The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-11-23
8egister
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 1859.
Edward Bates.

We publish this week, from the st. |
Louis Ne1oS, an authoritative statement |
Of the views of Hon. Edward Bates of |
Missouri, on the slavery question. This
has already been quite extensively copied
by the press, and is undoubtedly destined
to have an important influence on the
public mind in relation to the approach
ing Presidential contest.
1t cannot be denied that Mr. Bates will
be one of the prominent candidates of the
Republican party at the National Con-
yention. Formerly a STAKEHOLDER, he
emancipated his slaves, because he believed
slavery to be an evil. For the same
reason he is opposed to the extension of
slavery into territory now free Having
for many years retired from political life
he has pot been subjected to the attacks
which, however, unprovoked have been 20
freely lavished upon every prominent Re-
publican statesman, and which, however
slanderous, cannot have failed seriously
to affect their reputation. Residing in n
slave State, he would be, for that reason.
less obnoxious to the Southern and more
conservative part Of The Opposition A
Henry Clay, Wing, in former times, he
would secure the vote Of the larger portion
Of what dill constitute the American
party, before the late New York election
so effectuully quencbed its feeble light.
We do not make these remarks for the
purpose of expressing any preference of
Mr. Bates over any other of the many
Republicans who are well qualified to be
our standard bearer in the coming election.
Nor do we say that we approve, in every
particular, the sentiments which he has
advanced. But we 90 not hesitate to ex-
press our admiration Of the clear and
candid manner in which he declares his
views on the question which cannot but be
the controlling one in the Presidential
election. And should he be nominated
no better electioneering document could
be used than one which should contain,
side by side, this calm, comprehensive and
convincing paper, and the deliberately
evasive, ambiguous and sophietical decla-
nations Of Senator Douglas.
The Governor Of Mississippi devotes
considerable part Of his Message to the
Legislature. to the possible contingency
Of the election Of a Black Republican
President, in view Of which he makes
numerous Recommendation He recon-
nends that the Gov. order the election
of delegates to State Convention, to
meet the exigency of such an OCCASION
that the other Southern States he in
yited to cooperate, lie gives it rs his
opinion that the South ought to insist up-
new constitutional guarantees. He suc-
gests that in the event named it would be
good plan to open all ihe Southern ports
to tho commerce Of the world, the North
excepted. He would do this because the
government would be for the benefit Of the
North and the North ought to support it.
He would impose duty Of about - per
cent on all articles of Northern manufac-
ture Just TO teach the North the money
value of the Union He is confident that
this would teach the Northern people
what the Union is worth in dollars and
cents" Though ne adds in the next
sentence that said value is " incalculable."
As the effect on the North of such course
pursued by the South he instances the
State of Massachusetts.
"The grass would grow in the streets
Of Boston, her manufactures would stop,
her commerce would perish and her ships
would rot at her wharves, and widespread
ruin would cover the State.
He loresees that such course might
be called dissolution of the Union. He
is clear that it would be no such thing un-
less the North chose to make it so by a
refusal Of the Just demand It would on
ly be calculated to arouse the Northern
mind TO the fact that disunion with all its
horrid consequences might be Just before
them. IF the North should object to the
exercise of such rights it would be proof
positive that her object was utter over
throw OF the South. He is decidedly of
opinion that the North is not at all equal
to such an emergency, and is confident
that when the dreadful Alternative is Of
fered the North will back right down and
grant them all they ask
The Harper's Ferry Trials are con-
cluded for the presontall-capitally con,
yicted and sentenced to he hung on the
10th Of Dec The negroes declined say
mo anythiDu br(urc receiving son+enco