Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-11-25
Hon, D. c. BRoDEaIoK.
Hon. Edward Bates en- Slavery.

The St. Louis Eosning At,cs publishes a
long article giving the views of the Hon.
Edward Bates on the Slavery question. The
main points are as follows
"Mr. Bates does not believe thst African
Sls7ery is beneficial Institution, either ir
social, Political, or religious tense. Not in =
political sense, because it is productive Of dis
cords between nations thar tolerate ii and
nations that 10 not and because it is liable to
panics, and has ended often il bloody rcvolu-
lions. Not in 4 religious sense, becanss i
makes the word Of God se4led book 20 the
slave, aud gives lis body TO the service Of
bpEnaa master whereas the boiy OF every
created being should be freely given TO the
serTiee Of God. Because Mr. Bates does not
believe that slavery Is q beneficial nsti;uton,
either 10 = social, political or religious sense,
he Is unalerahly opposed 10 rs extension iato
territories already fee.
Mr. Bates heartily endorses ;ie sentiment,
ana holds TO the creed Of Mr.. Clay, who de-
clared that his right arm should drop frou his
shoulder before lie would vote to extend slavery
over enc foot OF territory already bIr. Bates
does Rot believe tia. the Constitution carries
slavery Into all the territories that any be ac-
CURED 6y TIE I. Sta'es. H0 believes ihat
ireedom is the rule aai slavery esa cxjs, IN
any territory acquired 6y th8 government Of
tie U. STATES except BY tho positive law OF
Congress. That law Mr. Bates would pot Be
u favor Of passing, because, FOR reasogs al
ready gwen, ac ls opposed to Tie extension OF
slavery into territory already free Ale Bates
denies Ihat the exclusion Of slave property
from territory acquired by the common Blood
ana treasure Of tue Union establishes an ill.,
vicious distinction between the two sections of
the Union, and asserts that the distinction
;ofopialned u 10 e0evai wits he government,
and lhaf The prohibition oil slavery from flee
territory was embodied IN The original ccapact
oi the Unlon, for which the slave States were
allowed in Congress AMI in Presidential cleo
tons three yotcs for every FIVE slaves. He
therefore does not regard the non admission
OF slavery lato territory as establishing dis
lineiion between property, but simply as main
tang q distinction already established and
willingly assenicd to by the South since the
formation Of the Government. He regards
the principle of the Nebraska bill as rendering
The introduction Of slavery into the territories
impossible, aud does not believe that Congress
VIII intervene to protect slave property in the
territories. He firmly adheres to tho rights of
property 10 slaves in the States where slavery
already exists, and if President he would ex-
eeute tue Fugitive Slave Law, if the army and
navy OF the government were equal to the task
lie would consider the Union : broken com.
pass II these plain guarantees were denied by
the deliberate AID peTsevering action Of any
part of the oonfederaey. II Congress should
iegaLze aud pass laws protecting slave property
IN territories previously free, Mr. Bates would
execute these laws ss promptly as any other
laws OF the land, lie would not oppose tho
admission Of State because of pro-slavery
Constitution. He would never countenance a
National organization for any interference
whatever with slavery in the States.
He is glad to see the rapid and peaceful ex-
tinetion of slavery il Missouri, without the aid
Of emancipation parties, and without the heat
and actimony OF domestic discord. By tis
own example, as well 81 by preeept, he has
shown that he pIofars to live By his own labor,
and not ou the labor of slaves. He advocates
the procurement Of foreign territory suitable
TO the ready aud cheap, colonization of free
blacks. The policy already broached 10 some
States, of selling again into slavery the free
blacks whom humane or grateful masters have
etnaneIpaed, unless those freed persons leave
the State, is in the highest degree cruel 1t is
barbarious, aud it would disgrace the American
people in the face of Christenlom 10 permit
such policy to prevail.
An old bachelor recently remarked that our
ladies are so fond of foreign articles, that they
wonlG import babies if they could be nianafac-
tured. We think not.