The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-17
TIE GOLD WHIGN MOVEMENT.
Letter or the Hon. Edward Bates, OF Mis-
so'lrs, 10 the Wing Committee OF New

ST. LOUIS, Feb. "a, 1850.
SlRsA short time ago was favored with your note of
the 7th inst, covering resolution OF the Committee 70
the effect that is Dexpeden at this time further TO dis
agtte the question: but rather TO turn the
attention Of the people TO other topics topics Of general
Importance, such foreign relations including the
extension Of errtory the building Of railroads for
honai purposes, the Improvement of harbors, the
navigation Of our rivers to facilitate internal commerce;
the subject Of currency and tariff Of duties and
means OF developing internal resources, our
home wealth and binding together by ties Of national and
fraternal feelings the various parts and sections Of
widely extended republic"
Your letter. gentlemen, opens very wide field, in ask
ing for my "opnion upon the subject, and my vie
as to the signs Of the times" Books have been written
upon these matters, and speeches delivered by the
thousand and yet the argument seems as far from
being exhausted as 1t was at the beginning; and !
take it for certain that you do not expect or de-
sire discuss large ali any of these
quarrels That have opinions upon oil most OF them
is uenot the opinions Of this that party ready to be
abandoned OF modified 10 suit this or that PLATFORM but
my own opnionsperhaps tho more fixed and harder to
be changed, because deliberately formed in the retire
ment of private lfe free from the exgencies OF official
responsibility and from the pertur Of party policy
They are my own opinions right or wrong:
AS TO the negro question: have always thought and Of
ten declared in speech ana in print that Is pestlent
ques'on the agitation Of which has done good
any party section class and do good unless
be accounted good 10 stir angry PASSIONS Of
and exasperae the unreasonable Jealousy sections
by hose bad means foist unfit men into Office
keep come fit men out is sensitive question, Into
whore dangerous vortex II is quite possible for good men
10 be drawn unawares But when man at the South
in urging the question: after the sorrowul experience
the last few years. attribute his conduct
motive than personal ambition sectional prejudice.
As TO the power OF the general 70 protect
the persons and properties and advance the interests Of
The people, by laying taxes, raising armies and naves,
BUILDING forts and arsenas lighthouses, oles and break
waters surveying the and adjacent seas mprovog
rivers lakes, and harbors and making r0adsI should be
very sorry TO doubt the existence Of the power the
duty to exercise it, whenever the constituted authorities
have the In their hands and convinced it,
necessary protect the country advance
the prosperity OF the people.
In my opinion, government that has power to
protect the harbors Of its country against winds
waves and human enemies nor its rivers against snags
sands aud rocks build roads for
OF It's armies and It's mails and the of It's people,
is poor impoent government, at all SUCH GO
venment az our fathers thought they had made when
they produced the constitution which greeted By in
telgent men every here with admiration and gratitude
as government free enough for all the ends of legN
liberty and strong enough for all the purposes of national
and individual protection free people, il it be wise,
will make good constitution; but constitution, however
good in ITSELF did never make free people Toe people
do not derive their rights from the government but the
government derives its powers from the people, and
these powers granted for the main, IL not the only
purpose OF projecting the rights OF the people Protec
ton then il not the soc is the chief end of govern nent
And ia for the governing power 70 Judge, In every
instaDce what kind and what degree Of protection is
around the world, or an army to defend the country
against armed invasion from without domestic
sion from within; or tart 70 protect our home Undue
try against the dangerous obtruson Of foreign labor and
capital.
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