Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-04
BALTIMORE UNION NOMINEES.
ANDREW JoRHsoHs LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 2, 1864.

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 18th ult.
reply on nv part had been previously
made to the action Of the Convention in pre-
senting 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
tnguished honor conferred by that body, and
defined the grounds upon which that accept
ance was based, substantially saying what l
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 a
full acceptance.
In view, however, Of the desire expressed
in your communication, will more fully al
Jude to a few points that have been hereto
fore presented.
Ny 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, |
presume are generally understood. Before
the Sou thern people assumed a 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-
frmed than diminished my confidence in
their correctness
At the beginning of this great struggle,
entertained the same opinion of it do now,
and in nv place in the Senate | 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 it was too
late to avert the storm. 1t still continued to
gather over us without mOlestatiOn from the
authorities at Washington, until at length it
broke with all its fury upon the county,
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, by 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
spirat0rs, whose lives and fortunes were
pledged to carry it out; and that no compro-
mise short of unconditional recognition of
the Southern States, could nov be proposed
which they would accept. The clamor for
Southern Rights" as the rebel journals were
pleased to designate their raiiying cry, was
not to secure their assumed rights la thu
Union and u1lder tie 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 fol
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 then
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 nulIifca
| ton and disuniOn, with prophetic perspicaci
J ty, warned the country against the renewa
of their efforts to dismember the Govern
ment.
In letter, dated May l, 1888, to the Rev
/, \. j. Crawford, after demonstrat ne thu
heartless insincerity of the Southern multi
| fiers, he said:
Therefore, the tariff was only pre-
text, and disunion and Southern Confeder
acy the real object. The next pretext vii
be the negro or slavery question:
| Time has fully verified this prediction, anC
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. 1t is vain to attempt to reconstruc
| the Union with the distracting element Q
slavery III it. Experience has demonstrated
| its incompatibility with free and republican
| Governments, and it would be unWise ant
| unjust longer to continue it as one of the in
situations of the country. While it remain
ed subordinate to the Constitution and Law,
Of the United States, yielded to it my sup
port; but when it became rebellious and at
tempted to rise above the Government, an,
control its action, threw my humble infiu
| ence against it.
The authority of the Government is su
preme, and will admit of no rivalry. No in
HtitutlOn can rise above it, whether it b
slavery or any other organized power. L
our happy form of government all must b
subordinate to the will of the people. whe
reflected through the Constitution and law
made pursuant thereto-State or Federal
This great principle lies at the foundation c
every Government, and cannot be disregard
ed without the destruction of the Govern
ment itself In the support and practice c
correct principles we can never reach wron
results; and by vigorously adhering to thi
great fundamental truth, the end will be tn
preservation of the Union, the overthrow c
an institution which has made war upon, an
attempted the destruction of the Govern
ment itself.
The mode by which this great change-th
emancipation of the slave-can be effected
is properly found in the power to amend tn
Constitution Of yhe United States. This pla
is effectual and Of no doubtful authority: an
while it does not contravene the timely exeI
else of the war power of the President in hi
Emancipation Proclamation, it comes stampe
with the authority of the people themselves
acting in accordance with the written rule c
the supreme law Of the land, and must there
fore. give more general satisfaction and quie
tude to the distracted public mind.
BY recurring to the principles contained i
the resolutions so unanimously adopted b
the convention, find that they substantial
accord with my public acts and opinion
heretofore made known and expressed, an,
are therefore most cordially Endorsed 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 her
close, but cannot torego the opportunity O
saying to my old friends of the Democrati
party proper, with whom have been so Ion,
and pleasantly associated, that the hour ba
now come when that great party can iustl
vindicate its devotion to the true Democratic
policy and measures of expediency. The wa
is war of great principles. 1t involves th
supremacy and life of the government itself
If the rebellion triumphs, free government
North and South-fails. If, on the othe
hand, the Government is successful--as l d.
not Doubts destiny is fixed, its basis per
manent and enduring, and its career of homo
and glory just begun. In a great contes
like this for the existence of free government
the path of duty is patriotism and principle
Minor considerations and questions of admin