The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-09-19
Address of Major General Fremont


asked to appear before you. am pratified
that you think | can say anything which
will aid 10 the object OF these meetings
But trust that this object, so far a. il re.
lates to the enrolment of the volunteers ro-
quired, has already been attained. The
events Of tho last few weeks have made 20
apparent the necessity for immediate rein.
forcements, that l hope nothing else has
been needed to procure prompt response
to the call of the Government, and to that
mute but strong appeal of your friends in
the held, who to-day constitute our bulwark
against tho surges Of rebellion.
The chances Of war do not admit of delays
The enemy is pushing It forward with re-.
newcd yigor, and the loss of few weeks. or
even Of fow days, nav involve disasters
shameful to record aud impossible TO re-
trieye. In this condition, il will never do
to lot differences Of opinion as 10 how the
war should bo carried on Interfere with its
vigorous prosecution. First fill the ranks
and leave to those who stay at home the
obligation of shaping the struggle to its
proper ends. But Massachusetts needs no
othor Indictment to her duty than tho Ger.
tainty that she has one to perform. Under
this impulse, her people will come forward
promptly and nobly, as they always have
done. (Cheers.) She will DO always truo.
as in this contest she has been POLITICALLY
true. to her historic record The infant
that here in the "CradIe Of Liberty" strsn-
gled the serpent, is ready in its nsnhood
to destroy the hydra; and when see, as
have Iatoly had the opportunity to sec,
what kind OF men they are each one filling
place in society, instructed, intelligent
mon, heads aud supporters of families, con-
tributing by steady labor to the wealth of
tho Stato-when sec such men going by
thousands and hundreds Of thousands to the
field, my anxiety is not in regard to the
number who go there. but it is that their
ready obedience and affecting confidence in
the government will be met BY cores.
ponding care for them in the field and
that these concentrated energies will bo
directed to results worthy of the sacrifices
they are making. AppIause.)
Therefore, indulge myself in the pleas
ure of feeling that the object of this meot-
ing is not so much to urge the necessity for
further troops as to furnish an occasion
OF encouragement and sympatby to those
now leaving for the feld-the ssemblage
OF friends on shore to greet the parting
ship--and 80, with q God.speed to them,
turn, with your permission, for q moment,
to the duties resting npon those of US who,
for the timo being, are left at homo.
l have just now expressed my anxiety
that We should obtain from this war re.
suits worthy of the sacrifices We arc making.
How this shalt be done, and in the speed
lest way, is the question which threatens
stiil more to convulse the country, and is
making of the nation ono great council of
war. And 1t is right that tho people should,
in this way, jealously debate their vital in
forests. Not only is this their inherited
right, bought by the first revolution, but
L is also their sacred duty to keep them.
selves we'll and currently informed con-
corning tho progress of this revolution,
and to mako known their wishes concern
ing tho manner in which il shall be con-
trolled, SO as best to secure domestic peace,
and restore it upon imperishablo founda-
tons. cloud cheers) 1t is in this way
that tho vitality of our institutions mani.
tests and maintains itself. (Applause.)
In ordinary wars, o soldier is limited to
the sileut execution of bis military duties
But we are in tho midst of a revolution
where every citizen is a soldier. Rome
had her laws special to civil war. Hero
the nation Ia stirred to tho heart by a
struggle for existe nee, and not only the
llfo of the country, but the life of Repre-.
sentative Liberty throughout the world, is
at stake. 1t is not safe to believe that We
shall be able easily TO govern this revo-
luton. And, in the midst of such events,
is is not only the right but the duty of
every man to express his opinions, and,
however slight his influence may be, to
employ it in laboring for the common
cause.
Lord Herbert, when envoy at the court
of France, sent, think, by Elizabeth-at
all events, at a time when on the personal
relations Of ambassadors depended peace
or war for their nations--said to the French
who had purposely provoked him,
that, ''although ambassador, he was not the
less a gentleman He reserved the right,
when occasion called for it, to act in his
broader capacity. So, therefore, a soldier,
but not the less a citizen, will, in the
little have to say to you, speak my opinion
freely (cries of f"Good, ,""good, and applause;)
but, at the same time, ] will endeavor to do
so with the reserve belonging to tho frs,
will ask your indulgence, if l
may speak upon subject about which you
are not all equally united, but the proper
treatment Of which think equally import.
ant with the proper treatment of our forces
in the field; and. if l speak of myself in
il is because in the suggestions
presume TO make to you, I speak upon
my individual experience. (Crios of"Good,"
and applause)
Six years ago, when had tho honor to
represent your views upon national affairs,
| held, in common with yourselves, the
opinion that slavery should not be disturbed
within Its existing limits. When the Con-
!ederate States announced their existence,
their executive proclaimed slavery to be the
of the new power. In Missouri,
q year ago, as q war measure, declared tho
slaves of rebels free, Immense applause.
and cries of "Good," and great cheering)
this to be the most incisive, search
ing and deadly blow that could he aimed at
the heart of the rebellion. (Applause and
"GoOd, good, "Bully for you" and cheers
l Judged it to be the quickest mode to damage
and disconcert the enemy, and to gain
great advantages with the least cost of life
to the good citizens who we're acting with
me in maintaining the laws. A General in
the field, in a distant and rebellious district
Invested with Pro-consular powers. did
this in the exercise of what l believed to be
my legitimate authority. (Cheers.) Later,
rs the war went OH, became satisfied that
with its successful termination must also |
terminate slavery in some form. ("Good.
good" and cheers.)
/ considered it then sufficient that some
Measure should be adopted, by which it
ahould imona adia ialv naaaa "a a nol;t;oal