The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-24
t.r,s From the st. Louis News.
Ii ales' Vie Tvs Oh Slavery.

Some of the Opposition papers of Missouri
!, (the st. Joseph Vest among them Will,
admitting the indecency of private citizens
who suppose themselves candidates for tn,
Presidency, thrusting their opinions on al
questions unasked, on the country. never
theless appear to think that the case # Ed
ward Bates is an exception. They claim
Z that Mr.. Bates stands so prom nently before
the country as possible candidate for tn,
Presidency, and that the anxiety of Mis-
sourians is so great to declare in favor of him
If his views on the Slave Question are ac
) ceptable to them, that Mr.. Bates ought t.
make public his views on that one subject al
least. Otherwise, many citizens, after com
mitting themselves to his support, might find
themselves in false position. 50 ~ #""-
There viii be no occasion for any citizen
ever feeling any embarrassment on Mr. Gates
account He is not candidate for the Presi.
dencv, and will rot seem, by publishing let
ters unasked or on every the most trihine
occasion, to be courting attention to his views.
But if Mr. Bates should be made candi-
date by the authoritative voice of his coun-
trymen, he will obtain no vote upon false
pretences. He will stand upon no iugglc,
like the Cincinnati Platform, with its am
/ biguous and double readings. The country
will know his position on all questions, man
ifestly as in letters of living light Till then,
Mr.. Bates views of Slavery will not probably
be more formally set forth. t.....s
But as the Eoening Ners several months
ago, presented the name of Mr. Bates as the
favorite of the st. Louis Oppositionists for
the Presidency, it is reasonably to he sup
posed that we had sufficient knowledge of
his opinions, on this and other subjects, to
Justify the nomination of him. 1t NAV be
that we know enough of his views, even now,
to satisfy the more importunate querists in
the matter The following are what we are
sure will be found to be the views of Edward
Bates on the Slavery Question:
Mr. Bates does not believe that "African
Slavery is the corner stone of Liberty"
He does not believe that African Slavery
is a beneficial institution, either IN Social.
Political, or Religious sense. Not in a Social
sense, because it sets at naught the family
relation and separates man and wife, parents
and children, at the caprice, or on the neces-
sites of owners: Not in Political sense,
because it is productive of discords between
nations that tolerate it, and nations that do
not; and because it is liable to panicS, com
motions, instructions and maSSacres: and
has ended often in bloody revolutions: Not
/ in Religious sense, because it shuts the
mind against knowledge. 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 he freely given to the service of God
! Because Mr. Bates does not believe that
Slavery is beneficial Institution, either in a
Social, Political, or Religious sense, he is mn
alterably opposed to its ertession into the
Territories alreaRy free. Mr.. Bates in his
political creed is a Henry Clay Whig; and
Mr.. Clay declared that his fright arm should
drop from his shoulder before he would vote
| to extend Slavery over one foot of Territory
already free" Mr.. Bates heartily endorses
that sentiment, and holds to that creed.
Mr. Bates does not believe that the Con
stitutiop, by its proper vigor. carries Slavery
into all the Territories that may be acquired
by the United States He believes that Free
dom is the rule, and Slavery the exception
He does not believe that Slavery can exist in
any Territory acquired by the Government
of the United States, except by the positice
lar Of Congress. That positive law Mr..
Bates would not be in favor of passing, be-
cause for reasons already given, he is oppos-
ed to the extension of Slavery into Territory
already free. ......-.....
| If it be held that this exclusion Of Slave
property from Territory acquired by the
common blood and treasure of the Union
establishes an invidous distinction between
two sections Of the Union-that it denies to
the South rights that are freely given to the
North-Mr. Bates denies emphatically that
| it has any such effect The distinction com
| planned of is co-eval with the government -
1t is no new thing-no modern hardship
in fact no hardship at all The localizing OF
| Slayery-the prohibition of it's emgrating
and establishing itself in Free Territory, was
embodied in the compact of the Union, at
/ ~