Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-30
ACCEPTANCE OF COL. FREMONT.
NrU YopY July 1874


ACCEPTANCE OF COL. FREMONT.
New YORK, July 8, 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 u
hitting in a common effort to bring back the
action of the Federal Government to the prin-
ciples of Washington and Jefferson. Compre-
herding the magnitude of the trust which they
have declared themselves willing to place in
my hands, and deeply sensible to the honor
which their unreserved confidence in this
threatening position of the public affairs i'm
plies, feel that cannot better respond, than
by sincere declaration that, in the event OF
my election to the Presidency. T-should enter
upon the execution of its duties with single
hearted determination to promote the good of
the whole country, and to direct solely to this
end the whole power OF the Government, lr-
respective of party issues, and regardless of
sectional strifes. The declaration Of princi-
pies embodied in the resolves of your Conven-
tion, expresses the sentiments in which have
been educated, and which have been rpened
into convictions by personal observation and
experience. With this declaration and avow
al, I think it necessary to revert to only two
of the subjects embraced in these resolutions,
and to those only because events have sur
rounded them with grave and critical circum-
stances ,and given to them especial Importance.
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,s direct abandonment of the hon
est character which our country has acquired.
To provoke hostilities by unjust assumptions
would be to sacrInce tie peace ana character
of the country when all its interests might be
more certainly secured and its objects attain
ed by just and healing counsels, involving no
loss of reputation.
International embarrassments mainly the
results OF secret diplomacy which aims to
keep from the knowledge of the people the op-
erations of the Government. This system is
inconsistent with the character of our institu-
tions. and is itself yielding gradually to more
enlightened public opinion, and TO the power
of free press, which, by its broad dissemina-
| tion of political intelligence, secures in ad-
vance 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 delib-
| crate opinions it would necessarily reflect.
| Nothing is clearer in the history of our in
stitutions than the design of the nation in as
serting its own independence and freedom, to
avoid giving countenance to the extension OF
Slavery. The influence of the small, but com
pact and powerful class of men interested in
slavery who command one section of the coun-
try ,and WELD vast political control as con-
sequence in the other, is now directed to turn
back this impulse of the Revolution and re-
verse its principles. The extension of Slavery
across the Continent is the object of the pow
er which now rules the Government; and from
this spirit has sprung those kindred wrongs in
Kansas, so truly portrayed in one of your res
olutions, which prove that the elements of the
most arbitrary governments have not been vans
quishcd by the just theory of our own.
1t would be out of place here to pledge my
self to any particular policy that has been sug
gested to terminate the sectional controversy
engendered by political animosities, operated
upon by powerful class banded together fol
a common interest. A Apractical remedy is th'
admission of Kansas into the Union as fret
State. The South should, in my judgment
earnestly desire such consummation. 1t wouic
, vindicate its good faith-it would correct th
mistake of the repeal of the act known as tn,
Missouri compromise; and the North, having
practically the benefit Of the agreement be
tween the two sections. would be satisfied, ant
good feeling be restored. The measure is per
fectly consistent with the honor of the South
and vital to its interest. That fatal act whicl
gave birth to this purely sectional strife, ,origi
mated in the scheme to take from free labo
!, the country secured to it by solemn covenant
cannot be too soon disarmed of its perniciou
q force. The only genial region of the middi
latitudes left to the emigrants of the Norther
States for homes cannot be conquered froI
, free laborers, who have so long considered
as set apart for them in our inheritance, with
! out provoking a desperate struggle.
= Whatever may be the persistence of the pal
q ticular class which seems ready to hazard eve
n rything for the success of the unjust schem
4 it has partially effected, 1 firmly believe thu
: the great heart of the nation, which throt
&C with the patriotism of the free men OF bot
) sections, will have power to overcome it,
+. They will look to the rights secured to the'
n by the Constitution of the Union, as their be
Il safeguard from the oppression of the cia