New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-07-08

me- in view Of the fact thst the opposon endcsv
or, TO prejudice his claims TO the pcpsl.r rcgAt Il
The Moth because he IL a South Carolinan by birth,
end that they declare ,hs his avo Sed OPINIONS against
the ext. Ds,n Of Slavery are assumed for the anoo
10 write you for publ cation. 80 far rs I. proper to
do 90 vhat lis otniors then on the great qucs
ton Of slavery Extsi son which now oony,iises the
cour,iy. or cCnrc l cheeifuuy comply, becsuse
wish TO do utics to- the nan who seems to have been
prov ide utiaIly selected for this crisis.
met Col FRI mont aad his wife early In the Autumn
Of ls4s on the strsucr Saratoga, which wes then 10
the Hufialo and Sandnsky line. made their &C
QuaniaDce soon aftcr we left Bnhtlo, and, as We
were detained by head winds AID Cher causes, We
were together nearly or quite two days Owing to
peculiar circumstances, not Necessary now to men-
ton, our acquaintance became very int mate par
taking more Of that which ID the result Of years than
of days. II was of the most confidential kind;
indeed bad | belonged to thelE own family it could
scarcely have been more -.
He WAS then on he way tothe western frontier TO act
out another and final overland journey to Galforns
by new route, for the pupose Of making expOra-
ton of section Of the Continent which was yet
unknown, except to the trapper or Indian. lis wife
was accop paby ing lin rs far as Westport, on the
confines of Missouri, to cheer and comfort him with
her presence till the last moment. And much did he
need Der comforting presence. There had been no
time during his whole career, when his prospects
really looked gloomy then, or when the stoutest
besIt might quail He had nearly drained the bitter
cup He did indeed drink ts last bitter dregs before
the Journey ended. 1t was ON that dreadful journey
that be lost 70 many Of his brave and everfathful
companions, and nearly persisted himself:
He had but recently got through with his court
nartis-a trial which, from ts inception to its close,
was one of the most unjust and disgracefu that has
ever been held in this country. Instead OF an honor
able acquittal and high commentator for bis glorious
services il found him guilty, and, in carrying out its
Judgment, he had been dismissed the service. he
krtw that great Justice had been done him. and he
f.h il b.enly He was poor, having only the amount
of his salary for his own and famly's support. But
this was not all; for Congress having refused to as.
sumo the dsbts he had contracted In the conquest OF
California he was going back empty-handed, and
with tie certan prospect of every species OF AFRO
gance from that source.
and with the intention of mskug there his future
home Son kind friends in New-York had enabled
him TO send round the necessary machinery tor mills
which be intended TO erect upon his ranch, since
famous, and go valuable, but then only vaui able es
afforoipg fine property for agricultural purposes.
Boil be and lis noble wife looked forward to the
time when they would be able to entertain their friends
in their house, and upon their own farm II that
then far-off territory. Gold had not yet been dis
covered, ard be expected to conquer success by the
same indomable perseverance that had thus tar sus
tanned BIN in one Of the most remarkable careers ever
run BY any man Of his age in this any other
try. Ano it was very pleasant to see how he was
cheered On and encouraged by his wife, whose notions
of indeper dence grathed by the vast prospect
country Neither had any other thought or expecta-
ton than to obtain an honorable aud respected posi-
ton by their own industry and economy. mention
ths facts to show you, that whatever OpineRs he
then entertained and expressed were the result Of
settled conviction and no, influenced by any motives
Of policy Those who know the man thoroughly,
know that he is incapable of giving expression to any
other than his own welsettled and thorough cOnvic
tons upon any important subject brought to his no.
tee or Discussion.
Feeling great interest in having California Free
State, and feeling satisfied that Wherever his lot was
cast would exercise great influence over those who
were associated with him. tho subject Of Slavery was
of freely thoroughly discussed, and in the most
u1rostrained and COMIC entia manner.
IL ell cases, found Col FremOnt's opinions to be
dy opposed TO the exension of Slavery into free
territory He considered it a serious evil, regretted
its txttepce and was most deterniDedly opposed to
its extension. He was strong State.nghts man
either Of u.s. believing that there danger to
be apprehendcd from the cncroachmens of the Gene.
raj Government in bad hands, than from any want of
unity smeng the States. In all our DISCUSSIONS,
surprised a. bis statesmanike views: There shOne
out that broad and comprehensive patriotism which
sought for the advancement of our common country to
that bgh position among the nations of the earth
which be considered her destiny; aud all that he had
dore, and ell that he had suffered, was amply cOnpen
stated if he had been the means of bringing to the
worlds knowledge any cf her wonderful reoouc -. 1t
was q, such times that despite his usual and
self control, he would become enthusiastic Ovsr what
seemed TO lin the glorious future OF our beloved
country. 1t was easy tor me to why he had held
sucl complete control over his companions even IN the
uds. Of such intcIse safferings. The whole secret
the entire absence OF all sellsHnSbs, WHICH IL
ore ofue great charms of bis character.
There were very many facts disclosed which showed
Low entirely he opposed to Slavery, and that he
Wou5 sufftr any privaon rather than to become even
4 resident in a Slave State. But they were 70 mixsd
no with matters which or less properly CON-
fdeDiis that DO not feel at liberty to repeat them
Still may perhaps be permitted to refer to one As
illustrating hs great repugnance to life OF depend
epce After lis Gi mssa from the service, his South
Carolina friends, much to their honor, came forward
and rendered him a PIofessorship in the College at
Columbia with salary OF $4,000 year, or the PreSi-
depov of a Railroad at an annual salary of $50
Modest and retiring in bis manners, and unostenta.
tous in bis labits he is yet keen observer and an
industrious student. His habits of close Obse rvatOn,
which have been exercised larger field in both
bemispheres than any other man now before the peo
ple with his practical good sense, give him cearne5S
of perception which is rarely at fault and tit him al
m;Istly Tor the Executive officer of great nation.
OF mis- capacity have doubt, for thus far he has
proved himself adequate 10 every emergency. ln
purity of Character ia a Knowledge OF the wa4tS OF
The people in an indOmtable will, and in patriot
ism that would sacrifice everything for the true glory
of the whole country, he has no superior.
From what then leaned OF Col. Frcmonts char-
acter and opinions without any regard to his subse-
ouept career do not believe that there Is any man in
the Vp,op more thoroughly democratic. SO firm are
nv convictions on this subject that ! am wlhngt to
stake NV life upon his fidelity to the principle, OF the
Democratic Republican party. With best wishes, SIN
se.ely your freDo, l. " iNi'
Mr. BNNJAMIN WEIGH JK
REpUBLICSN CELEBRATION ON THE