Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-09-01
NAHANT. Aug. 25.

, GENTLEMEN | have to acknowledge
, the receipt of your letter of the Goth, ad
dressed to me in New York.
, Ii your letter we're in effect an appeal on
, ly to my own sentiments in favor of a re-
union of parties, l should not hesitate tC
renounce any personal views but would be
entirely ready to defer to the public opin
! ion which your names represent.
But the conditions are no longer the same
as when | expressed my readiness to retire
in the event of contingency which might
have occurred at Baltimore. Having now
definitely acceptedthe Cleveland nomna-
ton, | have. not the right to act indepen-
dently of the truly patriotic and earnest
In any event it would be nece ;sary first to
consult with them. 1t might, besides, have
only the effect still further to unsettle the
public mind, and defeat the object you have
in view. | think we should disorganize be-
fore first proceeding to organize something
better.
TO this end / suggest that direct effort
be made to obtain an immediate understan-
ding between the supporters of the Balti-
more and Cleveland nominations, in order
that the friends of both may coalesce and
made upon an early day for holding such a
convention as you propose. | am satisfied
that | do not assume too much in saving
that my friends will unite heartily in such
movement.
A really popular Convention upon a
broad and liberal basis 50 that it could be
regarded as n convocation en- mass of the
People, and not the work of politicians,
would command public confidence. Such a
Convention, acting in the large and liberal
spirit in which it was called, without con
slderations OF persons or political cliques--
and without reference to gone by sit
uatons, rising to the level of the
occasion and taking the conditions of the
country as they present themselves to-day
could safely be trusted to propose such pol
icy and name such a man as should, and un
doubtedly would, receive the cordial anC
the people To the great body of these $,
far as my information allows me to form an,
opinion, think that the following PROPOSE
tions would be acceptable
|. Respect for the practical liberty ant
the constitutional rights and dignity of tn
citizen.
, .. The maintenance of the dignity ofth
4 United States in their relations to foreig,
powers.
0 3. The re-establishment of the Union
T. by peace if it is possible, by war if the en-
n poyment of peaceful measures cannot b
Y made to succeed.
: Much has been said of late about peace
+ and you will excuse me if | say here what
r understand by it. For me, peace signfc
v the integral establishment of the Unio
+ without slavery; because slavery is tn
q source of all our political dissensions, an
- because the Institution itself is condemne
g by the enlightened and liberal spirit of tn
q age. These are to me the essential cond
: tons OF peace, 1t it is practical to attai
this result, it would not be paying too deal
ly for it-taking also into consideration tn
material strength which the South has bee
:, permitted to acquire by the conduct of tn
u u war--to make concessions upon some point
} OF secondary Importance, such as that @
: paying an indemnity for their slaves t
! those who have remained in sort of neu
y tral condition during the unhappy wa
which has convulsed the country. To tel
:, inmate this we are now eXpcnding life an
10 money; it would certainly be a gain to re
ducc 1t simply to question of money.
}. If i'll spite of all these efforts to spare tn
South humiliation or losses of capital likel
a to be too severely felt, the political chief
y who direct the South persist in war. the
- the policy of the Convention should be I
pronounce in that case for war with all tn
force and energy of the nation. For peac
upon any terms and merely because il
n peace-a peace recognizing IA North and
" South-would not bring about stable eou
librium. ltwould only prepare the way fo
new struggles, and for condition of disas
trous anarchy.
The paramount question is the Union. -
1t BY peace if it can be had on honorable an
& right terms--by war, if the political leader,
n who are directors Of the South, insist upo
n war.
is The condition of our country is unique.
is tionably critical. 1t demands the deyotio
e and the patriotism of all men who reall
& love their country and it is one of thes
moments when all personal aspiration
e should vanish in the face of the great que,
S tons of principle and national existcnc
which are at stake.
l. Thanking, you, gentleman, for the evi
n dence which your letter gives me of the cor
" lidence in my disposition to do everythin
in my power for the interests of the Cour
try,
| am, very truly yours.
Is j. G. FREMONT.