The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-07-19
Col. Fremont's Letter, Accepting the
Philadelphia Nomination

Ihe following is Col Fremont's rcpons
to the letter Of the Committee of the Phil,
deiphia Convention. aprrl>iny him of hi
nomination for the Presidency bv tina, oodv
1t Is refreshing to read. in this dav OF t;mi
ana tlme-serving candidates, a manly, bold
uncqnlvocal documen, like this Esprial,
DO we commend the peru,al of this Letter T.
the working masses of the nation-,, tha
, great interest Of free labor which hes # ,b
basis OF the nations greatness and properi
~. On the two leading questions of ferc;yr
and domestic policy, it is explicit. and ammo
fal to command the rnS,rct of pye.x tru,
Nortnern Ran, Aj veil ~ c,,. .andiT ma,
at the South -
NEW I"EK. July 8, 1856.
''nhemen :-lon cal! me to hch re-
sporsihilIty by placing me il. the van cf
great movement %. tie people of the Unite,
states. who, without regard to past difF-rcn
rc>. are uniting IN a common effort to brine
back the ac'ion Of the Federal Governmpn
10 the principles of Washington and J-fFrr
son. Comprehending tn" magnitude of III.
trust which they have declared thcmseI,c
willing :" place in nv hands. and deeply sen.
>Ibie to the honor which their unre>rrv.d
confidence in this threatening position f,l,.
public affairs implies, feel that | c,nno,
better resrond than by sincere declaration
that. In The event Of nv election to the Pres,
ldcnrv. should enter upon the execution a,
IT'S duties with a SINGLE hearted detcrnioa.
tIonto promote the good of the whole com.
try. and 10 direct solely to this end all the
power OF the Government. irrespective of
party issues. and regardless of sectional
strlies. The declaration of principles embo-
died in the resolves of your Convention ex-
presses the sentiments IN which have been
educated. and which have been rippnen inro
convictions bv personal observation and cx-
perIenre. With this declaration and avow-
al. think II necessary 10 revert to orlv two
OF the subjects embraced in the resolutions.
and TO those only, because events have sur
rounded them with grave and critical circum
stances, and gwen to them especial impo.-
tanrc.
lconcur in the views Of the Convention
d"precating the foreign policy to which it al
v"rt>. he assumption that We have tn.
right to take from another nation its domain,
because we want them, Is an abandonmcnl
ot The honest character With or country
has acquired. To provoke ho>tlllr> hv un-
inst assumptions would hc to Sa.rifi,e the
peace ana character Of the country. when all
us interests might he more certainly secured
1uH + al.
c"un>cls. Ih.oi.In. n" loss of rc',ua'ioa
international cmfarra~m"ut> are MAINLY the
results OF a secret diplomacy. which aims t.
keep iroI the knowcd.r of the people the
operations of the Government This system,
Is inconsistent with the character of oar in
s'Itu'ionS. and is itself vi-lI;nr gradually to
more enlightened public opinion. and 10
the power OF !ree press. which, hv It's broad
dissemination of political intelligence. secures
IN advance TO the >l!c OF in>ticc the inIyment
OF the civilized world. An honest. firm and
command the united support of the nation.
whose deliberate opinions it would ncccssa-
rilv reflect
\o'hin. is clearer in the history Of our in
stItu'tonS than the design OF the nation in
asserting lis own Independence and freedom.
to avnid TI.inE roun'cnance to the extension
OF slavery. The Inilu"nce of the small hnt
compact and powerful class OF men interested.
IN slavery, who command one section of the
coIniry. and wlrid vast political control a>
consequence IN the other, Is now directed
10 turn back this impulse OF the Revolution.
and reverse IFS principles. The extension
at slavery across the continent i, the oi,,p..t
OF The power which now rules the Govern
m"nt: and from this spirit have >l,run" those
kindred wrongs in Kansas 50 truv portray
cd In one OF vonr rrSolnionS which prove
that the elements of the mo>t arbitrary roy
crnmcrt> have not h"rr ,anGal,hcd ty the
lu~t theory ot our own
1t would be ont Of place here to pledge my
self III any particular policy which ln,y have
been suggested 10 terminate :hc sectional con-
trovcr>v eng nlrrcd ny lniitiral anirn">lt,cS
operating on a powerful class bandcd torc,h-
crhv common interest. \ pratlra! REM
dv is the admission oi Kansas INTO the mon
As a free State. The South should, IN NV
Judgment, earnestly desire such con<unma
ton Ii woG.d >l,;iiratc ;hc GOOD ialrh-i,
the North HAVING practically the tencii ut
the agreement between the two sections
would be satisfied, and good feeling be re
stored. The measure Is perfectly consistent
with the honor Of the South, and vital To If.
interests. That fatal act winch gave birth t,
this purel sectional strife, originating IN tn,
scheme to take from tree labor the countr,
secured to it by a solemn covenant, caunot b,
too soon dI>arm,d OF It's pernicIo,ls force.
The only genial region OF the middle lati
tndrs lett to the emI1rants of the Northern
States for homes cannot be conquered trou
the free latorerS, who have long considered !,
as set apart for them IN our inheritance, with
outprovoking desperate struggle Whateye,
may be the persistence of the particular elias.
which seems ready to hazard everything for
the success OF the unjust scheme IT has par
TALLY effected, firmly believe that the crca
heart OF the nation, which throbS with IN,
patriotism of the tree men OF both section>
Will have power to overcome it, They vii
look to the rights secured to them ty m,
Constitution ot the Union, aS their best safe
guard from the oppression OF the class which
by monopoly OF the soil and OF slave Ia
Dor to I'LL lt-inIg ht IN time reduce them tt
the extremity OF latorIng upon the sam,
terms with the slaves. lhe great BODY Of
-slavehodIng treemen, Includino tbos,
OF the South, upon whose welfare Slavery i
an oppression, will discover that the pow.
OF the general government over the publ,
lands may be benchc'aily exerted to advanc,
their interests and secure their independence
knowing this, their sutfraSes will not be want
ing to MAINTAIN that authority IN the Unior
which is absolutely essential to the nlainten
ance of their own liberties, and which ha,
more than once ind'cated the purpose of dis