The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-07-19
Col. Fre,nOnt's Acceptance.

sponsibility by placing me in the van of
yrent movement of the people Of the United
States, who without regard to past differ
ences, are uniting in q common effort to bring
back the action of the federal government to
the principles of Washington and Jefferson.
Comprehending the magnitude of the trust
which they have declared themselves willing
to place in my hands, and deeply sensible OF
the honer which their anreserved confidence,
in this threatning position of the public al
fairs, implies, feel that cannot better re-
spond than by sincere declaration that, in
the event Of my election to the presidency,
should enter upon the execution of its duties
with a single-hearted determination to pro-
mote the good Of the whole country, and to
direct solely to this end all the power Of the
government, irrespective of party issues. aad
! regardless of sectional strifes. The deolara-
ton of principles embodied in the resolves OF
your convention expresses the sentiments IN
which l have been educated, and which have
been ripened into convictions by personal OBJ
serva,ion and experience. With this declara-
tion and ayowal, l think II necessary to re-
vert 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 es-
pecal Importance.
| concur in the views OF the convention de-
precating the foreign policy to which it ad-
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
acquired. To provoke hostilities by urgent
sumptions-would be TO sacrifice the peace
and character of the country, when all its in
terests might be more certainly secured, and
its objects attained by just and healing coun-
sells, involving no loss of reputation. Inter
national embarrassments are mainly the re-
suits of secret diplomacy, which aims to
keep from the knowledge Of the people the
operations of the government. This system
stitutions, and is itself yielding gradually to
more enlightened public opinion, and to the
power Of free press, which, by its broad
dissemination Of political intelligence, secures
in advance to the side of justice the judg-
ment 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.
Nothing is clearer in the history OF our in
stitutions than the design of the nation, in
asserting its own independence and free
dom, to avoid giving ountenance 10 the ex
tension of slavery. The influence of the
small but compact and powerful class of men
interested in Slavery, who command one SEC
| ton OF the country and WELD a vast political
control as consequence in the other, is now
directed 10 turn back this impulse of the Rev
olulion and reverse its principles. The ex-
tension of Slavery across the Continent is the
object of the power that now rules the gov
ernment; and from this spirit has sprung those
kindred wrongs in Kansas, so truly portray
ed in one of your resolutions, which prove
that the elements of the most arbitrary gov
ernments haye not been vanquisl,ed by the
just theory of our own.
1t would be out of place here to pledge
myself to any particular policy that has been
suggested to terminate the sectional contro
yersy engendered by politica' animosities, op-
Grating on a powerful class banded together
by common interest. Apractcal remedy is
the admission of Kansas into the Union as a
Free State. The South should, in my judg-
ment, 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 be restored
The measure is perfectly consistent with the
honor of the South, and vital to its interests.
That fatal act which gave birth TO this pure
ly 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 latitudes left 10
the emigrants of the Northern states for homes
cannot be conquered from the free laoorers
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 seem
ready TO hazard everythin1 for the success #
the unjust scheme it has partially effected,
firmly believe that the great heart of the nA-
ton, which thTobs with the patriotism of the
Freemen of every section, will have power to
overcome it, They will look to the rights Sc
cured to them by thea Constitution of the I'm.
ion as the best safeguard from the oppression
of the class which, by a molopoly of the
Soil and Of Slave labor TO till it, might il
time reduce them to the extremity Of labor.
! ing upon the same terms with the slaves
The great body of non-slave-ho.ding Free
men, including those of the South, upor
whose welfare Slavery is an Cypress on, vii
: discover that the power OF the General Gov
ernment over the public lands may be bene
> fcialy exerted to advance their interests anC
? secure their independence. Knowing this
their sutfrages will ot be wanting to main
: tain that authority in the Union which is alb
solutely essential to the maintenance Of thei
u liberties, and which has more than once in
dicated the purpose of disposing of tne pub
: lie lands in such way as would make ever,
i ! settler upon them freeholder.
y If the people intrust to me the sdministra
i lion of the Government, the laws of Con
II gress in relation to the Territories shall b.
faithfully executed All its authority shal