enlightened spirit OF the age
Loud applause Now if auv your seces-
sioHists have lost faith in mans ability of self
government ami feel unfit for the exercise Of
this grave right, 90 straight to rebeldom, /
take JEFF Davis, Beauregard and Bragg f6l
your masters, and put their collars on your
necks.
And here let me saw. that now is the time
10 recur % these fundamental principles.
while the land Is rent with anarchy, and nm
heaves with the throes of a mighty revolution.
While society IS IN this dis0rdered state and
We are seeking security, let us fix the founda-
tIons of the Government on principles of
eternal justice WI ch viii endure for all time
There Is an element in our midst who are for
perpetuating the Institution OF slavery. Let /
me say 70 you, fennesseeans and men from /
the Northern States, shat slavery is dead 1t /
vas not murdered by me. l told you long /
$50 what the result would be # YOU endeay |
ored 10 20 out of the Union to save SLAYER, |
aud that the result would re 5ioodshed, ra- /
pine, devastated fields, plundered villages and /
cities; and therefore I urged YOU TO remain
IN the Union. In trying Is save slavery YOU |
Killed IT. and lost your own freedom. Your
slavery Is lead, but l did nos murder it. As /
Macbeth said 70 Banquo'~ h-vody ghost:
Never shake thy II locssat e.
Thou caust n say Id q.
Slavery is dead, ana You mus. pardon me
If do not mourn over its dead body; you
can bury it out iEht In restoring the
State, leave out tltr disturbing and danger
GUS element, and use culy those parts of the
machinery which vii, sauye in harmony. = =
I am democrat in t1s ST iltest meaning of
the fgrut lam for Efs- Government because 7