Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-11-24
Important Political Document.
Freedom the Rule-slavery the Exception

From the st. Louis Evening News, Nov. stl,
Same of the Opposition papers of Mis-
sonri (the St. Joseph West among them, J
while admitting the indrcency Of private
citizens. who suppose themselves cansli-
dates for the presidency, thrusting their o.
pinions on all questions masked. on the
country. nevertheless appear TO think that
the case of Edward Dates is an exception.
They claim that Mr.. Bates stands so prom
incntly before the country as a possible
candidate for the Presidency. anil that the
anxiety of Missourians is so great to de-
clare in favor of him, If his views on the
Slave Question are acceptable to them,
that MIR. Bates ought to make public his
views on that one subject at least. Other
wise, many citizens, after committing
themselves to his support. might find them
selves in a false position.
There will be no occasion for any citizen
ever feeling any embarrassment on Mr..
Bates account. He is not a candidate FOR
the Presidency. AMI will not seem hy pub
fishing letters unaskc,l. and OH even the
most t,Saing occasion. to be courting at :
tention to his views. --
But il Mr.. Bates shoulL be male a can
di,late by the authoritative voice of his
countrymen, he will obtain no vote under
false pretences. He will stand on no Jug
gle, like the Cincinnati Platform, with its
ambiguous and double readings. The
country will know his position on all ones
tons. manifcstIy in letters Of living ligh.
Till then, Mr.. Bates views Of Slavery will
not probably be more formally set forth.
But as the Evening News. several months
ago, presented the name of Mr.. Dates as
the favoritc ofthc St. Lonis Oppositionists
for the Presidency, it is reasonably to be
supposed that VIC. had sufficient knowl-
edge Of his opinions. on this and other
subject, to justify the nomination Of him.
1t may be that we know enough of his
views. even now to salty the more impor-
tunate querists in the matter The follow
ing arc what we are sure will be found to
be the views Of Edward Bates on the Slave
ry Question: ,l Il. --...-. -.f,".
SLAVERY Not BENEFICIAL SOCIALLY, PoLITI-
r.. j. cAI.LY OR REILGIousLY- f.,s..
Mr.. Dates does not believe that "Afri-
can Slavery is the cornerstone of Liber-
ty." - ,
He does not believe that African Slave
ry is a beneficial Institution, either in a
social. political. OF religions sense. Not
in social sense, because it sets at naught
the family relation and separates man and
wife. parents anil chilsllen. at the caprice,
or on the necessities of owners; not in a
political sense. because it is productive of
discords between nations that taleratc it,
and nations that do not, and because it is
liable to panics. commotions, instructions
and massacres. and has ended often in
bloody revolutions; not in q religious sense.
because It shuts the mind against knowl-
edge. makes the word of God sealed
book to the Slave. and gives his body to
the service of human master. whereas the
body of every created being should be free
ly given to the seryic of God. r
IT'S EXTENSION uscossTIuTIoyAL EycEPT BY
AFF4RM4IlyE tEGIsL4T4ox. M
because Mr. Bates does not believe that