Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-07-17

President ofthe Convention,
JAMES NJ. ASHLEY,
ANTHONY j. BLEECKER,
JOSEPH G. H0RNBL0WER,
E.R. HOAR.
THADDEUS. STEVENS,
KINGSLEY s. BINGHAM,
JOHN A. WILLS,
C. +. CLEVELAND,
CYRUS ALDRICH.
70 John G. Fremont, of California.
Col. FREMoNT's REPLY.
New YORK, July s.
GENTLEMEN You call me to ahigh respon-
sbility by placing me in the van Of a great
movement of the people Of the United States,
who, without regard to party differences, are
uniting in common effort to bring back the
action Of the Federal Government to the prin-
ciples of Washington and Jefferson. Compre-
hending the magnitude Of the trust which they
have declared themselves willing to place in my
hands, and deeply sensible ofthe honor which
their unreserved confidence in this threatening
position Of public affairs implies, feel that
cannot better respond. than by a sincers dec
aration that in the event Of my election to the
Presidency, should enter upon the execution
of its duties with single-hearted determine
tion to promote the good Of the whole country,
and to direct solely to this end all the power
of the Government, irrespective of party issues,
and regardless Of sectional strifss.
The declaration Of principles embodied in
the resolves of your Convention, express SEN
timents in which have been educated, and
which have been ripened into convictions
by personal observation and experience
With this declaration and avowal think it nee.
essarY to revert TO only two of the subjects EN-.
braced in the resolutions, and to those only,
because events have surrounded them with
grave and critical circumstances, and given to
them special importance.
l concur in the views ofthe Convention dep.
recating the foreign policy to which it adverts,
The assumption that we have the right to take
from another nation its domains because we
want them, is an abandonment. of the honest
character which our country has acquired To
provoke hOstil;ies by unjust assumptions
would be to sacrafce the peace and character
Of the country, when all its interests might be
more certainly secured, and its objects attained
by just and healing counsels, involving no loss
of reputation.
International embarrassments are mainly the
results of secret diplomacy. which aims 10
keep from the knowledge of the people the op-
erations of the Government. This system is
inconsistent with the character of our instiLu-
tions, 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 the Justice the judgment of the civ.
llized world. An honest, firm and open poll.
cy in our foreign relations would command the
united support Of the nation, whose deliberate
opinions i. 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 aud
powerful class of men interested in Slavery
who command one section of the country, and
WELD vast politiOsl controlas a consequence
in the other, is now directed to turn this i'm
p1lse of the Revolution and reserve its princ
pies, The exlenton Of slavery across the con
tinent is the object Of the power which now
rules the Government aud from this spiri
has sprung those kindred wrongs in Kansas Sc
truly portrayed in one of your resolutions
! which prove that the elements of the most ar
bitrary governments have not been vacquishec
by the just theory OfOur own.
1t would be out of place here to pledge my
t self to any particular policy that has been sug
gested to terminate the sectional controvers.
engeudefed by political animOsitiss, operating
upon powerful class banded together BY
common interest. practical remedy is tn
Q admission of Kansas into the Union as fre
8 State.
The South, should, in my judgment earnest
" desire such consumation. It would vindi
cate the good faith-it would correct the mis-