Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-08-05
THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION.
Andrew JOhnsOn's Letter of Acceptance.


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 adopt
ed 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 eveuing succeeding the day OF the
adjournment of the Convention, in which L
indicated my acceptance of the distinguished
honor conferred by that body, and defined the
grounds upon which that acceptance was bas-
ed, 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, l
consider it to be regarded as a full acceptance.
In view, however, Of the desire expressed in
your communication, 1 will more fully allude
to a few points that have been hereto present
ed
My opinion on the leading questions at pres
ent agitating and distracting the public mind,
and es pecially in reference to the rebellion
now being waged against the Government and
authority of the United States, presume are
generally understood. Before the Southern
people assumed a belligereut attitude, land
repeatedly since) / took occasion most frankly
to declare the views then entertained in re-
lation to the wicked purposes of the Southern
politicians They have since undergone but
little, if any, change. Time and subsequent
events have rather confirmed than diminished
nv confidence in their correctness.
At the beginning of this great struggle, l
entertained the same opinion Of it 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. Bnt my voice was not
heard or counsel needed until it was too late to
avert the storm. It still continued to gather
over us without molestation from the author
tiles 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 ofpatriotism, and bring traitors TO
the punishment due their crime, and, By force
of arms, crush out and subdue the last vestige
of rebel authority in every State. felt then
as now, that the destruction OF the Govern
ment was deliberately determined upon by
wicked and designing cOnspiratOrs, whose
lives and fortunes were pledged to carry it out;
and that 20 compromise, short OF an u3cOndi
tional recognition of the independence of the
Southern States could have been, or could now
be proposed, which they would accept. The
clamor for Southern Rights" as the rebel
journals were pleased to designate their rally
ing cry was not to secure their assumed rights
in TIE Union and under the Constitution, but
to disrupt the Government and establish an
independent 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 suleDly acquieseed, only to mature their
diabolical schemes, and await the recurrence
of q more favorable opportunity to execute
them. Then The pretext was the tariff, and
Jackson, after foiling their schemes of nullii-
cation and disuniou, with prophetic perspicua-
ity, warned the country against the renewal
of their efforts to dsmember the Government.
In letter, dated May l. 1888, to the Rev.
B. j. Crawford, after demonstrating the heart
less iusincerity of the Southern uulIi6ers, be
said:
Therefore, the tariff was only pretext, and
disunion and Southern Confederacy the real
object. The next pretext will he 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 togeth-
er. 1t is vain to attempt to reconstruct the
Union with the distEacting element of slavery
in it. Experience has demonstrated its incom-
patibility with free and republican Govern
ments, and it would be unwise and unjust to
continue it as one of the Institutions of the
country While it remained subordinate to
the Constitution and laws ofthe United States
yielded 10 it my support; but when it be-
came rebellious and attempted to rise above
the Government, and control it's action,
threw my humble influence against it.
The authority of the Government is su-
preme, and will admit OF no rivalry No in
stitution can rise above it, whether it be sIa-
very or any other organized power In our
happy form of government all must be subor-
dinate to the will of the people, when reflected |
through the Constitution aud laws made pur-
suant thereto-State or Federal. This great
principle lies at the foundation OF every Gov |
ernment, and cannot be disregarded without |
the destruction Of the Government ITSELF In |
the support and practice of correct principles |
we can never reach wrong results; and by rig |
oro1sly adheriug to this great fundamental
truth, the end will be the preservation Of the |
Union, and overthrow of an institution which |
has made war upon, and attempted the de-
struction OF the Government itself
The mode by which this great change
the emancipation of the slave-can be effect.
ed, is properly found in the power TO amend
the Constitution Of the United States. This
plan is effectual, and of no doubtful authority
and while it does not contravene the timely
exercise Of the war power Of the President in
his Emancipation Proclamation, it comes
stamped with the authority of the people
themselves, acting 10 accordance with the
written rule Of the supreme law Of the land,
and must, therefore, give more general satis-
action and quietude to the distracted public
mind.
By recurring to the principles contained in
he resolution 80 unanimously adopted by the
convention, find that they substantially ac-
ord with my public acts and opinions hereto
ore made known and expressed, and are there
ore most cordially indorsed and approved, and
be nomination, having been conferred with
ut any solicitation on my part, is with the
,reater pleasure accepted.
In accepting the nomination, might hera !