Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-09-08
Edward Bates on "United Opposi
ton

The following letter of Mr. Bates, writ
ten in reply to an invitation to attend the
recent Opposition ''jubIlee'' at Memphis,
Tenn will be read with interest, and, by
the opponents of the Administration every
where, with general appreciation:
ST. Louis, Aug. 90, 1859.
HoN. JERE CLEMENS AND oTHERs--CoM
MITTEE OF INVITATION, MEMPHIS, Tenn
Sixs: feel myself especially honored in
receiving your kind invitation to attend a
Grand Jubilee of the Opposition party, to
be held al Memphis ON the Oath inst, in
celebration your recent victory in Tennes-
see.
II is with sorrow that am constrained to
deny myself the pleasure of joining you in
the celebration of an event SO honorable to
the galent men o: Tennessee, and SO prom
ising of good to the country. Sickness and
recent death in my family have SO disar-
ranged my plans for the summer vacation
as to force me to this self-denial.
1t pleases me very much, gentlemen, to
find that you designate the band of patriots
who have lately done the good work in
Tennesse, as The Opposition Party. The
name implies that the party is made ol
other parties-Democrats Wings, Ameri.
cans. Republicans-all who can no longer
brook the wild extravaganza and wanton
disregard of principle in an Administration
and party, which, cmboldened by former
unmelited success, vainly imagine that they
scan afford to disregard the censure of the
VERDI" and to despise the judgment of his.
tory.
The party in Office q will not say in
power) is, of itself, weak and helpless
minority. 1t has no chance of renewed
success but the hope Il trust a vain ant
fallacious hope) that ,Oe will be SO unwise
and unpatriotic as to waste our strength in
petty bickering about old party names ant
subordinate questions of policy and coLve
nience, and to split up our forces into pla
toons and sections, as if for the very purpose
of enabling our interior enemy TO beat u;
| all, in detail. five be so unwise as that
if we allow the adversary to form the plar
of our campaign, to marshal onr troops, tt
tell us when to march, and where to camp
and how to fight, of course we will get wha
we earn and deserve-defeat. And by mere
folly, we will add to the humiliation of de.
| feat the sting OF shame, in the consciousness:
tha: we had in our hand the means of vic
tory and the assurance of the peace ant
prosperity of the nation, but wontonly
threw them away. However it may be
elsewhere, am sure it will not be so il
Tennessee. Her gallant sens are always
ready when brave and generous deeds are
needed Her younger patriots, highs2iri,et
and bold against the enemy, but mild anc
forbearing to each other, will march, ir
cordial union, on to victory, their warm yea
guided, and, if need be, restrained and tenn
psred, by the cool wisdom and prudence o
the veteran Bell.
Your recent victory, and silni lar success
| in other Southern and Western States, en-
boldened me to hope for the like good re-
suit all over the Union. The spirit of con
servative patriotism is aroused throughout
the nation. by the dangerous misgovern
ment and bold innovations of the last few
years; and, in view OF the great nationa
/ interests now in peril, better feeling
a feeling of harmony and mutual confidence
of kind forbearance on minor points, o
generous concession In favor of peace ant
unity-is visibly increasing in all the ele
ments of the Opposition. Those who foste
and advance that good feeling, and ripen il
into cordial union. will be great publi'
benefactors Such union alone will con
stitute the victory, without the necessity 70
another blow; for the Democracy, as nov
enervated and demoralized, will be no mattel
for rhe united Opposition.
Aud such victory! A victory in whicl
all-even the vnnquished-will have caus,
to rejoice because it will restore peace an,
4 harmony to the excited sections, law an
order to the disturbed territories, moderation
and Justice to the Government, and prosper
ity and honor to the Nation. Such at least
is the earnest hope Of
Your obliged friend and fellow-citizcn,
| ED. w. BATES.