Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-07-18
Col. Fremonts Letter.

We need not advise our readers to give
careful parusal to Col Fremont reply to
the communication Of the committee appoint
eI by the Philadelphia Convention to arprise
him officially of his nomination nor need we
prompt the applause and qualification with
which it will be received All will read it .
and like it. Ii is like its author, manly.
modest and straight forward. There is no
misunderstanding his position on the great
question, nor any doubt that his whole heart
is in the cause Of Freedom The letter
speaks for itself
col. FREMCNI'S LETTER Of ACCEPTANCE.
New YoRE. July :. l.56.
Gentlemen You call me to a high respon-
sbllity 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
action Of the Federal Government to the prin-
cplcs of Washington and jefferson. Com
pretending the magnitude Of the trust which
they have declared themselves willing 90
place in my hands, and deeply sensible to the
honor which their unreserved confidence in
this threatening position OF the pubic affair
implies | feel that | cannot better respond
than by II sincere declaration that, in the
event Of my election to the Presidency. |
should enter upon the execution ofits duties
with A single hearted determination to pro-
mote the good Of tho whole country, and to
direct solely to this end all the power of the
Government, irrespective of party issues and
regardless of ,ecti5ual strites The declara-
tiou of principles embodied in the resolves Of
your Convention expresses the sentiments in
lrh ha 70 "a. ed rt 1vI 1nh h4y
been ripened into convictions by personal OBJ
seryatlon and experience With this decara-
tion and avowal, | think It necessary 70 re-
vert to only two Of the subjects embraced in
the solutions, and 10 those only because
events have surrounded them with grave and
critical circumstances, and given to them
especial Importance.
concur in the views Of the Convention
dcrrccating the foreign policy to which it
udyrrts The assumption that We have the
right TO take from another nation its domains
hrcluse We want them, is an abandonment of
the honest character which our country has
acquired 70 provoke hoEtiites by unjust
assumptions would be to sacrifice the peace
and character of the country when all ITS
interests might be- more certainly secured
and It's objects attained by lust and healing
couusels, involving no loss Of reputation
International embarrassmeuts are mainly
the result of a secret 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 ms
ututions, and is itself yielding gradually TO
more enlightened public opinion. and to the
power of a free press which, by its broad
dissemination of political intelligence, secures
in advance to the side of justice the judg
ucnt 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 necessari-
ly reflect.
Nothing is clearer IN the history Of our
institutions than the design of the nation in
asserting its own independence and freedom,
10 avoid giving countenance 10 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 the other is now directed to
turn back this impulse Of the Revolution, and
reverse its principles. The extension Of
slavery across the continent is the object Of
the power which now rules the Government;
aud from this spirit have sprung those kind
red wrongs in Kansas so truly portrayed in
uue Of your resolutions, which prove that the
elements 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
suggested 10 terminate the sectional contro-
versy engendered by political snimosities,