Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-06-09
GeneraI Fremont,s Acceptance.

"
charging that Lincoln has not been faithful
to the. principles he was elected to defend -
He says this is not a mere contest between
candidates, but for the right to have eandi.
dates
"The ordinary rights under the Conshtu-
3on, and the laws Of the country hare been
riofdtsd and extraordinary Poioers hare been
UsurPed by The Ereoutiue 1t is directly be-
lore the people now to say whether or not the
established by the revolution are
worth maintaining
"If, as we have been taught to believe,
those guarantees for liberty which made the
distinctive name and glory OF our country are
in truth inviolubly sacred then there must be
a protest against the arbitrary violation which
had not even the excuse of necessity. The
schisn is made BY those who force the choice
betweena shameful silence or protest against
wrong IN such considerations originated
the Cleveland Convention. It was among its
objects to arouse the attention Of the people
to such facts, aud to bring them to realize that
while we are saturatng Southern soil with the
best blood Of the country in the name OF
liberty, We have really parted with il at home
To-day we have in the country the abuses
OF military dictation without its unity of
action and vigor Of execution. An admins
ttatlon marked at home by disregard of CON
stItutioual rights, BY its violation of personal
liberty and the liberty of the press, and, as
browning shame, by its abandonment Of tho
right OF asylum, right especially dear to all
free nations abroad, its course has been char
acterized by feebleness and want OF princi-
pie which has misled European powers and
driven them TO a belief that only commercial
Interests and personal aims are concerned
and that no great principles are involved in
the issue The admirable conduct ofthe peo.
pie, their readiness to make every sacrifice
demanded Of them, their iorbearance and
silence under the suspension of everything
that could be suspended, their many acts OF
herOism and sacrifices, were all rendered
trutless by the incapacity, or, to speak more
exactly, by the personal ends for which the
war was managed This incapacty and sci.
Gshness naturally produced such results as led
the European powers, and logically enough,
to TIM conviction that the North, with its great
superior population, its immense resources,
and its credit, will never be able to coerce the
South. Sympathies which should have been
with us from the outset of this war we're
turned against us, and in this way the ad.
ministraton has done the country double
wrong abroad. 1t created hostility, or at best
Indifference, among those who would have
been its friends if the real intentions Of the
people could have been better known, while
at the same time it neglected no occasion for
making the most humiliating CONCESSIONS
against the disastrous condition Of affairs
the Cleveland Convention was protest
"The principles which form the basis of its
platform, have my unqualified and cordial ap-
probation, but cannot so heartily concur in
all the measures which you propose | do not
believe that con6scation, exterded to the pro
perly of all rebels, is practicable and ii II
were 30, | do not think it measure of sound
policy It's, in fact, n question belonging to
the people themselves to decide, and is a
proper occasion for the exercise of their orig
inal and sovereign authority. As war meas
ure, in the beginning of revolt, which might
be queled by prompt severity, understand
the policy Of con6scation; but not as a 6ua
reconstruction after the suppression Of n in
surrection.
In the adjustments which are to follow
peace, no consideration ofvengeance can cou
sistently be admitted.
"The object of the war is to make perma
nenlly secure the peace and happiness of the
whole country, and there was but a sngl,
element in the way of its attainment Thi
element Of slavery may be considered practi
cotiy destroyed in the country, and it need
only your proposed amendment Of the Consti
tuition, TO make its extinction complete.
with this extinction OF slavery the part
( divisions created by il have also disappeared
And II in the history &C the country there ha
ever been time when the American people
without regard to one or another of the polit
ical divisions, were called upon to give sol
emnly their voice in matter which involved
the safety ofthe United States, il is assured
/ the present time.
'If the convention at Baltimore will nomi
nate any man whose past life just fes we'll
grounded confidence in his fidelity to on
cardinal principles there is no reason VIII
there should be any division among the reall
patriotic men Of the country, To any such
shall be most happy to give cordial an
active support
my own decided preference is to aid i
this way, and not to be myself candidate
But if, Mr.. Lincoln should be nominated, as
believe IL oould be fatal 10 the country t
indorse policy and renew power which ha
cost us the lives OF thousands Of men, an
needlessly put the country on the road 4
bankruptcy there will remain no other alter
native but to organize against him every elC
ment of conscientious opposition with th
view to prevent the misfortune Of his re-eleC
ton
IN this contingency, accept the nominf
ton at Cleveland, and as a preliminary step
have resigned my commission ia the army
This was q sacrifice il gave me pain 10 max,
But had for long time iruitlessly endea,
/ Ored 10 obtain aarvice 1 make the seHri6e
now only 70 regain liberty OF speech, aud I
leave nothing in the way. of discharging t
my utmost ability the task you have set 70