The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-09-06
Edward Bates on ssUnited opposi-
w..| fanp, 80.

The following letter ofMr. Bates, written
in reply to an invitation to attend the recent
Opposition "jubilee at Memphis, Tenn,
will be read with interest, and, by the oppo-
ncnts of the Administration everywhere,
withIgeneral appreciation: 5,.l
...s ST. Louis, Aug. 20, 1859.
Hon JERE CLEMENS AND oTHERs-CoMMIT-
TEE OF INVITATION, MEMPHIS, TENS.-Sirs:
| feel myself especially honored in recieve-
ing your kind invitation to attend Grand
Jubilee of the Opposition party, TO be held
at Memphis on the 18th inst, in celebration
of your recent victory in Tennessee. Hioq =
1t is with sorrow that am constrained to,
deny myself the pleasure of joining you in
the celebration of an event so honorable to
the gallent men of Tennessee, and so prom
| ising of good to the country. Sickness and
recent death. in my family have so dis
arranged my plans for the summer vacation.
as to force me TO this self-denial.
1t pleaScs ne very much, gentlemen, to
! find that you designate the band of patriots
who have lately done the good work in
Tennessee, as The Opposition Party The
name implies that the party is made of
other parties-Democrats Wings, Ameri-
cans, Republicans--all who can no longer
brook the wild d..extravagance and fwanton
4 disregard of principal as an Administration
and party, which, emboldened by former
unmerited success, vainly imagine that
they 's.can afford to disregard the censures
of the world" and to despise the judgment
of history. The party in office Il will not
say in power) is, of itself, weak aud help
4 d. n a.. <xf
ed success but the hope Ct trust a vain and
fallacious hope that zoe will he SO unwise
and unpatriotic as to waste our strength
in petty chickering's about, old party names,
subordinate questions Of policy and conve-
nience, and ia split up our forces into pia-
toous and sections, as ii for the very purpose
of enabling our inferior enemy to beat us
all, in detail. If we be so unwise as that
1.-if we allow the adversary to form the plan
Of our campaign, 10 marshal our troops, to
tell us when to march, and when to camp,
and how to fight, of course we will get
what we earn and deserve-defeat. And by
| mere folly, we will add to the humiliation
of defeat the sting of shame, in the con-
ciousness that we had i'm our hand the means
4 of victory and the assurance of the peace and
prosperity the nation, but wantonly threw
| them away. However il may be elsewhere,
am sure it will not be in Tennessee. Her
gallant sons are always ready when brave
and generous deeds are needful. Her young
er patriots, high-spiritedhnd bold against
the enemy, but mild and lorbearing to each
other will march ia cordial union, on to vic
tory, their warm zeal guided, and, if need be
restrained and tempered, by the cool wisdom
and prudence OF the veteran Bell. 49,
Your recent victory, and similar success
es in other Southern and Western States,
emboldened me to hope for the like good re-
suit all over the Union.s spirit OF con-
5. servative patriotism is aroused throughout
the nation, by dangerous misgovernment
and bold innovations of the last few years
and, in view of the great national Interests
now in peril. better feeling-a feeling of
harmony and mutual confidence, of kind for
bearance on minor points, of generous con-
cesson in favor of peace and unity-is Wis
IDLY increasing in all the elements of the
Opposition. Those who foster and advance
that good feeling, and ripen it into a cordial
union, will be great public benefactors.--
Such union alone will constitute the victory,
without the necessity for another blow for
the Democracy, as now enervated and demor-
allied will be no match tor the united Oppo-
sition. H
And such a victory A victory VIII Q all
even the yanquished-will have cause to re-
joiee, becauseit will restore peace and harmo-
ny to the excited sections, law and order to
the disturbed territories, and prosperity and
honor to the Nation. Such at least is the
earnest hope of -t .....
Your obliged friend and felow-citizen,
IL -1e r-l-- ED. W. BATES.