Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-08-06
BALTIMORE UNION NOMINEES.
Auusalw ,uHnsuws lIrIla OF AscEpIAHcI.
NASHVILLE, TENN, July 2, 1864.


GFSrIEyES:-Your communication of the
9th ult.. informing me of my nomination for
the Vice Presidency of the United States,by
the National Convention held at Baltimore,
and enclosing a 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 pre-
senting my name, in speech delivered IN
this city on the evening succeeding the day
of the adjournment of the Convention, IN
| which indicated my acceptance OF the dis
tinguished honor conferred by that body, and
defined the grounds upon which that accept
ance was based, substantially saying what
now have TO say. From the comments made
upon that speech by the various presses OF
| the country, to which my attention has been
directed, / considered it to be regarded as
| full acceptance.
In view. however, of the desire expressed
in your communication, | will more fully al
lude to a few points that have been hereto
| fore presented. =
Nv opinions on the leading questions at
present agitating and distracting the public
mind, and especially in reference to the re-
bellion now being waged against the govern
ment and authority of the United States, l
presume are generally understood. Before
| the Sou thern people assumed belligerent
attitude, and repeatedly since, took occa-
sion most frankly to declare the views then
entertained in relation to the wicked pur-
poses of the Southern politicians They have
since undergone but little, if any change
/ Time and subsequent events have rather con-
irmed than diminished my confidence in
| their correctness.
At the beginning of this great struggle, /
4 tho aana nnini0n of IL i do now
| and in my place in the Senate l denounced it
as treason, worthy the punishment of death,
and warned the Government and people OF
| the impending danger. But my voice was
/ not heard or counsel needed until il was too
| late to avert the storm. Ii still continued to
| gather over US without molestation from the
| authorities at Washington, until at length it
broke with all its fury upon the country
/ And now, if we would save the Government
| from being overwhelmed by it, we must meet
| it in the true spirit of patriotism, and bring
traitors to the punishment due their crime,
and, be- force of arms, crush out and subdue
the last vestige of rebel authority in every
| State. felt then as now, that the destruc-
| ton of the Government was deliberately de-
termined upon by wicked and designing con-
| spirators, whose lives and fortunes were
pledged to carry it out; and that no compro-
/ mise SuOIb Vi uuCOHulllOudi ICCOSulbiOH VI
the Southern States, could now be proposed
which they would accept. The elamOr for
Southern Rights" as the rebel journals were
pleased to designate their raiiying cry, was
/ not TO secure their assumed rights az tie
| Union and under The Constitution, but to dis
rupt the Government and establish an indie
pendent organization, based upon slavery,
| which they could at all times control.
The separation Of the Government has for
years past been the cherished purpose of the
| Southern leaders. Baffled in 1882 by the
stern, patriotic heroism of Andrew jackson,
they sullenly acquiesced, only to mature their
diabOlical schemes, and await the recurrence
of more favorable opportunity to execute
them. Then the pretext was tariff, and Jack
son, after foiling their schemes of nullifca-
ton and disuniOn, with prophetic perspicaci-
ty, warned the country against the renewal
of their efforts to dismember the Govern
ment.
In a letter, dated May |, 1888, to the Rev.
A. ]. Crawford, after demonstrating the
heartless insincerity of the Southern multi
fers, he said:
Therefore, the tariff was only pre-
text, and disuniOn and Southern COnfeder-
acy the real object. The next pretext will
be the negro or slavery question"
Time has fully verified this prediction, and
we have now not only "the negro or slavery
question" as the pretext, but the real cause
of the rebellion, and both must go down to-
gether. IL is vain to attempt to reconstruct
the Union with the distracting element OF
slavery in it. Experience has demonstrated
its incompatibility with free and republican
Governments, and it would be unwise and
unjust longer to continue it as one of the in
stitutions of the country. While it remain
ed subordinate to the Constitution and laws
of the United States, yielded to it my sup.
port; but when it became rebelliOus and at
tempted to rise above the Government, and
centrol its action, L threw my humble inhu.
ence against 1t.
The authority of the Government is su
preme, and will admit of no rivalry. No in
stitutiOn can rise above it, whether it DC
slavery or any other organized power. In
our happy form of government all must te
subordinate to the will of the people, when
reflected through the Constitution and law:
made pursuant theretO-State or Federal
This great principle lies at the foundation o.
every Government, and cannot be disregard
ed without the destruction of the Govern
ment itself In the support and practice o.
correct principles we can never reach wrong
results and by vigorously adhering to this
great fundamental truth, the end will be the
1
an institution which has made war upon, anC
attempted the destruction of the Govern.
ment itself. H-
The mode by which this great change-tht
emancipation of the slave-can be effected
is properly found in the power to amend the
Constitution of the United States. This plar
is effectual, and of no doubtful authority an6
while it does not contravene the timely exer
else of the war power of the President in hi.
Emancipation Proclamation, it comes stamped
with the authority of the people themselves
acting in ace )rdance with the written rule Of
the supreme law of the land, and must, there
fore. give more general satisfaction and que
.ude 10 the distracted public mind.
BY recurring to the principles contained in
the resolutions so unanimously adopted by
the convention, find that they substantially
accord with my public acts and opinions
heretofore made known and expressed, and
are therefore most cordially indorsed and ap-
proved, and the nomination having been con
ferred without any solicitation on my part,
is with the greater pleasure accepted.
In accepting the nomination, might here
close, but | cannot foregO the opportunity OF
saying to my old friends of the Democratic
party proper, with whom have been so long
and pleasantly associated, that the hour has
now come when that great party can Justly
vindicate its devotion to the true Democratic
policy and measures of expediency The war
is a war of great principles. 1t involves the
supremacy and life of the government itself.
If the rebellion triumphs, free government
North and South--fails. If, on the other
| hand, the Government is successful-as do