Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-30
Fremont Journal.
Tho independent on Presidential Cans
-"

The Independens On Rresiaehnai C@n-
The Independent Of this week closes an
article entitled "Parties and Candidates"
with the following remarks:
'Judge Bates has been commended in
some quarters with an unwise activity and
pertinacity, while in other quarters the pro-
posal Of his name has been rejected and de-
nounced for reasons which seem to SAVIOR
moro Of party spirit and party policy than
Of simple patriotism We do not at all
believe that Judge Bates will receive the
nomination at Chicago for the office Of
President; nor do we, on the whole, desire
that he should be thus nominated. We
are, therefore, the more free TO say that we
know him personally, as well as by his
public reputation; and that there is no bet
Ter man than he-none to whose religious
fidelity, and far-sighted patriotism, and
manly independence Of spirit, the great
trust Of the Presidency could be more safely
committed. To us the objection that he
was not member of the Republican party
in 1856 is Of no weight. 1t is enough
that on the great question Of the day--the
question Of slavery as related to the federal
government and the federal constitution
he takes-as such cannot but take-the
right side. He holds tho old doctrine in
regard to slavery--the doctrine of the
Revolution and of the ordinance Of 1881
the doctrine of Washington and Franklin,
Of jefferson and Madison, in the days when
Virginia bad not yet been degraded into
''the slave coast" of America-the doctrine
of Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth,
and John jay. He has done long ago what
Washington did only in his last will and
testament-he has emancpated his own
slaves for conscience sake, aud for the sake
Of the testimony which ho thereby gave
against the system of slavery. We do not
ask whether he agrees with us on every
point--it is enough for US 10 know that he
is as heartily opposed as we are to the new,
demoralizing and revolutionary policy rep
resented by whoever may be made the can
didate of the democratic party. And the
country ought to know in ADVANCES we
kuow-that he will not consent to be used
by any thifd party as means of aiding
the Charleston candidate.
awe have already intimated our belief
that Judge Bates will not be nominated by
the Chicago Convention. As we read the
signs of the times, the choice OF that Con-
vention will fall inevitably, and at last unan-
imously, upon another man. We need not
name the man who is at this moment more
conspicuous than any other citizen of the
United States; the man whose name is
more feared and execrated than any other
by the upbolders of the existing misgovern-
ment and the plotters for disunion; the man
whose speeches in the Senate are historical
events. waited for as men wait for the news
of an expected battle, and read with the
eagerness with which mon read the telegram
of victory; the man whose nomination,
above that of any other man, would square
" meet the issue of tho day and bring it
to trial on its merits distinct from all
side issues. The gift of prophecy is not
ours; we can only, like other Yankees,
guess what will be; but our belief is that
tho Chicago observation-disclosures may
be ''the first choice" of she delegates from
one state or another-will find itself COM
PEELED to nominate the foremost of living
Americans, the wisest and most national Of
our statesmen, the most sagacious and yet
most dignified of politicians, and the calm
est and steadiest of them in the long bat
tie against the encroachments of slavery
We do not pledge ourselves beforehand to
every measure of his administration, but
we shall not refuse to vote for him."