Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
POSITION OF THE HON. REvERDY JOHNSON.

POSITION OF THE HON. REvERDY JOHNSON.
The following letter from the Hon REvERDY
JOHNSON, Senator in Congress from the State Of
Maryland. very clearly defines his position in the
present residential canvass 1t was addressed to
the Committee of Arrangements for tho meeting
heid at New York on the 18th instant
SARATOGA SPRINGS, SEPT. is, 1864.
GENTLEMEN: Your invitation to the meeting tomorrow
OF the Democratic and Conservative organizations of your
city uu't received in this place to ray the recent Chi
cago nominations would cheerfuy accept if it was in my
power.
In the early days of Mr. Lncolns Administration lost
almost all hope of successful termination of the rebellion
whilst ne was at the head of the Government and hs,
the meres hope, is now wholly extingushed His infrm-
y OF purpose his unsteadness in any policy his once
expressed dislike to radcasm; his subsequent adoption
of its worst features his ignorant and mischevous inter-
ference with our military campaigns-hs appointment
often against advice of high military officers of notorious
incompetency his frequent and nearly fatal changes of
commanders his abandonment of the before uniform prac
ce Of his predecessors of Cabinet consultations his per-
mission of dhonoriog dssensons among its members dis
playing itself constantly to his knowledge before Others
and often, as it is known in his presence, in personal
abuse of each other bis obstinate and reckless disregard
Of the wishes of his political friends to him on
ing he aware, nneenhs if not every friend he had
in Congress- and again. and recently expressed in terms
not to be mistaken of the resolutions of the Conyen
ton which nominated him for reelection; his permitting
military interference with elections, virtually subjectne
the ballot to the control Of the bayone; his justfyng
arrests without specifications of charges though and
over again demanded and long continued imprisonment,
and after release without trial explanation, his toera
ting trial by military commission OF offences made cogni
fable exclusively by acts OF Congress passed since the re-
beOn by the civil courts and the virtual conscation of
private property without resort to any mode of
trial. and other matters of like egay and outrage too
many to detail in letter. whilst they demonstrate his
utter unftness for the Presidency give promise of
successful result of the contest whilst he ia the commander
in chief of the army and navy and entrusted by the power
he yields, with the shaping of peace and policy
This must be arrested or 10 my opinion the country will
be- ruined
This fatal career can be and would be stopped by the
election of almost any loyal man in his stead and the
suit is certain if Gen. Mcclellan becomes the
His perfect devotion to the Union and his expressed de-
termination to make its restoration the condition of
peace" the purity of HIS character his demonstrated
ability and his military attainments furnish guarantees
that in his hands the Executive power will not be abused
but be directed in strict subOrdnston to the Constitution
to the sole end of restoring the Union which is nhe
ritance, and causing it again to shed it's blessings
sorely troubled and bleeding nation Wild, insane,
aud reckless partsans may assa him with every oppro
bous epthet who have tasted of that insane root
the obtaining of high oice at home abroad may tell
u.s. to the disgust of all patriotic men, that it is too
much say that it would far better that Robert E. Lee
should enter Washington at the head of his army its
coBqueror than that George Mcclellan should enter it
President" Audcrousy inconsistent and illogical
premier, the half of whose official papers and speeches
the other half may threaten treachey the part
of the Administration the happening of Mr. Lincolns
defeat in November by dec airing himself unable in that
contingency to vouch for the safety of the country
against the rebels during the interval which must elspse
before the administration constitutonaly
into power and the may be continued as, with
honorable exceptions, it has begun by the billings
gate abuse and the caumnous charges against cand
dates and their friends yet, from all these causes we
have nothing to fear Success in hands if we are
true to duty Under the protection of Divine Providence
achieve for country victory greater in its
results that any present military We can elect
Mcclellan and PeDdeton in spite OF ofceholders con-
tractors and administrative influence and power and that
done in short time thereafter State after State will be
found returning to allegiance until at date not remote
the Union will be restored aternal affections revived
and peace and plenty and happiness and national charac
ter and power, be substituted for DIVISION hatred war;
restitution, wretchedness national dshonor and compa-
ratve weakness
With regard your obedent servant
REyERDY JOHNSON.
Messrs. Mstthewson, Echoff, McAlear, Committee &c