The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-30

is inconsistent with the character of our insti-
buttons, and is itself yielding gradually to a more
enlightened public opinion, and to the power of
q 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 opin-
ions it would necessarily reflect.
Nothing is clearer in the history of our insti-
tutions than the design of the nation, in assert
ing its own independence and freedom, to avoid
giving countenance to the extension of Slavery.
The influence of the small but compact and
powerful class of men interested in Slavery, who
command one section of the country, and WELD
a vast political control, as a consequence, in
tho other, is now directed to turn back this i'm
pulse ofthe Revolution, and reverseits principles
The extension of Slavery across the continent
IL the object of the power which now rules the
Government; and from this spirit has sprung
these kindred wrongs in Kansas, so truly por-
trsyed in one of your resolutions, which prove
that the elements of the most arbitrary Govern
ments 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
engendered by political animosities, operating
on powerful class, banded together by COM
| mon interest. practical remedy is the ad-
mission of Kansas into the Union as free
State. The South should, in my judgment,
| earnestly desire such consummation. 1t would
vindicate its good faith. 1t would correct the
mistake of the repeal; and the North, having
practically the benefit Of the agreement between
| the two sections, would be satisfied, and good
| feeling restored. The measure is perfectly con
sistent with the honor of the South, and vital to
| its interests. That fatal act which gave birth
to this purely sectional strife originating in the
| scheme to take from Free Labor the country
| secured to it by solemn covenant, cannot be
| too soon disarmed Of its pernicious force The
only genial region of the middle ATTITUDES left
to the emigrants of the Northern States for
homes, cannot be conquered from the free Ia
borers who have long considered it as set apart
| for them in our Inheritance without provoking
a desperate struggle. Whatever may be the
| persistence of the particular class which seems
ready to hazard everything for the success of
the unjust scheme it has partially effected,
| firmly believe that the great heart of the nation
which throbs with the patriotism of the freemen
| OF both sections, will have power to overcome
1T. They will look to the rights secured to them
| by the Constitution Of the Union as the best
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 to the extrem-
| lty OF laboring upon the same terms with the
slaves. The great body of non slavehoiding
freemen, Including those of the South, upon
whose welfare Slavery is an oppression, will
discover that the power of the General Govern
ment over the public lands may be beneGcially
exerted to their interests, and secure their in
dependence knowing this, their sufrages will
not be wanting to maintain that authority in
the Union which is absolutely essential to the
maintenance of their own liberties, and which
has more than once indicated the purpose of
disposing of the public lands in such way
as would make every settler upon them free
holder.
If the People intrust to me the administration
of the Government, the laws of Congress in re-
lation to the Territories shall be faithfully ex-
ecuted. All its authority shall be exerted in
aid OF the national WILL to re-establish the peace
of the country on the just principles which have
heretofore received the sanction of the Federal
Government, of the States, and of the People
of both sections. Such policy would leave no
aliment to that sectional party which seeks it's
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by appropriating the new Ter
ritOries to capital III the form of Slavery, but
would inevitably result in the triumph Of free
labor-he natural capital which constitutes the
real wealth of this great country, and creates
that intelligent power in the masses, alone to be
relied on as the bulwark of free institutions
Trusting that have a heart capable of com
pretending our whole country with its varied
interests, and confident that patriotism exists
in all parts of the Union, / accept the nomina-
ton OF your Convention, in the hope that may
be enabled to serve usefuly its cause, which l
consider the cause of constitutional Freedom.
ours respectfully, your obedient servant,
j. G.. Fremont