Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-09-15
ST.. LOUIS, August 20. 1856.


Hon. Jere. Clemens and others-Commit-
tee of Invitation, Memphis, Team
SIRs-I feel myself especially honored
in receiving your kind invitation to attend
Grand Jubilee of the Opposition party.
to be held at Memphis. on the 25th inst.
in celebration of your recent victory in Ten
nessee.
1t is with sorrow that am constrained
to deny myself the pleasure of joining you
in the celebration of an event sohonorable
to the gallant men of Tennessee, and 80
promising of good to the country. Sick.
ness and recent death in my family have
so disarranged my plans for the summer
vacation, as TO force me to this self-dsnial.
1t plcases me very much, gentlemen, to
find that you designate the band of patri-
OTIS who have lately done the good work
IN Tennessee as The Opposition Party
The name implies that the party is made Of
the good men of other parties-Democrsts,
Wings, Americans, Republicans whS
can no longer brook the wild extravagancs
and wanton disregard Of principle in sn
Administration and a party which, embold-
ened by former onmerited success, vainly
imagine that they 'can afford to disregard
the eensures of the world" and to despiss
the Judgment Of history.
The party in office | will not say IN
power) is, of itself, weak and helpless
minority. 1t has no chance of sticcess but
the hope n trust vain and fallacious hope)
that ,ce will be so unwise and unpatriotic
as to waste our strength in petty chickering's
about old party names and subordinate
questions of policy and convenience, and
to split up our forces into platoons and
sections, as if for the very purpose of en-
abling our inferior enemy to beat as all,
in detail. If we be so unwise as thst-f
we allow the adversary to form the plan Of
our campaign, to marshal our troops. to
tell us when to march, and where to camp.
and how to fight, of course we will get
what VIC earn and deserye--defeat. And
by mere folly we will add to the humilis-
ton of defeat the sting of shame, in tho
consciousness that we had in our hands
the means of victory and the assurance Of
the peace and prosperity of the nation. but
wantonly threw them away. However it
may be elsewhere, lam sure it will not De
so in Tennessee. Her gallant sons are al
ways ready, when brave and generous deeds
are needfnl. Her younger PATRIOTS, high
spirited and bold against the enemy. but
mild and forbearirg to each other. will
march in cordial union, on to victory, their
warm zeal guided, and. if need be. restrain
ell and tempered, by the cool wisdom and
prudence Of the veteran Bell.
Your recent victory and similar snccess-
es in other Southern and Western States,
embolden me to hope for the like good re.
suits all over the Union. The spirit Of con-
servativc patriotism is aroused, throughout
ment and bold innovations Of the last few
years; and in view Of the great national In
tcrests now in peril. better feelings
feeling Of harmony and mutual confidence,
ofikind forbearance on minor poiuts. Of
generous concession in favor of peacor and
unity-is visibly increasing in all the ele-
ments of the Opposition. Those who fos-
ter md advance that good feeling. and r.
pen it into cordial union, will be great pub
lie benctactors. Such union alono VIII
constitute the victory. without the necessi-
sity for another blow; for the Democracy.
as now cnervated and demoralizcd. wjlt6s
no match for Che xnifed Oppos;tion
And such q rictoryl A Avictory in wlsirh>
all-even the vanquishcd--will have csass
to rejoice, because it will restore peace and,
harmony to the excited sections. law sb6
order to the disturbued Territories. mod.
Grafton and justice to to the GoveEnmens,
and prosperity and honor to the natior.-
Such at least is the earnest hope Of
Your obliged friend and -ckises,
EDWARD BATES.