Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-06-22
THE CLEVELAND CONVENTION.

/ Since our last issue we have read with feel
ings of disgust and pity the letter of Gen.
eral Fremont accepting the nomination ten
dered him by this pitiable Cleveland Con-
vention, Disgust that man of Fremont S
unquestioned ability should be made the dupe
OF cunning tricksters, and pity that man
who has received so marked a token of a
people partiality, as Fremont did in the
campaign Of Sc, should have fallen so low
IN the mire of partisan politics But the
old adage that ''vaulting ambition too often
overieaps itself has found found a fitting
Endorsement in the case of Fremont.
As an evidence that not only the mana
gers of the Cleveland Convention were in
fuenced in their action by bitter hostility
to President Lincoln, but that their candi-
date for the Presidency is Influenced by the
SAME motives, we quote the following ex-
tracts from Fremont's letter of acceptance
Had Mr.. Lincoln remained faithful to
" the principles be was elected to defend
= no schism could have been created and no
contest could have been possible. This is
not an ordinary election. 1t Is a contest
Tor the right even to have candidates, and
not merely, as usual, for the choice among
them. Now, for the first time since '76,
the question OF constitutional liberty has
:, been brought directly before the people
- tor their serious consideration and vote:
The ordinary rights secured under the
" constitution and the laws of the country
have been violated, and extraordinary
powers have been usurped by the Execu-
tive. 1t is directly before the people now
to say whether or not the principles es-
. tablished by the Revolution are worth
" maintaining
Again
To-day we have in the country the abu-
y ses of a military dictation, without its u
nlty OF action and vigor or execution An
- administration marked at home by disre-
:, gard of constitutional rights, by its viola
- tlons OF personal liberty and the liberty
OF the press, and, las crowning shame, by
. Its abandonment of the right of asylum,
= right especially dear to all free nations
- abroad. Its course has been character
- zed by feebleness and want Of principle
. which has misled European Powers and
: driven them to belief that only CONNER
8 cial interests and personal aims are con-
" cerned, and that no great principles are |
. involved in the issue.
And again -
. nominate any man whose past life iusti- |
" ties well grounded confidence in his fdel- |
:: ity to our cardinal principles, there is no
. reason why there should be any division |
:. among the really patriotic men Of the coun-
. try. To any such shall be most happy |
: to give cordial and active support
My own decided preference is to aid in
;. " this way, and not to be myself candi-
g date. But if Mr.. Lincoln should be re-
: nominated, as l believe it would be fatal |
:. to the country to endorse policy and re-
- new power which has cost us the lives
. of thousands of men, and needlessly put
= the country on the road to bankruptcy, /
6 there will remain no alternative but to Or
= ganize against him every element of con-
. soientious opposition, with the view to
= prevent the misfortune of his reelection.
In this contingency | accept the nomina-
:, ton at Cleveland, and, as a preliminary
: step, [ have resigned my commission in
= the army.
The above extracts plainly show the real
sentiments Of Gen. Fremont In attempt
ng to stab the man and party who gave him
whatever name or fame he may have, Re
makes patent to the world the fact that his
patriotism looks only to the defeat of A
'raham Lincoln, and not to the preserva-
ion of the Union and the salvation of the
country. In doing this, too, he makes use
If assertions, charges and misrepresenta-
ions which would do no discredit to Vallan-
ligham, Voorhees, or Fernando Wood II
Lancaster Examiner.