Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-22
Fremont's Letter of Acceptance.

The Cleayeand Convention nominated for Presi
dent and Vice President, two broken down. gene
rails. Fremont, after twos trials, was laid On the
shelf permanently. Ccchrane regrets the physi
cal disability" which withdrew him from the var
These generals from the retired list, are the can
ddates of the radical Democracy" We doubt ii
there is gunpowder enough in the history of both
Of them together, to help them materially. Tn.
following is Fremonts letter of acceptance, with
his opinion of Abraham inclusive: .- ...
Gentlemen:-ln answer to the letter which
had the honor to receive from you, on the part OF
the representatives of the people assembled at
Cleaveland on the s1st of May, desire to express
offer me the honorable and difficult position Of
their candidate in the approaching Presidential
contest ~
Very honorable, because in offering it to me you
act III the name of a great number of citizens who
seek above all things the good of their country,
and who have no sort of selfish interest in view.
Very difficult, because in accepting the candidacy
you propose to me, am exposed to the reproach
OF creating schism to the party with which
have been identified
Had Mr.. Lincoln remained faithful to the princi.
pies he was elected to defend, no schlsm could
have been created and no contest could have been
possible. This is not an ordinary election. 1t is
ceptest for the right even to have candidates,
and not merely, as usual, for the choice among
them. Now, for the first time since '76, the ques
ton OF constitutional liberty has been brought d.
rectiy before the people for their serious consd-
GRAFTON and vote The ordinary rights secured %!
der the constitution and the laws of the cou,fI6aa
have been violated, and extraordinary powers have
been usurped by the Executive 1t is directly be-
lore the people now to say whether or not the prn
ciples established by the Revolution are worth
maintaining.
If, as we have been taught to believe those guar
antees for liberty which made the distinctive value
and glory OF our country, are in truth inviolably
sacred, then there must be protest against the
arbitrary violation which had not even the excuse
OF necessity. The schism is made BY those who
force the choice between shameful silence or a
protest against wrong. In such considerations
originated the cleveland Convention. 1t was
among its objects to arouse the attention of the
to such facts, and to bring them to realize
that while we are saturating Southern soil with
the best blood OF the country in the name of lib.
erty we have really parted with it at home. !. sai
To-day we have in the country the abuses Of .
military dictation, without its unity of action and
vigor of execution. An administration marked at
nome oy disregard Of constitutional rights, by its
violations OF personal liberty and the liberty Of the
press; and, as GROWING shame, by its abandon
ment Of the right Of asylum right especially dear
! to. all free nations abroad It's course has been
characterized by feebleness and want of principle
wnch mas mlsled European powers and driven them
oenel tnas' only commercial interests and per.
sonal aims are concerned, and that no great prin.
: cples are involved in the issue. The adnirahe
conduct OF the people, their readiness to make
every sacrifice demanded of them, their forbear.
ance ana silence under the suspension of every
thing that could be suspended, their MANY acts Of
herosm and sacrifices, were all rendered fruitless
oy the mcapacty, orto speak more exactly. bv the
personal ends Tor which the war was mara ed.
Ihis ineapacity and seifshness naturally pro
ouced such results as led the European powers
and logically enough, to the conviction that tn,
North, with its greatly superior population, its i'm
mense resources and its credit will never be ablt
10 recover the South. Sympathes which shoult
nave been with US from the outset of the war wer,
turned against us, and in this way the adiainistra
tlon has done the country a double wrene abroad
II created hostility; at best indifference, anon,
those who would have been its friends if The rea
known, while, at the same time it. neglected nj
occasion for making the most humiliting conces
sions. $50 Z. s-H-5> - r. - ~ :
Against this disastrous condition of affairs th
Cleveland Convention was protest q - SO
The principles which. form the basis of its pla,
? form have my unqdAifed and cordial appreciation
but cannot SO heartily concur in all the measure
which you propose. i do not believe etlsat CENTS
) cation extended to the property of all rebels
practicable, and if it were 50, do not think Il
niessure Of sound policy. 1t IS in fact Question
belonging to the people themselves to decide, an
proper occasion for the exercise Of their orig
nal and sovereign authority. As n war measure
in the beginning Of revolt which might be quelle
by prompt severity, understand the policy Of cor
fiscation, but not as final measure of reconstrue
: ton after the suppression Of an insurrection.
10 the adjustments which are to follow peace, n
considerations of vengeance can consistently b
9 admitted
/, The object of the war is to make permanent