Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-10
Col. Fremons's Reply,

Col. FremOnt's Reply,
New YoRK, July s, 1856.
Gentlemen: You call me to high respon-
sibility by placing me in the van OF a great
movement of the People t 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
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 honor which their unreseryed confidence
in this threatening position of the public af-
fairs, implies, l 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 It's duties
with single-hearted determination to pro
mote the good Of the whole country, and. to
direct solely to this end all the powers of the
Government, irrespective of party issues and
regardless of sectional strifes. The declara-
ton of principles embodied in the resolves of
your Convention expresses the sentiments in
which | have been educated, and which have
been ripened into convictions by personal OBJ
seryation and experience. With this declara-
ton and avowal, think it necessary to re-
vert to only two of the subjects embraced in
those resolutions, and to those only because
events have surrounded them with grave aud
critical circumstances, and given to them es-
pecial Importance.
l concur in the views Of the Convention
deprecating the Foreign policy to which it
adverts. he 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 hostilties by UNI
Just assumptions, would be to sacrifice 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 manly the
resurvS or At secreI uIpIoHacy, wnIcn aims TO
keep from the knowledge of the People the
operations of the Government. This system
is inconsistent with the character of our in
Ftitutons, and is itself yielding gradually to
more enlghted public opinion, and to tina
power OF free press, which, by its broad dis
semination 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 opinions it would necessarily
reflect.
Nothing is clearer in the history of our in
situations than the design of the nation, in
asserting 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
consequence in the other, is now directed to
turn back this impulse of the revolution, and
reverse its principles. The extension of slav-
cry across the continent is the object of the
power which now rules the government and
from this spirit has sprung those kindred
wrongs in Kanzas so truly portrayed in one
of your resolutions, which prove that the ele-
ments OF the most arbitrary governments have
not been yanquished by the just theory of
our own.
It would be out of place here to pledge my
self to any particular policy that has been
suggested to terminate the sectional contro-
versy engehdered by political animosities, op.
Grating on powerful class banded together
by common interest. A practical remedy is
the admission of kanzas into the Union as a
Free State The South should, in my iudg-
ment, earnestly desire such a contamination.
1t would vindcate its good faith. IL 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 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 la
borers who have long considered it as set
apart tor them in our inheritance, without
provoking q 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 par
tally 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 extremity OF laboring upon the
same terms with the slaves. The great body
of Nom Slaveholding Freemen including
those OF the South, upon whose welfare Slave
ny is an oppression, will discover that the
power Of the General Government over Public
Lands may be benefcally exerted to advance
their interests and secure their independence
knowing this, their suiirages will not be want.
ing TO maintain that authority in the Union
Which is absolutely essential to the mainte.
nance Of their own liberties, and which has
more than once Indicated the purpose of dis.
posing Of the Public Lands in such way as
would make every settler upon them free
holder.
II the People intrust to me the administra-
ton Of the Government, the laws Of Congress
IN relation to the Territories shall be faithfully
executed. 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 a policy