The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23
Fremont's Letter of Acceptance.

New YORK, July s, 1856.
GENTLEMEN: You call me to high respon-
sibility by placing me in the van of great
movement of the people of the United States,
who, without regard to past differences, are
uniting in common effort to bring back the
action of the Federal Government to the prin.
ciples of Washington and Jefferson. Compre-
hending the magnitude of the trust which thew
have declared themselves willing to place in nv
hands, and deeply sensible of the honor which
their unreserved confidence in this threatening
position of the public affairs implies, feel that
l cannot better respond than by sincere dec
laration, that, in the event of my election to
the Presidency, should enter upon the execu.
ton of its duties with a single-hearted determi-
nation to promote the good of the whole country,
and to direct solely to this end all the power of
the Government, irrespective of party issues.
and regardless of sectional strifes. The decla.
ration of principles embodied in the resolves of
your Convention expresses the sentiments in
which / have been educated, and which have
been ripened into convictions by personal OBJ
servation and experience. With this declara-
ton and avowal, think it necessary to revert
to only two of the subjects embraced in those
resolutions, and to these only, because events
have surrounded them with grave and critical
circumstances, and given to them especial i'm
portance.
1 concur in the views of the Convention, dep.
recating the foreign policy to which it adverts.
The assumption that we have right to take
from another nation its domains, because we
want them, is an abandonment of the honest
character which our country has acquired. To
provoke hostilities by just assumption, would
be to sacrifice the peace and character of the
country, when all its interests might be more
certainly secured, and its objects attained, by
just and healing counsels, involving no loss of
reputation. International embarrassments are
mainly the result of secret diplomacy, which
aims to keep from the knowledge of the people
the operations of the Government. This system
is inconsistent with the character of our insti-
buttons, and is itself yielding gradually to more
enlightened public opinion, and to the power of
a free press, which, by its broad dissemination
of political intelligence, secures in advance to
the side of Justice the judgment of the civilized
world. An honest firm, and open policy, in
our foreign relations, would command the united
support of the nation, whose deliberate opin-
ions it would necessarily reflect.
Nothing is clearer in the history Of our insti-
tutions than the design of the nation, In assert
ing its own independence and freedom, to avoid
giving countenance to the extension of Slavery.
The influence of the small but compact and
powerful class of men interested in Slavery. who
command one section of the country, and WELD
a vast political control, as q consequence. in
the other, is now directed to turn back this i'm.
pulse ofthe Revolution, sndreverseits principles.
The extension of Slavery across the continent
is the object of the power which now rules the
Government; and from this spirit has sprung
these kindred wrongs in Kansas, SO truly por.
trayed in one of your resolutions, which prove
that the elements of the most arbitrary Govern
ments have not been vanquished by the Just
theory of our own.
1t would be out of place here to pledge N.Y.
self to any particular policy that has been sug-
gested to terminate the sectional controversy
engendered by political animosities, operating
On powerful class, banded together by COM
mon interest. A practical remedy is the ad-
mission of Kansas into the Union as a free
State. The South should, in my Judgment,
earnestly desire such consummation. 1t would
indicate its good faith, 1t would correct the
mistake of the repeal; and the North, having
practically the benefit of the agreement between
the two sections, would be satisfied, and good
feeling restored. The measure is perfectly con-