The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-10-07
LETTER FROM EDWARD BATES.
ST. LouIs, SEPT. =, T6o2f
10 he Cop,nnltee Of Lneitasion, .uesrs Mitchell


70 he Comnaitee Of Inestation, .uesrs. .hiteae
and Others:
GxSrLsmES: Your kind invitation to atten
the great meeting, 10 be held al Rock Island, va
received few days ago. regret 70 say "
my business engagements compel me 10 ioree
1.-The pleasure Of meeting YOU on that occasion
and of contributing my testimony to the mass
lprools tending to show the superior excellence
tbe doctrines and policy OF our party, and IN
lvast superiority OF the men We have chosen, =
lcarry out into action those doctrines and ina
lpolicy.
7 Between the two great parties in the Unite
States, there are fundamental differences IN prin
ciple, The Wings hold that our national gov
: ernmen, is a Government OF law--na' mon
archy, nor an atst ocracy, nor democracy bn
lust such government as the written and print
ed law has made II, and nothing else; that It va
made by ourselves and for ourselves alone, an'
mot for other countries: that the object OIL AZ
ere alton was the protection OF IFS members; ina
ii is wisest and best administered when The bigi
bubble funciionaries seek only to provide Ter IN
common defence, promote the general welfare
and secure the bless ngs OF liberty TO orRsELFE
/ and 10 ouR pos,erts; that il is lone OF our bns
mess TO assume to Judge other nations. 10 correct
their errors and punish their crimes. eNctp
when they trespass upon orr own nationai fighis
They (ihe whigs) hold that il is the night an
ldn,y 81 the Federal Government 10 protect The
citizens OF all parties Of the nation, IN lie and
property, in occupation and industry, ln com
merce and loeomoiien; haf protection IS The "o-
Iieet OF all good government; and whether pro-
Election is 10 be afforded by feets and armies, by
lighthouses, ports aad breakwaters, by he I'M
tproyement OF lakes and rivers, by the hai ding Of
railraais. or by impos ng duties upon foreign I'm
portations that sill, il is the duty OF the govern
ment to rRoTEcT; ami that. III every ins'asce TIE
kind and degree Of protection must depend upon
The wisdom aad prudence OF Congress
The Democrats, as party, with some NIT
vidual exceptions hold the eonrar, oil aii these
propositions. The name they assume : ~ waf
with he very idea OF federal or eoniedera'ed
government. composed Of separate States, equal
IN sovereignty and independence; for pe sonal
equality AMI the right OF a majority OF The peotie
10 govern is the foundation and elementary prih-
eiple OF Democracy; md that principle neeessa'
rily suppnses snge co solid tied govern aet'.
and cannot apply To a confederation made up al
States unequal in number and power Drinnera-
cy therefore, IN lis very essence, i gain>i he
federal constitution II is Higher Law which
3isregarding constitution and States. st. up, -
the supreme LAW ofthc land, Inc viii q the peo-
ple wherever and however expressed. The Con-
sii,ation however, is very different, and very I'M
democratic it leaves TO The Safes. irrespective
OF numbers vast fund OF power. 10 be US q IN
The making AMI The executing Of the aw. De a.
ware. with a population o. less than on hun Ell
thoa> and, i as strong inthe Senate "a New Yefk
wi h her three millions. In the pr marS cleo
ton OF President, Delaware has ihfee votes, ami
two Of those three vtes are given 10 her By the
constitution " thent any reference 20 re aoeras-
ie numbers, and in fla, conrad ction To the ele 4
democratic principe Of popular right IN per-
senal equality. aud in the contingent election Of
a pIesiient-ihat i, when he electors h se Ia
I'd, and the election comes nto he ilol.e OF
Representatives, delaware aud florida are
rquaI TO New York and Pennsylvania in the
choice OF President. THIS is ce.tainlp eons'l-
tntienal, but very uniemocraiic. Under such 4
constitution 10 ca the government Of the ilnl'ed
States Democracy. seems to me b@la Absurd.
ty Democ acy IN. ans eqaaiy Of person., and
equai weight 10 each man in the goyernme NJ
III, mean that II IL against the fsde al cons'iiu-
ton; If il don't mem that, the use made OF the
term, in reference TO the general government, i
a faisehood and fraud.
have said that Democracy necessarily i'm
plies Jingle consolidated government, and can
not possibly arply 10 federal government,
male M Of associated States eqnal in 50 ere gn'y
and indepel .dence; and YET il i a remarkable
tact that in he States most sbounding in proi =
SONS OF Democracy, the leading politicians are
the hottest stickiers for what they call Site
South Caro- ina is entitled under The new sppaf-
tionuen', to only six Representatives, ii Cpn-
gress, and Mississippi 10 bu. FIVE; AMI th~,t
Representatives are not given on account Of ths
number OF free, vi bite voting populati n, as the
pl incipie oil democracy requires, hut nea ~ hs
u tina, power is given by The lederal constitution
solely on the score of negro chatels. l. 'hs'
Democracy?
Even now the greatest democrat in The Wesi
Oh d.. 80 "A ,.,t
all intermediate voting. and allow the PEOPLE 10
vote directly for Senator's and President.
Once admit his position-esiabiish Il. fer c
,rine. tina, Democracy is the principl OF the ma
tona go, eFnment-a aud the constitute is gone
| for all iis compromises are destroyed. Once adj
nit III al democratic members shall conirJl III
election OF President, and democracy wlli never
submit (and perhaps ought rot TO submii) TO
minority ftesiden, And calculating meub r
10 make up aggregate major ", Democtac
will never allow its great principle 10 be set a
uaught by ATTY respect ard reverence for the in
visible boundaries OF States. Once prociait
Democracy as the rule and principle OF the Ma
ltonal Government and il woull tie worse fha
idle TO ask the people Of the great States, New
Yolk, Peunsy vani', Ohio, 10 submit TO an eqn;
division of governmental power with the p Cpl
of,he Little s,ates-Rhode Island, Delaware al
Florida
Icy. Glveit but free scope. and consol daflon
ns natural and unavoidable result. Wigs,
learnesily hope. entertain no such danoerou
Iopinious. They know that the constitution II
.eli is compromise. They b. leve hat il vi
made by the best and purest among our father
and under circumstances most conducive 10 WI
dom. moderation and justice They do no, s,
themselves up 10 be wiser than the constitution
lnor better patriots than its founiers-they hay
In Hi CHER Law
| The difference between The Two rarties, o
several great questions OF national policy,
scarcely less than their difference on the fund.-
mental principles of government. The Wing
as far as | know, almost to a man, 90 for adyan
,ng our own country in weain, comfort and II
Iterccnrse, by the improvement OF iai bors, lax
land rivers, by the max ny Of roads, By The er
] enlargement of agriculture, commerce and maj
uiac'nres. They go, generally, against the a
lunisition Of any more foreign territory; again
r ent ngling al iances with foreign nations; al
elaga,nsl all pragmatieal interference in Their il
ternal affairs.
/, Tire Democrats as party, are against int
nj improvements; aud IN ir candidate for Il
Presidency is deeply committed against all sue
+ measures, beyond The mass oil his present su
porters; and beyond all former Presidents, il
J Guiding Mr.. Polk IT he be elected, he who
system OF improvements must stop, until son
wiser man and sounder statesman shall be p
into his place.
M The Democrats, as party, While thew reiu
TO employ the national means 10 improv
! strengthen, and enrich our own home connir
j dispa an eager desire for foreign acquisition
They go, not for good government al hone, W
? that peaceful prosperity which prot cts ndnsi