The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-06-23
9Olitital.
Letter of Acceptance of Gen. Fre-
mont.


New YORK, Saturday, June 4.
To Messrs. Worthington g. Snethen, of
Maryland; Edpard Gilbert, of New
York; Casper Buts, Of Illinois, Charles
E. Moss, Of Missouri; ~ p. Sayer, Of
Pennsylvania, Committee, DC:
GENTLEMEN; In answer to the let
ter which l have had the honor to re-
ceive from you on the part of the repre-
sentativeS Of the people assembled at
Cleveland on the 3lst of May, I desire
to express my thanks for the confidence
which led them to offer me the honor
able and difficult position of their can
didatc in the approaching Presidential
contest.
Very honorable, because in offering
it to me you act 10 the name of great
number of citizens who seek above all
things the good of their country, and
who have no sort Of selfish interest ia
view. Very difficult, because in accept
ing the candidacy you propose to me,
am exposed to the reproach of creating
schism in the party with which l have
been Identified.
Had Mr.. Lincoln remained faithful
to the principles he was elected to de.
fend, no schism could have been erea
ted; and no contest could have been
possible. This is not on ordinary elec.
ton, it is a contest for the right even
to have candidates, and not merely as
usual for the choice among item. Now
for the first time since '76, the question
Of constitutional liberty has been bro'r
directly before the people for their Sc,
rious consideration and vote. The or
dinary rights secured under the Consti-
tuition and the laws of the country have
been violated, and extraordinary pow
ers have been usurped by the executive
1t is directly before the people now tc
say whether or not the principles estab
lished by the Revolution are wortt
maintaining,
IF, as We have been taught to believe
those guarantees of liberty, which made
he distinctive value and glory of our
country, are in truth inviolably sacred
then there must be protest against thu
arbitrary violation, which had n OF ever
the excuse of necessity. The schism i
made by those who force the choice be
tween a shameful silence or protes
against wrong. In such consideration
originated the Cleveland Convention
II was among its objects to arouse tn
attention of the people to such facts
and to bring them to realize that while
we are saturating Southern soil with
the best blood of the country, in tn,
name of Liberty, we have really parte,
with it at home.
To-day We have in the country tn
abuses of military dictation withou
its unity of action and vigor of execu
tion. An Administration marked a
homo by disregard of Constitutions
rights, by its violation of personal liber
ty and the liberty of tho press, and as
browning shame, by its abandonment
of the right of asylum-a right espe cial
ly dear to all free nations. Abroad, il
course has been characterized by
feebleness and want of principle whio
has misled European powers and driv
en- them to belief that only commel
eial interests and personal aims al
concerned, and that no great principle
arc involved in the issue.
Tie admirable conduct of the pei
pie, their readiness to make. every sacl
} fee demanded of them, their forbea
f auoe and silence, under the suspeusiO
of everything that could be suspende,
their many acts of herOism and saorii
csS were all rendered fruitless by Il