Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-20

tke end Of slavery" and that so far from
having any objections, they would he
glad to see it. This may be true. but
you and / know that the overthrow OF
slavery will not only end the war, but,
beyond all doubt save the Union and
preserve Constitutional liberty by max
ing us what we ought to be, homeo-
geneous people II is claimed by many
that the people should not criticise the
acts of the Government at such time
as the present. dissent from this theo-
ry. IF the people do not demand from
the Government what they want, pray
how is the Government TO know the
wishes and sentiments of the people
which it processes to represent ? have
supported and l voted for every neces-
sary measure asked by the Administra-
ton, and shall continue to do so, so long
as the demands seem to me right. OF
that l am to be the judge, and not an
other for me- AS / never have been, so
l never shall be the blind follower either
of men or parties. (Applause) In the
present controversy, have made every
thing subordinate to the one great wish
of my heart-the preservation of the
Constitution and the Union. Neither
men nor party, the allurements of pow
er, nor the hope of future preferment
has or shall sway me in the discharge of
my duty. As have done since l have
had the honor to represent you, so l
shall continue to vote and act on all
questions as though there were, as now
there ought to be, but one party in the
country, and that the party for the Con-
stitution and the Union In such a CON
test as the present, men are nothing !;
parties are but as dust in the balance; (;
but the life of the nation is above all
price, and must be preserved. have,
as all have, the strongest motives for
standing firmly by the President, for he
is certainly an honest and earnest man,
and these are noble and indispensable
qualifications. Believing the President
to be thus earnest and honest, | can, as
you can, afford to overlook many of the
blunders and mistakes which, of necessi-
ty, he must commit in his present EN-
barrassing position. But while l say
this, / will not consent to remain silent
and quietly permit any policy to be
adopted which, in my judgment, would
| be fatal to the success of that cause
which all true patriots have first at heart.
The old adage has it that cit will do no
harm to watch even an honest man." and
all history proclaims that "eternal vigil
ance is the price of liberty" Applause J
The consequences of this rebellion are
difficult of solution. No man can tell
when or how it will end, and any theo-
ry relating to it must be continually
modified by constantly changing events.
1t requires no prophet, however, to fore
see that unless we change our policy we
shall have the whole outside world
against us. We may have them fol, us
by simply doing that which our own
selfpreservation demands. 1t has been
our policy as a nation for many years to
recognize defacto rebel governments, if
they gave evidence of their ability to
maintain a government. We cannot,
then, Justly complain if foreign nations
do the same with us. IfEngland, France
and Spain recognize the Confederate
government by the 4th of March next,
as the monied and commercial classes Of
those countries are now demanding
what will be the result OF necessity
violation of our blockade and probably
foreign war. That there is a hostile
feeling towards us among the aristocratiC
classes of the countries named, all under
stand. In addition, the commercial and
manufacturing interests Of Great Britain
| org1 III or1,
cognition of the rebel government in or
der that free-trade treaties may be Sc
cured and they obtain the Southern cot
ton and sell in return their manufactured
fabrics. These two interests combined
exercise wonderful control in those
governments. Indeed, commerce itself
, which is mighty power in the world
| no longer be obstructed by this war =
Here is this demand of the aristo
: cracy (who hate our government anC
: the manufacturing and commercial
! classes on the other side, against tn
: great mass of their people, who lovelib
: erty and republican institutions and be
: lieve we are fighting to maintain them
hS pOOli1 hOhONSI, Do JilS iidSs VI li
: moral and religious elements of England
and France shall be made to believe tina
} the North is fighting to maintain SLAYER,
: as 10 IS, and the South are only fighting
e to secure additional Constitutional guar
e antees for the protection of slavery, the
t will say it is a "distinction without
e difference" and will unite with the priv
d ileged classes in demanding an early r,
# cognition of the rebel government
n1 And whenever their people are thus un
e ted the independence Of the rebel State
f will be acknowledged by their govern
t ments Thus far in this controversy W
t have done much to alieneate all foreig
}, sympathy, and unlesss we change ou
d policy we shall, in my judgment, los
i the support of all the liberty-loving pc,
s. pie of Europe. If this is lost, we surel
n can expect no support from the artist
Z cratic element. As a nation we are in
II critical condition, and it depends alor
IS upon our Oaon action whether we are I
n draw to us the support of the moral an
C christian powers of the world, or perm
% them to become Indifferent or open
e hostile
r. AS soon as the governments of En-
N land and France shall have recognize
/, the rebel confederacy, powerful ant
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