Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-16
9ailg Tirsiuiau.
Edward Bates.

everlasting Slavery Question. As he is n candi-
date of certain portions OF the Opposition for the
Presidency, we have thought it might not be un-
interesting to submit brief summary OF his views
on this subject.
On the abstract question Of slavery, he occupies
Mr. Jefersons ground, to wit, that Il is state Of
war. and cannot be justified upon any principle
except that of the will of the master.
He is unaterably opposed to it's extension into
the Territories Of the United States where it does
not exist, and holds to MIR. Cay's doctrine on
this point namely, "rhat his arm should drop
from his shoulder, before ho would vote to extend
slavery over one foot Of Territory already free"
lie rejects the dogma, that the Constitution, by
its own proper vGor, carries slavery into all tho
Territories of the United States, but believes that
freedom is the rule. and slavery the exception
Slavery cannot in his view. exist in any free
Territory of the United States. except by a posi-
two law of Congress, and he is opposed to the
aetment of any such law.
| The distinction between slave and other prop
crty. he contends, is co.cval with the establish
ment OF the compact of Union. which localized
slavery, that is prohibited it from migrating into
Territory already free. In exchange for this lin
tation Of the institution. the slave States got
more than an equivalent. in being allowed three
votes for every five slaves in the election of nation
nj officers. that tw" votes in the slave States
count "a much as III votes of five men in the free
States.
Mr.. Bates, because it is entitled to votes while
other property is not. This distinction is rs old
I ~ the Con'ita'ion and, therefore, he argues
there is no unfairness in excluding this kind of
property from the Territories acquired by thu
| common bl'ol and treasure If the Union. To al.
| low it to go there would make the owner Il other
| property inferior To the owner If slave property.
Slavery cannot 60 int" the free States and there
fore cannot 90 into free Territories, because it ia
the creation Of the local law, If slavery be ma.
tional. the Constitution could not permit the own
of slave property to be desp,iled of it in free
| State, any more than in free Territory The des-
elimination ,ainst slavery in the free States ha,
always existed, and has never been regarded as n
hardship by the slave States, because the privilege
TO vote slaves more than compensated Tor its
| exclusion from the free States. If tho South is
tired ot the discrimination against slave property,
| Mr.. Bates thinks it can easily be removed Of the
| privilege of voting cnj,yel hy such property is
| nbandnnded, and then i, weuli be entitled unier
! The Constitution, to =, wherever other property
! goes and to he protected there.
! lie docs not regard the nnn.alni sion Of slave
| ~ into free | erritorcs AZ establishing di,inc.
| ti"n between Slave and other property but simply
AZ maintaining distinction established AT the for
| nation Of the Government by the assent Of the
| slave States. lie is thcref ire opposed IL nlluw.
| ing slave property to overlcap its Constitutional
! limits. lie does not believe that Congress will
ever protect Slavery in the Territories because NIL
I 1t.
principle of the Kansas Nebraska Bill, that
is SIuatter Sovereignty, he thinks, renders the
introduction OF Slavery into free Territories abso
lutely impossible, and therefore the question of
slavery is n" longer an open Que, but merely IN
abstraction.
lie firmly adheres to the right of property in
! Slaves whero slavery exists, and will go far
| any man living to protect that species OF proper
| ty wherever it is maintained.
! lie holds to the unqualified right of the owner
to recover his slaves if they escape free State
| and if he were President he would use the whole
| power of the Government to execute the Fugitive
Slave law II necessary. Ii that law were repeal-
| ed or if it should be found to be inadequate to
| secure the return of slaves to their masters he
would call on Congress to pass other laws for car
ryng out the Constitutional guarantee Of the slave
holders right TIE Union he would regard az n
broken compact, if this guarantee were not OBJ
| served.
Should Congress pass law, legalizing and pro-
tecng slave pronerty in the Territories previous
| ly Free though he would be opposed TO the enact
ment of such laws, he would If President, execute
them as promptly as any other laws of the land.
And If Territory, duly organized as q State,
| with a sufficient population and with Cunstitu-
ton tolerating slavery, should ask to be admitted
into the Union he would not oppose her admis-
sion because she was slave State.
His creed is, tina, every State has right to say
how much it wants of slavery, and how long it
wants it, and how to get rid Of it, lie does not
| gard it as a perpetual Institution He is glad to
| know TINT Missouri is rapidly becoming O free
State. without tho aid of"Emancipation Societies"
! and without the -acrimony Of domestic discord,
and especially by means oi transportation, for he
is opposed to the presence of emancipated negroe 8
| in n white community. He thinks that the fate
of slavery is in the hands of a higher power than
| that If man. He is not STAKEHOLDER himself.
lie is opposed to any organization for interfer-
| ing with slavery in the States. The function Of
the Federal Government, in the relation to slavery
is to protect it where it s--not to extend it. So
far policy may allow, it might hel those States
desiring get rid of it, to procure foreign terrific
! ~ for the coonizaian Of free blacks because he
| thinks they national nuisance. lie is utter
! ly opposed to the policy of reducing free negroes
! into slavery again, as cruel and barbarous. 1t
would be II disgrace to the Federal Government
| to all"w such policy to be adopted from the
lack uf such inter, enton to procure suitable
| home for them.
! Whether these views on this vexed question will
satisfy the Opposition nominating Conventions
| when they meet next summer time alone will dis
close. For ourselves, we are perfectly willing to
leave this question, well as all others, to the
prudence and discretion Of the-Delcgates of the
| Nominating Conventions fully satisfied that
the candidates for President and Vice President,
| named by them will be such men as the whole
| country. East and West South and North, will
gladly hail as its delivers from the oppressive do
mination of the Democratic party.
Swiss Miser died lutely near Zurich, who is
represented to have been as fair q 50 emen of the
| class as ever existed. He was sslfmade man. a
man without education, and without any promi-
nent talents-hs principal qualities being hor-
rible avarice and an iron industry The proprio-
| tor of large manufacturing establishment his
great object to extort much work ms posi-
BE from his laborers Mt as little expense as posi-
| ble He was married, never enjoyed any