The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-09-23
SPEECH OF GENERAL FREMONT.


| 28th i:
Six years ago, when had the homo
TO represent your views upon Natona
affairs, held, in common with your
selves, the opinion that Slavery SHOULD
not be disturbed within its existing lin
its. When the Confederate States an
nounced their existence, their Executive
proclaimed Slavery to be the corner
stone of the new power. In Missouri, {
year ago, as a war measure, L declared
the slaves of Rebels free immense ap
plause and cries of "Good," and grea
cheering believing this to be the mos
incisive, searching and deadly blow tha
could be aimed at the heart of the Re
belllon. Applause and =" Good, ,
"good, -" Bully for you," and cheers.
| judged it to be the quickest mode tc
damage and disconcert the enemy, and
to gain great advantages with the leas
cost of life to the good citizens who were
aching with me in maintaining the laws
A general in the field, in a distant and
rebellous district, invested with pro-
consular powers, did this in the exer.
else of what believed to be my legiti.
mate authority, Cheers. Later, as
the war went on, became satisfied that
with its successful termination must also
terminate Slavery in some form
T" Good" =" good" and cheers.
considered it then sufficient thai
some measure should be adopted by
which it should Immediately cease as a
social fact But as the contest was pro-
tracted the conditional opinions with
which we all entered upon it, in my
mind, gave place TO the conviction that
every advantage which the laws of war
allowed 10 us should be employed, ard
that to be effective rs war measure this
ac. should be thorough and immediate.
1t became apparent that the slower pro-
cess would be Intellectual. Aud so the
events Of the year have brought me 10
the conviction that there can be no last
ing peace while Slavery exists on our
continent. Great applause. There
fore, all other considerations apart, and
regarding it only as measure for the
effectual suppression of the Rebellion,
am in favor of the immediate abolition oi
Slavery [great cheers and in favor oi
using every practicable means to make
that abolition effective cheers, and Sc
deprive the enemy of their great element
Of strength. Great applause.
Wherever our flag waves in jurisdic
ton, let il wave over free men. Cheers.
Let il answer all questions, and give all
passports. Loud cheersl
1t is urged against summary measures
that the liberation of the slaves would be
an act of great injustice TO the loyal men
Of the South. But can such a war as
this be carried on without sacrifices from
the loyal people in every section OF the
country? The loyalists of the South
would be required to contribute a por-
ton of what is held to be property, and
for which they would doubtless be after
ward renumerated. Against this the
loyal people OF the North give not only
absolute property, but their own lives
Of those most dear to them. Cheers.
AT this point Gov. Andrew came upon
the platform, and was received with loud
cheers. TO them their loss never can
II repaid. How then can such distinc-
tions be entertained ? And how can
we in making war upon a country pro
tect its vital interests ?--separate it into
parts, and for the sake of property OF a
class forego our greatest advantages
Such policy would carry within itsel
the elements of sure defeat, and the rea
Unionists of the South are ready for the
sacrifice Nor do | share in the belief
that there is large body of Unionsts in
the South.
In my individual experience | have
found them few, and in the progress oI
the war they have been fast decreasing
The danger which has attended the
avowal of Union sentiments, the uncer.
tain protection which we have been able
TO give them. the certain severities Of the
Confederate Government, the unexpect-
ed length to which the Rebels have been
able TO protract the struggle. together
with neighborhood friendships and inter
ests. have carried away many who in the
beginning maintained their allegiance to
the Union. La the whole valley of Vir-
ginia | do not remember TO have met
Union man. and certainly not one Union
woman. Laughter. This element o
their strength must not be underrated
Ii serves to show how thoroughly Tho
feelings OF the South are in this contest,
and leaves no doubt as 10 what will bC
the training of the growing generation
Not only were the people not desirous o
returning into the Union, but they die
not entertain the idea in any shape
their only conjectures were as to III,
manner in which the separation would
finally be effected. | do not think tha
our Northern people realize how man,
years the South has been preparing fol
this struggle
The advent OF the Natchez In Charles
ton Harbor, with Jackson's proclamation
and her ready batteries checked il for
time in South Carolina, where there wa.
then a strong body of men with Unior
sentlments-strong enough 10 have th,
consistency of a party and with its rep
resentatiye organs. Then quite a young
man, was among the Unionists enrolled
with view TO service under Mr. poin-