New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-16
THE LETTER or EDWARD BATES OF
MISSOURI.

ST.. LOUIS, Feb 81, 1859.
To Me..rs J. PmLrPs PnGSix, WILLS BLACKSTONE, H. NJ.
BNnGER. DAVID J. LILEY AID II. r. SMITH, COMMITTEES,
EewYork
SIRs: short time ago / wss favored with your
note Of the 9TH ips covering resolution Of the Com
mtee to the effect that il is pedient ct this time
further TO discuss agitste the Negro question but
rather to turn the attention Of the people to other
topcs-"topcs of general importance, such IS our
Foreign Relations, incluoirg the Extension OF Terri
"tory; the building Of Railroads for National pur'
"poses the Improvement OF our Hsrbors, the nsvlga-
/" ton Of our Rivers to facilitate Internal Commences
"the subject of CurencJ and Tariff of Duties, and
other mears of developing own inerna resourcss
Z" our home wealth aud binding together by ties of
"patons and fraernal feelings, the various pars and
"sections CT our widely extended Republic
Your letter. gentlemen, opens very wide field, 10
asking for my opinion upon the subject, ard my
"views as to the signs of the tines Books have
been written upon these matters and speeches deive-
cred by the thousand and yet the aguI en sesms as
Ear from being exhausted was at the beginning;
and tske for certain tina. you co not expect or de-
sire NE to discuss at large all any Of these intermn-
able qusrres. That have opinions upon all or most
of them is tuenot the opinions of this or that party
ready to be abandoned modified to suit this or that
platform bat my opinions-perbaps the more fixed
and harder 10 De
in The retirement Of private life, free from the exigen-
cies of official responsibility and from the perturbatons
of party policy They my own opinions, righ. or
wrong.
A. to the Negro question: have always thought,
aud often de clAred in speech and III pript toa II Is
pe,tlent question, TIE agitation OF which has never
dore good to any party, section or c!s's, aud never
can do good unless be accounted good to stir up The
angry passiobs Of men, and exssperae the urres'on-
yg jealousy OF sections ard by these bad means fOist
some unfit men into office, and keep come ht men out
II is sensitive question into whose dangerous vortex
tie oue possible for good men TO be drawn unswaes
But when | zee a man. at the South or the North, OF
mature age and experience, persist in urging the
question after the sorrowful experience OF the last few
yesrs can attribute bis condu Il to no higher motive
than personal ambition or sectional prejudice.
As 10 the power of the General Government to pro-
tect the psrsons and properties and advance ths 10
terests of the people by laying taxes raising armies
and paves building forts and arsenas, light houses,
moes and breakwateTe survey ing the coasts aud ad
scent teas improving rivers, lakes, and hsrbor aud
making roads, should be very sorry to doubt the ex-
stepce of the power the DUTY to exercise it, when
aver the con,tuted authorities oavs the means in their
bsrds are vinoed that its exercise is necessary
TO protect the country and advsnce the prosperity OF
the people.
Iu nv own opinion, a government that has no power
to protect the harbors of its country against winds and
waves and human sneuiet nor its rivers against 'nsgs
SANDS and rocks /, build roads for the ranporta
ton Of s armies and its mails and the commerce OF s
people is poor, iupotent government and not al all
euch a government as our fathers thought they had
made when they produced the Constitution which was
greeted by inelge men everywhere WITH admiration
i. Ill . -.
and gratitude government free enough Tor al tue
erds of legal liberty and strong eocugh for all the pur-
poses of national and individual protection. A free
people. if il be wise viii make good constitutions
bu. constitution however good in itself, did never
make free people. The people do not derive tner
rights from the government, but the government de-
vss its powers from the people and those powers are
granted for tie main if rot the only purpose of pro-
tecrg the rights Of TIE people. Protection then, II
rot the SOLE is the chief end OF government.
And is for the governing power to judge, IN every
instance, what hind and what degree of protection 4.
reedtul-whether Navy to guard Our commerce al
around the weird, sn Army to defend the eou'try
ssarst aimed invasion from without, or dome.tlc 10
surreciion from within; or 1aiii, to protect our
home industry against tie dangerous diffusion OF for
eisu labor spd capital.
Oftre existence Of the power and duty of the Gov
| erpment 10 pre- &c, me icotlS III sAeH P~-S'-'i $500
proper,y their Industry snd their iocomoton, have
no doubt bat the tine, the MODE and tue measure OF
protect or, being always questions Of policy and pra,
cetce. must Of necessity be l'fs to tie wisdom sad
.,riot sm Of those whose duy il . 10 make laws Tor
,be good government Of the country. And with them
freely leave il, as the safest, and indeed the only
constitutional depository of the powell
As 10 our Foreign Policy generally have ou' h'le
70 say. Ian not much of progressive, and an con-
tent 10 leave it where Washington placed IT, upon III -
wise yrtuous, safe maxim" Pesee with al nAHoesi
sn,srrlire sllispcs with none. The greedy and II
ci,criuins appetite for foreign acquisition, whlel
makes us eoy-t our neigbbors lands sud ceFlss Gun
nirg schemes to get them has little of ny 'ynpS'h!
I,ew il a. scrt of poli,icsl guttony' a. daOge'ou
to our body polite gluttOny to the na'urs sr-
producing oissase certainly, hssienug test prooao!
Those OF our politicians who are afflicted wiz I'M
morbid appetite are wont to cite tbs purchase Oh Nou
ara and Floiijs, as giving countenance 10 'nsH u
! ordinate desires But the csses ste wholly uhise ;
s'mos, every particular. Lou'iaoa was i0oisPen'ao
to cur full and ss'e erjoyueut Of an immense 're'o
which was alesdy owned, ard its acquisition gave q
the unqusstioned control Of tina, noble system q Ms