The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-07-08
Gen. FREMONT EXPLAINS HIS
POSITION.
Interview Between GEN. Fremont
/ aud Wendell Phillips and Mr..
Heinzen.

. fs
The Boston Pioneer states that Mr.. HE1Nzrs
and WENDELL PHILLIPs were recently invited
by Gen. FREMONT to visit him at his summer
residence. at Nahant Massachusetts,. The
meeting was. of course, of political character,
ana Mr.. HElNzrN publishes the following re-
port oft:
we viii premise that neither Mr.. Pbi,lips
hor we ieft any question untouched from mo.
Nv W. vi i"'se oenclcy but gave Gen, Fremont
On .he contrary, opportunity to declare him.
seIi On e,i those points against which the at
.aehs vi u Ills enemies have been directed. The
we left the man and candidate Fremont friiv
satlsnesi, and that the confidence which We rc,
str, ngtheped. 'een "ouo'5
In resard TO the overthrow of the rehe,,op
General Fremont remarked that his position nn
thls sup)ect was too well known to reoure
comments from him. especially as he had 40,
clared himself agreeing with that parngranh of
the platform which requires the overthrow of
the rebellion by force Of arms and without
compromi e. The unpunished and uncensured
violations OF law ON the part of Lincoln and his
Gao net had principally caused i is anxiety for
me repoohc, VIII ch was thus ing des. royed
tin moIa ly underm ned BY an uni aralleled
corrupt ON General Fremont said that re-
uoil could never gain by such war as this:
put ne DANGER would be vastly increased If
such arbitrary actions on the part of the gov
efnmeht we're not opposed at the start. The
biuary actions OF Mr.. Lincoln bad brought
things TO g. ch pass, that the question might
be asked, whether the republic could be
Dong for money? The reelection of L n
com mao o come altogether money question.
Hence Gene al Fremont considered it sab,ve
nii necessary TO Str up the idea of law and or
der an ongst he people and thus make them
capahle OF saving The republic. His position
On .he ave question was thus exprt ssed -
we must not rest until slavery is torn out
by the as, root"
AS Tor the negroes to them belong the same
tights which The whites enjoy. The word
white "Inu@t be banished from our statutes
nd itutiOns. "Abso ute equality of all
men D fore the law covers the whole ques.
tion.'
In relation to the coniscation question. Gen.
Fremont stated, that he knew Southern condi-
tions and Southern people from personal ex-
perience. With the paragraph of the Cleve-
laid platform nobody could effect recOnstruc.
tiOn of the South That paragraph eavs no.h-
ing OF contisca'ing the lands of the rebel lead
ers. but speaks of rebel lands generally. and
must be viewed as measure of 'rev.npes~
Hence, its effect will be to ineite all the reb.
els 10 the utmost resistance and make them ir-
reconci'able. Moreover, General Fremont said
he should be forced 10 entertain very unfs-
vorable opinion OF the political insight of O
party, which should attempt to reconstruct
States out of n land and monevless population
Hence, he had considered it necessary to soften
the impression produced by ihis paragraph,
and 10 point ont its possible effect II confis-
cation were TO be limited to the principal lead
ers he should agree to Il
In respect TO the position of the Democratic
party. Gen. Fremont said that the removal of
l. ncOlns Administration which has placed us
IN shameful position toward Europe endaD-
grred the Republic by arbitrarlness and corrup-
.ion. and shown its total incapacity to bring
bick 'he SO-th into the Union, even at the
greatest expense of lives and money Is of par
amount necessity, upon which everything else
depends. Fremont believes the prolongation
of L'ncolDs rule will produce the separation
If the South, which would be followed by a
separation OF the East and the West, resul ing
finally IN The destruction of the Republic
Hence In view of the immense importance
which il to be attached to Lincoln's removal
from Washington, and in view of the ext'aor-
din ry power he has BY virtue OF his portion,
II becomes necessary 10 combine against him
all clements OF opposition which may be appli-
cable to the salvation of the Republic and of
these elements the Democratic party furnishes
the largest contingent. ~ NJ
In eti,cting this combination we must never
think Of denying our principles or giving up
our platform. Let us show the Democrats the
importance and necessity of Union at the
time of danger; and let us declare openly and
ii my our principles and objects. and extend
our hands to Them, If they share our senti-
ments We will remain true to our principles
in every danger. "If could become Presi-
dent" raid Gen. Fremont with an emphasis
contrasting powerfully with bis othrrwiee very
calm demeanor. "by giving up an iota of my
principles, especially in regard to slavery, L
should not do it--never neyer!"
1t was also suggested that if the Democrats
shOuli join the Radical Democracy" they
might soon get control of the party and change
$ principles. To this Fremont remarked:
"If we are victorious, we have aIsO the better
portion of the Republican party on our side,
aud q union OF all the liberal elements of the
country W II then make freedom the ruling
policy of our nation"