Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-07-18
LETTER OF COL. FREMONT.


CiuereLccs, are uniting III common eGOrI
TO bring back the action of the Federal
Government to TIE pE.acp PIE. Of Ea.n.-.
ton and Jefferson. Compreh-.diDg La
magnitude Of the trbs. which they have
declared themselves williD- to place in NV
hands, aud deeply sensible ~ Tie honor
which their unreserved confidence IN this
Threatening position Of the pabiic affairs
implies, feel tl.I. ] csEBo, L1..sr respvns
than BY sincere declaration tLai, ia t.
event Vi my election TO the Presidency,
should enter upon the execution of lis ~
ties .iIh a siIg gle-hearted determination ~
promote the good OF tie whole country,
and to direct .0i..J 20 this eud all ...s
power OF lie Government irrespective II
party issues. and rr.-a-'less of sectional
striies. The declaration Oi principles en-
bodied in the resolves of your Convsnts.n,
expresses the sentiments in which | had
been educated, and which have bsen ripen-
ed iitC convictions b. rersoLsl observs-
ton aud experience. With this declAIa-
ton and avowal, l link !. Necessary to
revert to only two Uf he subjects en- 5-acsd
in these resolutions, and to those only be-
cause events have surrour ed thea with
grave and critical circumstances, and gls-
en- to them especial impo:tapee.
cOncur =. ihe view. OF the Convention
depreeatiug the foreign policy - which IL
adserts. The ASSUMPTION that we have
the right to take from another nation its
domains because we want them, IS an
abandonment Of the honest chareler which
our cOaGtry has acquired. To provoke
hostiItIes By unjus. assumptions would be
la Sacrifice. tho estl aar of .tA
country, when al its interests might be
more certainly secu- and its objects A.
tanned by just and healing cOun.el, iuvolS.
ing nO loss OF reputation.
international embaIrassments are MAIN
~ the result Of secret diplomacy WHICH
aims to keep from the knowledge Of the
people the operations Of the government.
This system is incon-:s.ent with the char
acter ot our Institutions, and is itseif yield
ing gradually to more enlightened public
opinion, and to the power OF free press,
which, by its broad dissa iniEation Of pol:ti-
cal intelligence, secures in advance to tie
side of justice the judi smeut OF the civil
ized World. An honest, firm and open
..-,l..-- - - I---:-- r-I--:-----lI ~--..
whose deliberate opinions it would necss-
sarily reflect: =. -
= Nothing j. clearer in the history Of our
institutions tLan the design Of the nation
in asser..ng - own independence and
freedom, to ..oij giving eountsnance -
the extension Of slavery. The influence
Class o %ea lt aSa ssvssy esSsEsS VII
command one section of tht couuiry, and
weld vast political control as conss-
quence In the other, is now directed 10
turn beeis this impulse vt Silu fesvtuIion
and reverse its principles. Ihe extension
Of slavery across the continent Is the oh
ject Of the power which now rules the gov
ernment, and from this spirit has sprung
those kindred wrongs in Kansas % truly
portrayed in one OF your resolutions, which
prove that the elements Of the most arbi-
trary governmeDts have not been van
quished by the just theory Of our own. Il
would he OFT OF place here 70 pledge my
self to any particular policy that has been
suggested to terminate the sectional con-
troversy ensendered by political animosi-
ties, operating on g powerful class banded
together by common interest. 4 prac-
teal remedy Is the admission vi Kansas IN
to the Union as free State. The SoutE
should, in my judgment, earnestly desire
such consumma;ion. IL would yind.cats
its good iaitb-it would correct the niis-
take of the repeal and the North, having
practically tho benefit Of the agreement
between the two sections would DC sat IS
fed, and good feeling be restored. The
measure IS perfectly consistent, with the
honor o. the South, and vital 10 It's inter.
ests. That fa:al act Nhich gave birth 10
this purely sectional strife, originating n
tue scheme to take from free labor the
country secured to it Sy solemn coven-
ant, cannot lie too soon iisaEmed Of ito
pernicious force. The oniy genial region
OF the middle la::iudes !eft to the emicr-at
OF the Northern States for homes canh0t
be conquered from the free laborcrs, who
have loag considered Ii as set .|art for
them in our inheritance, without provoking
desperate struggle. Whatever may lie
the persistence of the particular class
which seems ready TO hazard everything
for the success O; the unjust scheme i i,as
partially effected, firmly believe mat the
great heart of the nation, which throbs
with the Patriotism of the free men of both
sections. viii have power 10 overcome it.
They viii look to the rights secured 10
them By the Constitution of the Uaivn, =.
their best safeguard fron TIE oppression
Of the class which-ty monopoly Of the
soil and Of slave labor TO till it-might in
time reduce them 70 the Extremity of Ia
boring upon the same term, with the
slaves The great body OF non-slaveho.d-
ing free men, iuc.u ling those " the SOaih
upon whose welfare slavery 10 an opP:es-
sion, wiz discover that the power Of tho
genera government; over tie public lands
may be bene6cially exerted to ajvaace
their interests AID seeare their indepeu-
denee. knowing this, ;heir sGffrages Will
not be wanting 10 maintain that authority
in the Union which is absolutely essentia.
TO the Maintenance Of. their cwn liberties.
and which has more than once indicated
tie purpose of disposing Of the PUBLIC
lands in such a way as would make every
settler upon them q treeh0lder.
+, Ii the people trus. 10 me the Gdminis-
tration Of the government. the law Of Con.
sress in relation to the Territories viii be
faithfully executed. All its authority will
BE exerted in aid Of the national VIII TO
reesta5 ish the peace Of He country on
the Just principles which have heretofore
received the sanc,ion Of The Federal Gov
ernnen:, of tie States, anu the people Of
both sections. Such policy world leave
no aliment % tkst sec,ionai party which
seeks It's aggrandizemeui by appropriatinS
the new Territories to capital in the fern
Of slavery, but would inevitably result in
the triumph OF free labcr-ths natural
capital which constitutes the real wealth
ofthis great country, and creates that in-
telligent power in the masses alone TO be
relied on 4, the bulxark Of free institutions.