The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-11
COL. FREMoNTs LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE

NEW York, July 8, 1856.
GENTLEMEN: You call me to a high responsibility by
placing me in the Of great movement of the people of
the United States who without regard past differences
are uniting in effort to bring back the action of
the federal government to the principles of Washington
and Jefferson C0mpehendng 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 implies, feel that cannot better respond
than by sincere declaration that in the event of nv cleo
ton to the presidency should upon the execution of
its duties with singe-heared determination to promote
the good of the whole country and direct solely to this
end all the power of the government irrespective of party
issues and regardless of sectional stres The declaration
Of principles mboded in the resolves your yentoa
expresses the sentiments In which have been educated
and which have been rpened into convictions by personal
observation and experience. With this declaration and
avowa think 1t necessary revert to only two N the
subjects embraced in the resolutions and to those only
because events have surrounded them with grave and
critical circumstances and given to them especial import
apce;
concur in the views Of the convention deprecanp the
foreign policy to which it advers The assumption that
we have the right to take from another nation its domains
because want them is abandonment of the honest
character which country has acquired To provoke
hoses by unjust assumptions would be to sacrifice the
peace and character of the country when all its interests
by just and healing counses involving no loss Of reputa
ton
International embarrassments mainly the results
Of secret diplomacy which aims to keep from the know
edge of the people the operations of the government This
system is inconsistent with the character of our nsu-
tons, and is itself yielding gradually to more enlght
ened public opinion and TO the power of 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
foreign relations would command the united support
Of the nation whose deliberate opinions it would
rily rsfect
Nothing is clearer in the history Of our institutions than
the design of the nation in asserting its independence
and freedom to avoid giving counenance to the extension
of slavery. The influence Of the small but compact and
powerful class OF men interested in slavery who command
section Of the country and WELD vast political con-
troll consequence in the other directed TO turn
this impulse Of the revolution and its principles
The extension of slavery the continent is the OBJ
ect Of the power which rules the government and
from this spirit have sprung those kindred wrongs in Kan
SO truly portrayed in Of your resolutions which
prove that the elements Of the most arbitrary govern
have not been ranqushed by the just theory Of our
own.
1t would be Of place here to pledge myself to any
cuar policy that may be suggested toermnate the sec
tonal controversy engendered by political animostes,
operating powerful class, banded together by COM
mon interest practical remedy is the admission of
Kansas into the Union free State The South should
in my Judgment earnestly desire such contamination 1t
would yindcate the good aitht would correct the mis-
take OF the repeal and the North having practically the
benefit Of the agreement between the two sections would
be satisfied and good feeling be restored The measure Is
perfectly consistent with the honor Of the South and vital
TO its interests
That fatal act which gave birth this purely sectional
strife originating in the scheme take from free labor
the country secured by solemn covenant cannot be
too dsarmed Of its pernicous force The only &c
Mai region Of the middle latudes left TO the emgrans
Of the northern States for homes be conquered
from the free aborers who have long considered as set
apart for them in inheritance without provoking
desperate struggle Whatever may be the persistence OF
the particular class which ready hazard every
thing for the Of the unjust scheme 1t has partially
effected firmly believe that the great heart Of the nation
which throbs with the patriotism Of the eemen Of both
sections will have power overcome IT, They will look
the rights secured TO them by the constitution OF the
Union their beat safeguard from the oppression Of the
class which by monopoly Of the soil and Of slave labor
to till IT, might in time reduce them 10 the extremity Of
aborng upon the with the sayes The great
body Of nonslaveholding ecmen including those Of the
South upon whose welfare slavery Is oppression will
discover that the power Of the general
the public lands may be benefcay exerted TO advance
their interests and their Independence knowing
this their sufrages will not be wanting maintain that
authority in the Union which Is absolutely essential 10 the
maintenance Of their own liberties and which has more
than indicated the purpose Of dposng Of the public
lands in such way would make every settler upon
/ them freeholder.
II the people intrust to the administration OF the
government the laws Of Congress in relation to the Terri
tories will be faithfully executed All its authority win be
exerted in aid Of the national will 10 re-esabsh the
peace OF the country the just principles which have
heretofore received the sanction Of the federal govern
ment Of the States, and Of the people OF both sections
Such policy would leave aiment to that sectional
party which seeks its aggrandzemen BY appropriang tn,
Territories to capital in the form Of slavery but would
inevitably result in the triumph Of free laborthe natura
capital which constitutes the real wealth OF this prea
country and creates that intelligent power in the masses
alone TO be relied a. the bulwark Of free institutions
Trusting that have heart capable Of compromising
our whole country, with its varied interests and conden
that patriotism exists in all parts Of the Union accept th
nomination Of your convention in the hope that may b,
enabled usefuly its cause which consider tn
cause Of constitutional freedom.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant
u J. @. FREMONT
To Messrs H. Lane president Of the convention jane
NJ Ashley, Anthony ). Beecker Joseph O. Hornblower
II ER Hoar Thaddeus Stevens, Kingsley s. Bingham
}, John A. Wills G. ?. Cleveland, Cyrus Aldrch commit