Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
JOHNSTON, William F (1808-1872) was the 11th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1848 to 1852. In 1856 he was nominated by the northern, anti-slavery faction of the American Party for the office of Vice President, but was later induced to withdraw in favor of William L. Dayton, the Republican nominee. Autograph Letter Signed “William Johnston” 4pp., Appleton may 17, 1863, writing to General Gray, VG. The first part of this letter deals primarily with a mortgage and interest, then turns to important Politics. In part, “ Are you a Breckinridge Democrat yet, I expect not, for I have not doubt of your being a true Union Man ... I believe the President to be honest and patriotic his course from the beginning of the rebellion, in the first place to restore the Union with all the rights to the south that they ever had under the Constitution. When that did not effect it in stopping the rebellion, he then issued his proclamation giving the rebellious states 100 days notice, that at the expiration of that time, those states who were in rebellion that their slaves should be free, and that no officer or soldier in the service of the U.S. should return or assist in returning slaves who had escaped from slavery to enjoy freedom. ... I believe that the proclamation was right, and I also believe that had Fremont’s Proclamation been sustained in giving freedom to the slaves of rebels, and confiscating the property of rebels, it would have prevented thousands from joining the rebels, if for no better principle than holding their slaves and the rest of their property they would have been Union men. I think the President has missed in retaining some officers in high commands so long, so as it seems to me that they cared more for safety of the rebels, than their own troops, but the President had to reconcile his political opponents or tried to do so but some of them would not be recounseled...”
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