The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-06-24
Speech Of Andrew johnson.

A great Union mass meeting was held at
Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday night, ut which
Gov. johnson was the principal speaker. The
following report Of his speech Is from the Nash.
vile Times:
After thanking the assembly for the compli-
ment they had bestowed on him, and few
other preliminary remarks, Gov. johnson pro-
ceeded to say that We arc engaged in great
struggle for free Government in the proper &C.
ceptstion Of the term.
So far as the head OF the ticket Is concerned,
the Baltimore Convention has said, not only to
the United States, but to all tho nations OF the
earth, that we are determined to maintain and
carry out tho principles Of free government.
lApplause.l That Convention announced and
confirmed principle not 10 be disregarded. 1t
was that the right Of secession and that power
of a State to place itself out OF the Union, are
not recognized. The Convention had declared
this principle by its action. Tennessee had
been in rebellion against the Government. and
waged REASONABLE war against its authority
just as other Southern States had done. She
had seeded just as much as other States had, 4,
and left the Union as far as she had the power
to do so. Nevertheless, the National Con.
vention had declared that State cannot put
itself from under tho national authority. It
said By its first nomination. that the present
President, take him altogether, was the man to
steer the ship Of State for the next four years.
Loud applause.
Next 1t said-if may be permitted to speak
of myself, not in the way Of vanity, but to II
lustrate prnciple-"we will 60 into one OF
the Rebellious States and choose q candidate for
the Vice Presidency" Thus the Union party
declared its belief that the rebellious States are
still in the Union, aud 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 oil
our might 10 crush out Rebellion which is In
violation Of all that Is right and sacred.
Gov. johnson said he had no impassioned ap-
peal to make to the people In his own BEHALF
He had not sought the position assigned him BY
the National Convention. Nota mau 10 oil the
land can truthfully say that have asked him
to use his influence In my behalf In that body,
for the position allotted to me. or for any other
On the contrary, have avoided the candida
cy. But while have not sought It, still, be-
ing conferred upon me unsousht, appreciate
It the moro highly. Being conferred on me
without solicitation shall not dselias Il. Zap
plause.l Come veal or woe. success or defeat.
sink or swim. survive or perish, accept the
nomination, or principle, be The consequences
wha, they may. will do what believe to be
my duty. know there are those here who pro-
fsss to feel coutsmpt for me, and I. on the
other hand, feel my superiority to them. Y
Ihsve always UNDERWOOD that there 10 sort
Of exclusive aristocracy about Nashville which
Affects to condemn oil who are not within its III.
tie circle. Let them enjoy their opinions. l
have heard II said that -
"worth makos the man, and want OF 10 the fellow"
This srvtocrsoy has been the banc Of tho
Slave States; nor has the North been wholly
free from lis curse. II Is class which have
always forced to respect me, for have ever set
Il at defiance. Tho respect Of the honest, intel
lisent, and industrious class have endeavorsd
to win by my conduct - q man. One Of the
chief elements Of this Rebellion 10 the opposi.
ton Of the slavs aristoorsoy to being ruled BY
mon vho haye risan from thu ranks of the uoo.
pie. ~ =.
hs was Of humble origin. . rail-splittsrin early
life. One Of them. the private secretary Of
Howell Cobb. said to me one day. amer . long
conversation: ".we people Of the South WIN