Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-23

The character OF the writer OF the following
Letter, so highly appreciated wherever his name is
known, will secure for it an attentive perusal by all
readers
Letter from Mr. BATES, in answer to an invita-
ton to attend Wing Convention held at Rock
Island on the DIST of September.
ST.. Louis, SEPTEMBER IL, 1852.
GENTLEMEN: | have had the pleasure to receive
your polite invitation to attend the Rock Island
Convention on the 21st Of this month. | am COM
PEELED to forego the pleasure of meeting you on that
occasion, and of contributing my testimony to the
mass of proof tending to show the superior excel
lence OF the doctrines and policy of party, and
the vast superiority of the men we have chosen to
carry out into action those doctrines and that policy
Having recently returned, after long visit to the
Atlantic coast, made necessary by my impaired
health, my business will not brook another absence
during this fall
Between the two great parties in the United
States there are fundamental differences in prin-
ciple The Wings hold that our National Govern
ment is government of tav--not Monarchy nor
an Aristocracy, nor a Democracy, but just such
Republican Government as the written and printed
law has made it, and nothing else: that it was
made by ourselves, and for ourselves alone and not
for other countries that the object of its creation
was the protection of its members that it is wisest
and best administered when the public functionaries
seek only to provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our posterity that 1t is
none of our business to assume to Judge other ma
tons to correct their errors and punish their crimes,
except when they trespass upon our own NATIONAL
rights They the Whigs) hold that it is the right
and duty of the Federal Government to protect the
| = al apH
perty in occupation and industry, in commerce and
iocomotion that protection is the great object Of
all good government; and whether protection is to
be afforded by fleets and armies, by lighthouses,
ports, and breakwaters, by the improvement OF
lakes and rivers and the construction of roads, or
by imposing duties upon foreign importaons, still it is
the duty OF the Government protect and that in every
the kind and degree of protection must depend
upon the wisdom and prudence of Congress.
The Democrats as party, with some individual ex-
ceptons) hold the contrary of all these propositions.
The they at with the very idea of
federal coderated Government, composed Of separate
States equal in sovereignty and independence for
sonal equality and the right of the majority of the people
to govern is the foundation and elementary principle of
Democracy And that principle necessarily supposes
single consolidated Government, and cannot apply to
confederation made up of States unequal in number and
power DEMOCRACY therefore IN lis rey essence, against
tie Federal Constitution 1t is higher ldw which, dsre-
garding Constitutions and Statutes up, the
preme law Of the land the will of the people, whenever
and however expressed.
The Constitution however, is very different and very
undemocratic it leaves to the States, irrespective OF
numbers fund of power to be used in the making
and the executing of the laws Delaware with popua
ton less than one hundred thousand is strong in the
Senate as New York. with her three millions In the
primary election Of President Delaware has three votes
and of those three given 10 her by the Con-
sutien without any reference to Democratic numbers
and in fat contradiction Of the great Democratic principle
of popular right and personal equality And in the con-
tngent election Of Presdenthat is when the Electors
have failed and the election into the House Of Re
presentativesthen Delaware and Florida equal to
New York and Pennsylvania in the choice Of President
This is certainly constitutional but very undemocratc
Under such Constitution, to call the Government of tn,
United States Democracy to bald absurdity
Democracy equality of persons and equal weight 4
each in the Government If it that il is agans
the Federal Constitution: if il don't that the use
made Of the term reference the General Government
is falsehood and a fraud.
have said that Democracy necessarily implies single
consolidated Government, and possibly apply
Federal Government made up of associated States equal
in sovereignty and independence; and yet it is re-
markabe fact that in the States most Astounding in pro-
fessions of Democracy the leading politicians are the
hottest sckers for what they call State Rights witness
South Carolina and Mississippi South Carolina is emit
tied under the apporonment to only six Represen
tatyes in Congress and Mississippi to but five and these
REPRESENTATIVE to State and FIVE to the other
are not given on account of the number Of free white
voting population the principle of Democracy would
seem to require but nearly half that power is given by
the Federal Constitution solely the score Of negro
chattels. Is there any Democracy in this!
Even now the greatest Democrat in the West Colonel
Bxsros is proposing do away with all intermediate
voting and bring the people to vote directly for Senators
and President Once admit this position, establish it,
for dsstrxs that Democracy is the principle Of the Ma
onal Government and the Constitution is gone for all
its compromises are destroyed Once admit that Demo-
cratic numbers shall control the election Of President
and Democracy will submit land perhaps ought not
to subm to minority President. And, in calculating
the numbers which make up the aggregate majority, De-
mocracy will allow its great principle to be set at
naueh by respect for the invisible boun
diaries Of States Once proclaim Democracy the rule
and principle Of the National Government and it will be
worse than idle ask the people of the great States
New York. Pennsylvania and ohioto submit to equal
division Of Governmental power with the people Of the
little States Rhode Island, Delaware, and Florida.
Such is Democracy, its principle, and tendency. Give
but free scope and consolidation is its natural and
avoidabe result Wings, earnestly hope entertain no
such dangerous opinions They know that the Consttu
ton is itself compromise. They believe that it was
made by the purest and best among fathers and