Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-20
a Vice Presidential Nominee on the
- Crisis and its Demands.
Speech of Gov. johnson at Nashville


the steps of the st. Cloud, was greeted by the
vast crowd with loud applause. All were
anxious to see and hear the next wee Fres-
ident of the United States.
= After thanking the assembly LOT tne COIL
pliment they had bestowed on him, ana 1t"
other preliminary remarks, Gov johnson pro-
ceeded to say that we are engaged III sreaI
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
tione of the earth, that we are determined to
maintain and carry out the principles of free
Government. Applause. 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 a
reasonable war against its authority just as
other Southern States had done. She had
seeded Just as much as 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 the present
President, take him altogether, was the man
to steer the ship of State for the next four
years. Loud Applause. Next it said-if
may be permitted to speak Of myself, not in
the way of vanity, but to illustrate princi-
ple-"We viii go into one of the rebellious
States and choose a candidate for the Vice
Presidency" Thus the Union party declared
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 a rebellion which is in
violation of all that is right and sacred.
Governor johnson said he had no impas-
stoned appeal to make to the people in his
own behalf. He had not sought the position
assigned him by the National Convention
Not man in all the land can truthfully say
that have asked him to use his influence in
my behalf in that body, for the position al
lotted to me, or for any other On the con-
trary | have avoided the candidacy. But
while l have not sought it, still being con-
ferred upon me unsought appreciate it the
more highly. Being conferred on me without
solicitation, | shall not decline it. Applause.
Come veal or woe, success or defeat, sink or
swim, survive or perish, accept the nOmina-
ton, on principle, be the consequences what
they may | will do what | believe to be my
duty. | know there are those here who pro-
fess to feel a contempt for me, and |, en- the
other hand feel my superiority to them: |
have always understood that there is a sort
of exclusive aristocracy about Nashville
which affects to contemn all who are not
within its little circle Let them enjoy their
opinions. have heard it said that,
''Worth makes the man, and want oft the fellow
This aristocracy has been the bane of the
slave States, nor has the North been wholly
free from its curse. It's a class which have
always forced to respect me, for | have ever
set it at defiance The respect of the honest,
intelligent and industrious class | have en-
deaVored to win by my conduct as a man.
One Of the chief elements of this rebellion
is the opposition of the slave aristocracy to
being ruled by men who have risen from the
ranks of the people. This aristocracy hated
Mr.. Lincoln because he was of humble origin,
a rail-splitter in early life. One of them, the
private secretary of Howell Cobb, said to me
one day after long conversation, 1--WE peo-
pie of the South will not submit to be gov
erned by a man who has come up from the
ranks of the common people, as Abe Lincoln
has" lie uttered the essential feeling 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? [Great
laughter. reject with scorn this whole
idea of arrogant aristOcracy. | believe that
man is capable of self-gOvernment, irrespec-
tive of his outward circumstances, and
whether he be a laborer, a shoemaker, tai
Tor, or a grocer. The question is, whether
man is capable of selfgovernment. | 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-
ciple, | conclude that governments can and
ought to be changed to conform to the wants.
to the requirements and progress of the peo-
pie, and the enlightened spirit of the age
loud applause. Now if any your seces-
sionists have lost faith in mans ability of self
government, and feel unfit for the exercise of
this grave right, go straight to rebeldom
take jeff. Davis, Beauregard and Bragg for
your masters, and put their collars on your
necks.
And here let Inc say, that now is the time
to recur to these fundamental principles,
while the land is rent with anarchy, and up
heaves with the throes of a mighty revolution.
While society is in this disordered state, and
we are seeking security, let US fix the founda-
tons of the Government on principles of
eternal Justice which will endure for all time.
There is an element in our midst who are for
perpetuating the institution of slavery. Let
me say to you, Tenre sseeans and men from
the Northern States, that slavery is dead. 1t
was not murdered by me. | told you long
ago what the result would be if you endeav-
ored to go out of the Union to save slavery,
and that the result would be bloodshed, ra-
pine, devastated fields, plundered villages and
cities and therefore urged you to remain
in the Union In trying to save slavery you
killed it, and lost your own freedom. Your
slavery is dead, but did not murder it. As
/; Macbeth said to Banquo's bloody CHEST;
Never shake thy ,-ry locks at te
Thou canst nct say did it.
Slavery is dead, and you must pardon me
y if do not mourn over its dead body; you
can bury it out Of sight. In restoring the
State, leave out TINT disturbing and danger
Gus element, and use only those parts of the
machinery which will move in harmony. \
am democrat in tn ST. ictest meaning of
the term. lam for tli~ Government because
it dem0r tic nveriment of the peo-
pie | - down this rebellion,
because W asst democracy. He
who stan I, s5lrl up discomfort in this
State ead - t. / out negroes, is practi-
cally in taer, { n and encourages trea-
son. He woo i tEri ala or Ohio, makes war
upon the Governmcn out of regard to slav-
erv is Just as / ad The salvation of the
country is aow 4 c only business which con-
Germs til ,atri l. In conclusion, let US give
orr thar,5.. vet formal but heartfelt thanks,
to tnese gallant officers and soldiers, who
have come to our rescue, and delivered US
II. Nd rro hn
expended, though life be lost, though farms
and cities he desolated let the war for the