The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-08-04
Gov. Johnson's Letter of Accept

allCe.
NASHVILLE, TENN, July ., 1864.
Hon. Wn. DENNsoS, Chairman, and
others, Committee cf he National
Union Convention. ..L
GryrLrMEx: Your communication Of
the 9th ult., informing NC Of my nomin.
alton for tho Vice Presidency of the
United States, by tho National Union
Convention held CT Baltimore, ana en-.
closing a copy of the resolutions adopted
by that body was not received until the
a5th ult.
A reply on my part had been previous
" made To- the action Of the Convention
in presenting my name, in speech de.
livcrcd in this city on the evening sue
coednp the day Of the Adjournment OF
the convention in which indicated my
acceptnnco Of the distinguished honor
conferred by that body, and defined the
grounds upon which that acceptance was
based, substantially stating what now
have TO say. From the comments made
upon the speech by the various presses
of the country to which my tcntipn
has been directed, considered il 10 be re-.
gurded as a full acceptance.
In view, however, OF the desire ex-
pressed in your communication, will
more fully alude to few points that
buye been heretofore presented.
MY opinions on the leading question:
at present agltstipg and disirocting the
public mind and especially in reference
10 the rebellion now being waged
against the Government and authority OF
the United States. presume, are gener-
ally understood. Before the Southern
people assumed bclligerent attitude
(uud repeatedly, since,) | took occasion
most frankly TO declare the views, ] then
entertained in relation 10 the wicked
purposes of the politicians. They have
since undergone but little, if any, change.
Time aud subsequent events have rath-
or confirm than discnlble my confildence
in their correctness.
Al the beginning ofthis great struggle,
entertained the same opinion of II | do
Inow; and in my place in the Senate, de-
nonuccd il MS treason, worthy the punish
mcnt of death, and warncd the Govern
mept and people Of the imp II = iE dan
ger Bot my voice was OF heard or coul.-
sci needed, until ii was too late to avert
the storm. II still CONTINUED TO gather
over us without molestution from the au'
ihoriiies at Washington, until utlength il
broke with all It's fury upon The country
And now ii we would save the Govern.
ment from being overwhelmed by II, we
must meet it in the true spirit oil patriot
4 ism, aud bring traitors TO the punish.
ment due their crime, and. by force 81
arms, crush ont aud subdue the last yes.
tige of rebel authority in every State.
felt then as now, that the destruction OF
the Government was deliberately d ter
mined upon by wicked and designing
ccnspirators, whose lives and fortunes
were pledged to carry il out; aud that no
compromise, short Of an unconditional
recognition Of the independence OF he
Southern States, could heretofore have
been, or could now be proposed, which
they would accept. The clamor, tor
"Southern rights as the rebel journals
were pleased TO designate their raliyiDa
cry, was not TO secure their assumed
rights in he Union and under tie CoHsfi
futon; Lut 10 disrupt the Government
and establish an independent organlza
ton, basel upon slavery, which theJ
could at al times control. rs.ts
The separation Of the Government has
for years past been the cherished purpose
Of the southern leaders. Bottled, in 1882
lby the stern, patriotic heroism of Andrew
Jackson, they suleniy acquiesced, onl,
To mature their dipbolical schemes, an'
| await the recurrence of q more favora biz