Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-23
a Vice cePresidential Nominee on
: the Crisis and its Demands.
Speech Of Gov. johnson
at Nashville. s


at which Governor johnson was tho
principal speaker. We find the follow
ing report in the Nashville Times;
The appearance Of Governor johnson, on
the steps of the st. Cloud Hotel, wasgreet-
ed by the vast crowd with loud applause. -
All were anxious to hear and. sse- -the .nekt
Vice President of the United States.
After thanking the assembly for the com
pliment they had bestowed on him, and
few other preliminary remarks, Governor
Johnson proceeded to say that we are en-
gagged in a great struggle for free. govern
ment in the proper acceptationy OF the term.
So far a. the head of the ticket is concern
ed, the Baltimore Convention has said, not
only to the Uuited States, but to all the ma
tions of the earth, that We are determined
10 maintain and carry out the principles Of
free government. [Applause. That Con
vention announced and confirmed priuc-
pie not to be disTegarded. 1t was that the
right Of secession, and the power Of State
to place itself out of the Union, are not re-
coguized. The Convention had declared
this principle by its action. Tennessee had
been in rebellion against the Government,
and waged REASONABLE war against its au
thority just as other Southern States had
done. She had seeded just as much US
other States had, and left the Union as far
as she had the power to do so. Neverthe
less, the National Convention had declared
that State cannot put itself 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
he permitted to speak Jf myself, not in the
way of vanity, but to illustrate principle
"We will go into one of the rebellous
States. and choose a candidate for the Vice
Presidency" Thus the Union party de-
clared 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 tn sustain the Gov
ernment and help il with all our might to
crush out rebellion which is i'll violation
Of all that is right and sacred.
Gov johnson said he had ~ impassoned
appeal to make to the people in his own be-
half Hehad not sought he position assign
ed him by the National Convention. Not
man in all the land can iruthiuly 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 candidacy. But while
have not sought it, still, being conferred on
me unsougit, appreciate it the more high
". Being conferred on me without sulci
tation, [ Shall not decline it. Applause.
Come veal or woe, success or defeat, sink
or swim, survive or perish, / accept the
nomination, on principle, be the conse.
quences what they may. will do what
believe TO be my duty. | know there are
those hele who profess to feel contempt
for me, and |. on the other hand, feel uiy
superiority to them. have always under
stood that there is sort Of exclusive aris
tocracy about Nashville which affects to con
tenn all who are not within its little circle
Let them enjoy their opinins. have hearC
it said that
"Worth makes the man, and want OF il the fellow"
This aristocracy has been the bane of The
slave States, nor has the North been who'll!
free from its curse. 1t is class which
have always forced to respect me, tor hav,
ever set it at defiance, The respect Of tn,
honest, intelligent aud Industrious class
have endeavored to win by my conduct as
man. One of the Chief elements Of thi
rebellion is the opposition of the slave aris
tecracy to being ruled by men who hav
risen from the ranks of the people. Thi
aristocracy hated Mr.. Lincoln because h
!, was of humble origin, rail splitter in earl
! liie.s One of them, the private secretary o
. Howell Cobb, said to me one day, aftera Ion
/. conversation, 1--WE people of the Soul b wi
not submit to be governed by man VIII
. has cone up from the ranks of the commo
: people, as Abe Lincoln has" He uttere
E the essential feeling and spirit Of this Soutl
! ern rebellion. Now il has just occurred t
u me, if this atistocracy is so violently oppose
TO being governed 10y Mr.. Lincoln, what i
: the name of conscience will it do with lAll
coIn aud Johnson? Great laughter. /
i reject with scorn this whole idea Of an al
!, rogant aristocracy. believe that mapis CT
$ pable of self government, irrespectlveoi b
J. outward circumstances, and whether he
II a laborer, shoemaker, n tailor, or groce
!, The question is whether man is capable
r., self government. / hold with Jefferson thi
y Government was made for the lconvenienc
/ OF man. and not man Tor the Governmen
u, That laws and constitutions were desig1C
y, :. as mere instruments to promote his wellar
it. And hence, IRON this principle, conclul
ig that governments can and ought to !
changed and amended to conform to Il
:, wants. to the requirements and progress
e, c. the people, and the enliphtened spirit
:; the age. Loud applause. Now If any
"A your secessionists have lost faith in mar
capabiiity of self government, and feel un
for the exercise of this great right, 1
s straight to rebeldom, take jeff Dav
3 Beauregard and Bragg for your maste
Il, aud put their collars ON your necks. va
e. % And here let me say, that now is the til
q 10 recur to these fundamental principle
Z while the land is rent with anarchy, and |,
4 heayes with the threes Of mighty revo
on Irion.. w lille sotiety is in this disorder
c' state and we are seeking security, let ,.A
i-| the foundations OF the Government on pr
OH ciples of eternal justice which will endt
for all time. There is an element in {
Z, midst who are tor9perpetuating. the inSti
za tion of slavery Letme say to you, Tenn
ao ecans snd 1nen from abe Northern Stat
ed that slavery is dead. 1t was not mnrdsl
Cd by me. Il told you long ago what there's
se II would be if You endeavored togo oubof
q lhUnion TO save slavery, and ,'atl the res
Ll7would be bloodsbed. rapine. devasta
= fields, plundered villages and Ici,ies; ID
2 III thorafnra L, uroAd ivou tn remain in