Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-17
Fremont and his Religion.

a Fillmore meeting was recently heid on
Staten Island, New York, at which Mr. Cook, q
wholesale stationer of New York city, gave a
curious narrative of Fremont's wireworking to
obtain votes. The Commercial Advertiser says
that no one who knows the narrator will ques-
ton the entire veracity and moderation of his
statement, The report of the proceedings says:
Mr. B. F. Cook made some interesting and i'm
portant statements respecting an interview he
had with Col. Fremont on the subject of his al
legged Romanism. 1t was in substance this
Some friends having desired to enlist the speak
er in the cause of so called Repnblcanism, he
expressed desire to have all doubt removed
on this mooted question, but said that nothing
short of an assurance from Col. Fremont's own
lips would satisfy him. An interview was ar
ranged for. The object of the visit being under
stood by the Colonel, he avowed himself ready
to answer any questions proposed. MIR. Cook
proposed the following and received to each the
answer annexed: Were yon married by Ro-
man Catholic priestY I acas,' and tile Colonel's
lip quivered as he spoke. Did You at the time
believe in, or profess to believe i'll the Roman
Catholic religion2' IdM not Have yon be-
fore or since, or at any time protested the Cath
Ollie Religiong Il haze not Here Mr.. Cook
bowed, to signify that he had no more questions
to ask Col Fremont then volunteered some
remarks to the following effect: that while in
California he attended no church, and that he
occupied his Sundays in reading and writing,
and in attending to such matters OF business as
he thought of Importance. Mr.. Fremont fur
! ther said: Il am frequently Intercepted by all
iparties on the subject. | presume tie delega-
ton now waiting for Inc up stairs wish to inter
rogate me on this point. When they do, l shall
put the most favorable construction on the mat
ter that | can. / wish to offend none, but to Sc
cure the votes of all. Only this very morning
have letter from Maine saying that unless
make personal denial of Romanisnl, and that
am or have been Roman Catholic, that State
will be lost to the Republicans: another let
ter from Indiana, telling me that if | will author
ize MY friends thereto say am a Roman Cath
Ole they can secure for me large German and /
IRISH vote, / have to frame my replies so as to
secure the votes of all. There is now a deputa
ton waiting for me, whose errand, doubt not,
is the same It is best to say as little about this
matter as possible and we must manage the
thing as well as we can, so as to get the votes of
both sides Here the interview terminated.
No wonder, says the Commercial Advertiser,
if the gentlemen to whom this revelation was
made. from that moment felt that the answers
which he had supposed had been given to him
in good faith were of no value whatever that
the motive which prompted them had been I'M
Willingly betrayed; that their design was to OBJ
tain tie uotes of the interrogater and the Prot
estants he represented; and that the deputation
then waiting for an interview might, if Roman
lists receive answers Just the reverse, so that
their votes also might be obtained. II have to
frame my replies so as to get the votes of both
"We must say as little about the matter as pos
sible, and manage the thing the best way we
can. so as to secure the votes Of both sides"
That Col. Fremont and his advisers have thus
managed the NATTER" We think is capable Of
demonstration; and if it be demonstrated, we
respectfully submit that "both sides" must feel
that the Republican candidate for the Presden-
cy has no claim upon the support of either.