The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-29

Vice Presidency, Is puoilsheu IN Tue NASH
Vile Union:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 2, 1864.
Hon. William DsmisOn, Chairman, aud
others, Committee OF the National Union
Contention:
Gentlemen-Iour communication OF the
9th ultimo. informing me of nv nomination
for the Vice Presidency of the United States
by the National Convention held at B,lti-
more, and enclosing copy of the resolutions
adopted by that bouy, was not received IN
til the 25ih nit.
A reply on NV part had been previously
made to the action of the Convention in pre-
sen.ing my name, in a 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 &C
ceptance was based, substantially saying
what now have to say. From the Com
ments made upon that speech by the various
presses of the Country to which my attention
has been directed, l considered If TO be re-
garded as full acceptance.
In view, however. of the desire expressed
in your communication, will more fully al
lude TO few points that have been hereto
fore presented.
Nv opinions on the leading question al
present agitating and distracting the public
mind, and especially in reference TO the re-
bellion nov being waged against the govern
ment and authority Of the United States, /
presume are general, understood.
Before the Southern people assumed a
beligerent attitude, land repeatedly siDee.l
took occasion most frankly TO declare the
views then entertained in relation TO the
wicked purposes of the SOuthern politicians.
lhev have since under gone but litile, if any,
change Time and subsequent events have
rather confirmed than diminished NV conf
dence In their correctness.
At the beginniI, IF this great struggle /
entertained the sime opinion of il that / do
now. and in my place in Inc Senate | de-
ncuuced IL as treason, worthy The punish
ment of death. and warned the government
and people of the impending danger. But
nv voice was not heard or counsel needed
until II was too late 10 avert the storm. IL
( still continued To gather over US without mo-
lesta,ion from the authorities at Washington,
until at length j, broke with all is fury upon
! the country And now, if We would save
the government from beng overwhelmed by
il, W must meet Ii IN the true spirit OF pat
riulisn. aiI4 bring traitors TO the punishment
due their crime, and by force % arms crush
out and sunduA the last vesiige of rebel au-
thority In every State. felt then as now.
that the destruction of the government vas
G-Eh-r-..;, determined upon By wicked and
de>i.n g carsyirators, whose lives and f.r-
tunes were pledged TO carry II out. and thai
m cc-npr mise, short Of an unconditional
recognition Of the independence of tbs
S.u,a,rn States, c nd have been, or could
nos, 5e proposed. which they would accept
The clanor for Southern rights as the reb-
el journals were pleased 10 designate their
raiyiIg cry. aas not 10 secure their assumed
rights III Ills nion and under the Conslilu-
ton. but 10 disrupt the government. ana e.
tablish an independent organization, based
upon slavery. which they could al ali times
control
The separation of the government has for
Years past been the cherished purpose Of the
Southern leaders. Bafii-d, in 1882. by the
stern. patriotic heruism Of Andrew Jackson
they sullenly aequiescsd, only 10 mature ileir
Gilhoiical schemes and await the occurrence
II a more favorable opportunity 10 execute
them. Then the pretext was the tariff. and
Jack son, atter'foiiing their schemes of null
tcation and disuniOn. with prophetic perspi-
cacltv, warned the country against the renew
a, o! their efforts 10 dismember the govern
ment.
In I al. II
A. J. Crawford, after demonstrating the
heariless insinceriiy of the Southern null
fiers. he said:
Therefore The tariff was only a pretext
and disunion and Southern coafedtrscy the
real object. The next preiext will be the
negro. or slavery question
Time has fully verified this prediction. and
We have now not only negro or slavery
question: as The pretext, but the real cause
of the rebellion, and both must 90 down to-
gether. Ii IS vain TO attempt TO reconstruct
the Union with the distraering element of
slavery in il. Experience has demonstrated
It's ineompatibiiiy with free and republican
governments, and it would be unwiss and
unjust longer TO continue il as one Of the in
situations OF the country. While II remained
Subordinate tn the constitution ard laws ui
the United States, / yielded 10 it INV support
hut when II became rebellious and attempt
ed 10 rise above the government and control
It's action, threw my humble influence
against i.
The authority IF thr government is su-
preme. and will admit of no rivalry. No in.
stitutioH can rise above 1t. whether it be
N>la
our happy form oi government ali must b.
subordinate 10 the will Of the people. when
reflected through the Constitution and laws
made pursuant rhere;o-State or Federal.
This great principle lies at the foundation OF
every government, and cannot BE- disregard
ed without the destruction OF The govern
ment Itself. In the support and practice OF
correct principles We can never reach wrong
results; and by risidly adhering TO the fun
damental truth. the end will be the preserya-
ton of the [ MON and the overthrow of an
institution which has made war upon and al
tempted the destruction OF the government
itself.
The mode by which this great change
the EN- cigation of the slaye-can be effect
ed, is properly found in the power tn amend
the Constitution OF the United States. This
plan is etieciuai. and of no doubtful author
ity: and while It does not cOntravene the
timely exercise of the War Power by m,
President IN MS emancipation proclaim a,io,,.
It comes stamped with the authority of the
People themselves, acting in accordance with
me written r'4le IF the supreme law of the
land. and mus, therefore give more general
satisfaction and qui-tude to the distracted
public mind
BY recurring TO the principles contained
in the resolu,ions so ,no,;,n,Slr .so,,.5