Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-07-24
THE MAN OF STRAW.

Heretofore candidates for the Presidency,
says L Washington Sentinel, have been Sc
lected by the great %artieS, from those who
have rendered great and important services to
the nation. No national party pride 10 1856
has ever presumed 10 offer man Os a eandi-
date for President, unless he had a nationals
reputation, and that won by long continued
service in posts OF high responsibility. Exam
inc the history OF the country and This will be
found 10 be strictly true. John Quincy Ad-
m and Andrew Jackson were the FIRST Presi-
Dental candidates who did not belong TO the
era OF the revolution. Then came Mr.. Van
Buren,, who had been long in the Senate Of The
United States, Governor OF New York, q Sec
retary Of State OF the United States. To him
succeeded General Harrison, who for forty
years had occupied posts of honor and high
trust. Generals Taylor anu Scott had both
won a national reputation, which justified
their presentation as Presidential candidates.
Mr. Polk and Mr.. Fillmore for many years in
Congress, had been considered among the first
statesmen OF The country before their names
were offered 10 the people for their sufrrages.
But what are the antecedents of John c..
Fremont ? He had been an explorer OF tubi.
Gus reputation. We know Of no useful prac.
teal results from his services as an explorer.
Capt. Wilkes detected errors in his lines and
observations, and emigrantS 10 California and
Oregon, misled by his published reports, have
denounced him as a humbug.
Twenty one days in the Senate OF the Uni
ted States was the amount Of his service in
the Councils Of the nation. In that time his
position was below that Of mediocrity. He
participated in no important discusSion-he
proposed no measure Of consequence. He was
really the most Insignificant member Of the
body 10 which he belonged. His constituents
properly estimated his worth and did rot re-
peat The experiment Of electlng him 10 The
Senate.
lie was indebted for his first election more
10 the fact that he was .he son. in-law OF Col.
Benton than 10 any intrinsic merits of his own
The Cali!ornians supposed that il they SEN
Fremont TO The Senate they would have The
benefit OF Colonel Benton's e~xertions in aid OIL
The great mass of legislation which they re-
cuiIed Of Congress.
Since lie left the Senate lie has been en-
gagged chiefly in indicating his title 10 c. IL
fornia lands, which it is said abound in gold
bearing quartz. These lands, il is said, have
made him rich, though others say that they are
worthless, and thai il costs more 10 extract the
gold from them than il is worth.
His services in California, when examined
by the light which public documents afford,
are found 10 have been neither important nol
brilliant. They might have been as well per
formed by almost an, other person. He was
never in a single batHs in California. He
always arrived after the fighting was ever.
But he was undoubtedly able 10 command
funds with which 10 purchase the RepublicGn
nomination on the 18th Of June. This was
the greatest exploit which he ever performed
But what are his qualifications for The Pre-
Sidency? We have not yet been able 10
ascertain what peculiar merit his friends as
cribe 10 him, constituting the semblance OF
fitness for the post Of Chief Magistrate. Are
the people prepared 20 elevate a man to the
Presidency devoid OF qualifications for the
office If so, we might as well choose our
President by lot.
Mr.. Fremont never would have been chosen
as the candidate Of any respectable party jy
tie people. A few politicians who aspire 10
control the Government, selected him for bis
negative qualities, and under the impression
which he has artfully c!cated, that he has
command OF boundless wealth. He is Il man
Of Strntc. They are already sick OF their bar
gain. They can arouse no enthusiasm for his
course. They have made an egregiouS blum
der in selecting him. The more his history is
sif,ed, the more worthless his merits as a
candidate will appear.
lie is, afer all, not the candidate of The
presen nj party of opposition to the Administra-
ton, but simply tie candidate OF The Abolition
party. The Abolition leaders contested the
convention which nominated him. The plat
forom on which he was nominated is ultra
AJ1htion, denying The right Of Slavery every-
,oaere outside Of the old thirteen States. He
will receive only the Abolition vote-slightly
augmented by a few renegade Wings and
Free Soil Democrats. He has not The remotest
chance Of success. There is hardly a prOba-
bility that he will carry as many States as
Gen. Scott. Messrs. Seward, Weed, Greedy,
Giddings and Co., will have 10 Try their hand
with somebody else. They will never get
possession Of the Government through The
fundamentally of John c. Fremant.