The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-26
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTIONAL
PLATFORM AND NOMINATIONS.

the exclusion Of other matter of less interest
Not having been present, we can speak
of the character and temper of the Con-
vention only upon the testimony of eye-wit-
nesses. That it was large, imposing, and per-
vaded by feeling of determined hostility to
the Slave Power, all agree. Prominent as
actors in it were men, who, in the early days OF
our great Controversy, signalized their devotion
to Freedom; and other men, who, lately occu.
plying conspicuous positions as Wings or Dem
ocrats, have at last been driven to the conclu-
sion that the safety of the Republic demands a
union of freemen opposed to Slavery.
Three important subjects were to be consid-
cred: The nominations, the platform or issues,
and the relations of tile Increment to the secerag
parties.
Our views on all these questions have been
freely communicated to the readers of the Era.
Relying upon the great principles of the Re-
publican movement, we held that in the Presi-
dental canvass we ought to proclaim them
boldly. and to select as candidates men clearly
representing them, thoroughly understanding
them, and whose devotion to them had been
attested by acts as well as words. And in
relation to other Parties, we insisted that our
movement should be preserved, completely in
dependent, placed on its own merits alone, and
kept free from all entangling alliances with
Democratic, Wing, or Know Nothing Organi.
cation. AS to our preferences for a Presiden.
tial candidate, we had nothing to say in the
Era; but in the editorial relating to this sub
ject, just before the meeting of the Convention,
we expressed the opinion that sound policy
pointed to the nomination of either Mr.. Seward
or Mr.. Chase; but, if the strictly representative
men of our cause should be set aside, then our
opinion was that Judge Mclean would be the
available man.
In the Convention, as will be seen, the cur.
rent from the beginning ran strongly in favor
OF Col. j. G. Fremont. New England and
New York, with few exceptions, were strenu.
ously bent on his nomination, while Pennsyl.
vania, with equal determination, insisted on
the nomination of Judge Mclean. The great
majority of the delegates were honest, and
meant to do right; few, doubtless, were gov
erned by unworthy motives nor are we dis
posed to excuse some antecedent movements, in
certain quarters, designed to bias the action of
the Convention. But, let all this pass; the
body of the delegates was actuated by a
sincere purpose to select man true to the
movement, but of the greatest availability.
Sagacious and upright men took exactly oppo-
site views-Charles Francis Adams and Pres
ton King, favoring Fremont, David Wilmot
and Joshua R. Giddings, Mclean.
We could wish that more time had been al.
lowed for consideration-that freer inter
change of opinion had been permitted-that
less impotence had been manifested by the
friends of Mr.. Fremont; but even good men, in
the excitement of contest, sometimes lose
their balance, and do things which, in their
cooler moments, they regret.
The final result, as our readers know, was
the nomination Of Col. Fremont, of California.
for the Presidency, and William l.. Dayton, of
New Jersey, for the Vice Presidency. In this
we give, on the authority of the
New York papers, few facts concerning these
gentlemen.
John c. Fremont was born at Savannah. Geor.
gia, Jan. l3, 1913. His mother was a Vir-
gilman, his father, who died when he was a
child, Frenchman. He was educated at
Charleston, South Carolina, by Dr. John Rob
ertson in 1928 entered the Junior class at
Charleston College; in 1888 obtained post,
as teacher of mathematics, on board the sloop-
of.war Natchez, which set out on cruise of
two years and half; on his return was en-
ployed by Captain Williams, of the Topograph-
lcal Engineers, in the survey of a route from
Charleston to Cincinnati; some time after Join.
ed M. Nicolet, an eminent French savan, in
the employ of the United States, in an exploring
expedition over the Northwestern prairies, act
ing as principal assistant during the years 1888
and 1889, and receiving while absent the ap-
pointment of second Lieutenant in the Corps of
Engineers. In 1912, he started
On the first of his three great exploring expe-
litions, was out five months, explored the "a
nous South Pass across the Rocky Mountains,
and assembled their highest summit, Wind River
peak, of all which he prepared highly in.
eresting report. May, lS43, he commenced
IN exploration of the great Salt Lake, the in.
erior basin of Utah, the mountain range of the
Sierra Nevada, and California, occupying near.
y fifteen months.
I" After preparing the report of this exped;.
ion in the spring of l845, Fremont now a can
ain, set out on third expedition, designed to
make more particular survey of the regions
which he had previously visited. 1t was while
IN this expedition, and before he had
received any intimation of the commencement
If the war with Mexico, that, after having him.
'elf been once ordered off by the authorities.
he was induced by the entreaties of the Amer,
IAN settlers in the valley of Sacramento, whom
he Mexicans threatened to drive out of the
country, to put himself at their head. Thus
ed, they defeated the Mexicans. Fremont put
himself into communication with the naval
on the coast and soos, in con-
JUNCTION with Commodore Stockton, obtained
complete possession of California, of which, on
he Oath of August, he was appointed, by Stock
,on, military commander"
Subsequently General Kearney arrived in the
Territory; conflict of authority sprang up be-
sween him and Commodore Stockton. Col.
Fremont, while it was in progress, obeyed the
orders of the Commodore for this he was court.
and sentenced to be dismissed. Mr..
Polk signed the sentence as technically right,
but at the same time offered Fremont a new
commission of the same grade; it was declined,
and he retired to private life.
Thus, discharged from the service of the
he undertook fourth exploring
expedition OF his own, with view to discover
passage across the Rocky Mountains southerly