Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-27
Mr.. Bates Letter.

The Hon. EDWARD BATES, OF Missouri, is one OF
those unau.btious statesmen who keep themselves
free from the din Of political excitement. and the
struggles Of the political arena More than once
has he refused high public station, voluntarily
rendered him. Invited into Nj. Fillmores Cabi-
net, he rejected the gttering prize. Constantly
solicited to engage in active political lie in Mis-
souri,, with certainty Of being advanced to high
station, he has exhibited n reluctance to accept
the invitation, us rare among our public men, us
it is significant Of the degeneracy of the TIMES,
When such man speaks, his words are always
words Of wisdom. They entitled to more thnn
ordinary consideration. No one suspect him
of seeking to advance a selfish personal object
In the large patriotism OF his soul, he compTe-
hends sincere and unaffected anxiety for The wei
fare of his country alone
We wish we had room for all Of Mr.. Bates re-
cent letter to the Wing Central Committee of New
York City. We must content ourselves with
few meagre extracts only:
at seems to me that an efficient. home loving
Government moderate and economical in its ad
minisration peaceful in it's objects, and just to all
nations need have no fear OF invasion at home. or
serious aggression abroad. The nations Of Eu-
rope have TO stand continually in defence of their
existence, but the conquest of our country hy
foreign power is simply impossible. aud NJ nation
is SO absurd as to entertain the thought. We may
conouer ourselves by local strife and sectional an
musities; and when, by our folly and wieGedness,
we have accomplished that great calamity. there
will be none to pity us for the consequences OF 80
great a crime.
If our government would devote all its energies
TO the promotion Of peace and friendship with all
foreign countries, the advancement OF commerce,
the increase Of agriculture, the growth and stabi-
lity Of manufactures, and the chcapcnng, quick
ening and securing the internal trade and travel
of our country; in short. if it would devote itself
in earnest to the establishment OF wise aud
steady policy Of Internal government, | think we
should witness u growth and consolidation of
wealth and comfort and power for good. which
cannot be reasonably hoped for from fuctuating
policy, always watching for the turns of good for
tune, or from graspng ambition to seize new
territories. which are hard to get and harder to
govern.
The present position of the Administration is
sorrowiul commentary upon the broad democracy
of its professions. In theory the people have the
right and ability to do anything; in practice, we
are verging rapidly ~ the One Man power.
The President. the ostensible head Of the Ma
tional Democratic, is eagerly striving to concen-
trate power in his own hands and thus to set
aside both the People and their Representatives
in the actual affairs Of government. Having
emptied the Treasury which he found full, and
living precariously upon borrowed money, he now
demands Congress to intrust to his unchecked
discretion the War power, the Purse and the
Sword.
The rapid increase Of the public expenditure
land that, too, under the management Of states
men protesting TO be peculiarly economical) is an
alasning sign Of corruption and decay.
That increase bears no fair proportion to the
growth and expansion Of the country. but looks
rather like wantou waste or criminal negligence.
The ordinary objects Of great expense are not ma
terially augmented-the military defenccs are
little. at all enlarged-the Improvement Of
harbors. lakes, and rivers is abandoned, and the
Facinc Railroad is not only not begun. but the
very location is scrambled for by angry sections,
which succeed in nothing but mutual defeat In
short. tho money TO an enormous amount Il am
told ct the rate Of $50 600 900 to 500 OOO,O 900
year) IL gone and we have little nothing to show
for It. In profoand peace with foreign nations ant
surpandsd With tho proofs Of national growth ant
individual prosperity, the Treasury, by less thar
two years Of management, is made bankrupt. ant
the Government itself is living from hand t
mouth, on bills Of credit and borrowed money.
This humilisting State Of things could hardly
happen u men in power were both honest and
wiss. Ths Democratio economists in Congress
coussss that they havs recklessly wasted the pub
Ic revenue; they confess 1t by refusing to raise the
taria 70 meet the present EFFICIENCY, and BY insist
Ing that they can replensh the exhausted Treasu
y and sapport the Government, 10 credit and EN-
sisoey. b simply striking Of their former extrav
An illnstrious predecessor Of the President !,
reporlsd 70 have declared 'that those who live OF
borrowed aoney oaght to break" do not con
sur u that harsh saying: yet am clearly of opin
3on fbat no Government, In common prudence
ltoa1g p0ttinE Of pride and dignity,) onRht b
rssergsf1e S.edit a. great transactions and unfou
sen 1D& n6lea- IN conmon times Of psAce,
Ooght nIWa8s 70 have an established revenue
1enAl, ct least, 70 its current expenses And tha
eBDaps essht 10 b. 20 levied - 10 foster and pre