The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-06-17
may hear his clarion voice rallying them to vic
tory and the salvation of the republic.
We are, general

EDWARD Gilbert, oI New IoFk,
Caspare Ratz, of Illinois,
Charles L. Moss, of Missouri,
n. p. Sawyer of Pennsylvania.
Tc Maj Gen. John c. Fremont, New York.
GENERAL FREMoNT's ACCEPTANCE.
GENTLEMEN: In answer to the letter, which
| have had the honor to receive from you, on
the part of the representatives of the people as
seinbled at Cleveland, the 3lst of May, desire
to express my thanks for the confidence which
led them to offer me the honorable and difficult
position of their candidate in the approaching
presidential election.
Very honorable, because in offering ii to me,
you act in the name of a great number of citi-
zens, who seek above ell things the good of their
coantry, and who have no sort OF selfish inter-
est in view. Very difficult because Iii accept
ing the candidacy you propose to me, | am cx-
posed to the reproach of creating a schism in
the party with which | have been identified.
Had Ur. Lincoln remained faithful 10 the p11n-
ciples he scas elected to defend, no schism could
have been created and no contest would have
been possible. This is not an ordinary elec-
tion it is a contest for the right even to have
candidates, and not merely, as usual, for the
choice among them. Now for the first time
since l776, the question of constitutional lib
erty has been brought directly before the peo-
pie for their serious consideration and vote. The
ordinary rights secured under the Constitution,
and the ba,0S Of tie country hqUe been Ui0}ated and
extraordinary porerS AaUe been uSmped BY the
Erccutice. 1t is directly before the people now
to say whether not the principles established
by the revolution are worth maintaining.
If, as we have to believe, those guarantees
for liberty which made the distinctive name and
glory of our country are in truth inviolably sa-
cred, then there must be protest against the
arbitrary violation which had not even the eX-
cuse of necessity. The scsm is made by those
who force the choice between a shameful silence
or a protest against wrong. In such consider
ations originated the Cleveland Convention.
1t was among its objects to arouse the atten-
to reazs na2 Wke are satGra
southern soil with the best blood of the count
ry in the name of liberty, we have really part
ed with it at home.
To-day ne hare IN tie country tie abuses Of a
military dctatioa Uttout as unity Of action and
uqg0r Of erecutaoa. An administration marked
at home by disregard of constitutional rights,
by its violation of personal liberty and the lib
erty Of the press, and, as a crownng shame, by
its abandonment of the right of asylum right
especially dear to all free nations abroad, its
course has been Characterized by a feebleness
and want of principle which has misled Euro
pean powers and driven them to a belief that
only commercial interests and personal aims are
concerned, and that no great principles are in
yolved in the issue The admirable conduct
of the people, their readiness to make every sac
rifce demanded of them, their forbearance and
silence under the suspension of everything that
could be suspended, their many acts Of heroism
and sacrifices, were all rendered fruitess by the
| incapacity, or, to speak more exactly, by tie
personal ends for rlach the Wdr ,caS maaaged.
/ This ncapacity and selfshness naturally produ-
ced such results as led the European powers,
andlogically enough, to the conviction that the
Norh, with its great, superior population, its
immense resources, ard its credit, will never be
able to coerce the South. Sympathies which
shOud have been with US from The outset of this
war were turned against US, and in this way the
administration has done the country a double
wrong abroad. 1t created hostility, or at best
Indifference, among those who would have been
it's friends if the real intentions of the people
could have been better known, while at the same
lime it neglect ed no occasion for making the
mes humiiating concessions.
Against this disastrous condition of affairs,
the Cleveland Convention protest.
The principles which form the basis of its
platform have my unqualified and cordial appro-
batDn, but | cannot so heartily concur in all
the measures which you propose / DO not be-
/ Gerefhat confScati0n erteHded TO the property Of
all rbels, as practicable; and if it were so, | do
not hink it measure of sound policy. 1t is
, in fat, question belonging to the people them
selys to decide, ard is proper occasion for
exerise of their original and sovereign author
! ity. AS war measure, in the beginning of
revCt, which might be quelled by prompt Sc
/ very, | understand the policy of confscation;
but rot as a final measure of reconstruction af
( ter he suppression of an insurrection.
/ Irthe adjustments which are TO follow peace,
no cnsideratlon of vengeance can consistentlr
be amitted.
Th object Of the war is to make permanent
ly seure the peace and happiness of the whole
coury, and there was but single element in
the vay of its attainments. This element of
slnral may be considered praettcaty destroyed in
the ouatry, and 1t 4 aeds only your proposed a
menment of the Constitution, to male its ex-
tincbn complete.
With this extinction of slavery the party d-
yisios created by it have also disappeared
Andf in the history of the country there has
everoeeu time when the American people, |
withut regard to one CT another of the politi-
cal visions, were called upon TO give solemnly |
theivoice in a matter which involved the safe
ty ofthe United States, it IS assuredly the pres
! ent the eo
little convention at Fillmore wW nominate
any tta Ubose past ite jastifes 1cSR gfo,aaest