Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-19
COL. FREMONT'S REPLY.

NEN- Okk, July y, IS)b
GENTLEMEN You call me to a high respon-
sbility 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 a common effort to bring back the
the action of the Federal Government to the
principles Of Washington and Jefferson. Com
pretending the magnitude of the trust which
they have declared themselves willing to place
in my hands, and deeply sensible of the honor
which their unrcserved confidence, in this
threatening position of the public affairs i'm
plies, | feel that | cannot better respond than
bv sincere declaration that, in the event
of election to the Presidency, | should enter
upon the cxecut on of its duties with single
hearted determination to promote the good
of the whole country and to direct solely
to this end all the power Of the Govern
mcnt, irrespective Of party issues and regard
less of sectional strifeS The declaration of
principles embodied in the resolves of your
Convention expresses the sentiments in which
| have been educated, and which have been
rpcncd into convictions by personal obScrya-
ton and experience With this declaration
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.
concur in the views of the Convention de-
precating the Foreign policy to which it adj
verts. The assumption that we have the right
to take from another nation its domains be-
cause we want them, is an abandonment OF the
honest character which our Country has ac-
quircd TO provoke hostlities 10y unjust as
SumptionS would be to sacrifice the peace and
character of the country, when all its interests
might be more certainly secured and its OBJ
iects attained by just and healing counselS, IN
yo!Iing no loss of reputation international
cmbarrassmcnts are mainly the results of a Sc
crct 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 institutions, and is itself
yielding gradually to more enlightened pub
lie opinion, and to the power of Il 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 opinions it
would necessarily reflect.
NOlnnT Is clearer Ill Tie llStOIN vi OIN Ill
stitutonS than the design of the nation, in as
serting its own independence and freedom, to
avoid giving coantcnancc to the Extension of
Slavery. The influence of the small but CON-
pact and powerful class of men interested in
Slavery, who command one section of the coun-
try and WELD vast political control as a 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 aud
from this spirit has sprung those kindred
wrongs in Kansas SO truly portrayed in one Of
your resolutions, which prove that the elc
mcnts Of the most arbitrary governments have
not been vanquished 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
engendcred by political animostics, operating
on powerful class banded together by com
mon interest. \ practical remedy is the adj
mission of Kansas into the Union as a Free
State. The South should in my judgment,
earnestly desire such consummation 1t would
vindlcatc It's good faith. 1t would correct the
mistake of the repeal and the North, having
practically the benefit of the agreement be
tween the two sections, would he satisfied and
good feeling be restored The measure is per
iectlv consistent with the honor Of the South