The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-11-25
. "REPURLICAN" JOURNAL ON
EDWARD BATES.


pure Republican newspaper, publishes the
annexed editorial concerning the views Of Mir.
Edward Bates, on the Slavery question. We
quote # entire t5 show what The national and
conservative men in the Opposition ranks, il
there still be any such, viii have to expect from
their s'Repubiican" friends in 1860
Mn. Bates ViEws or THE SLAVERY QCEs-
TroE.--We publish elsewhere in this paper, an
article from The St. Louis EUeniag .heWs,
which purporLs. to give autaouatiyrly The views
OF .ir. BATES, Of Missouri, on the slavery CUES
! lion--ane Of two questions which many now
/ look upon as paramount to all others now agita-
ting the PUBLIC mind. THIS article is Impor-
tanl from the TACT, that the name OF AIr. Z. has
( been mentioned in connection With the Presdsn-
/ CO, by several Of TIE western papers attached
10 the Republican organization. While We
, agree in the main with iha positions ia this
expose, and particularly with that portion in
which the rights Of the North and South are
discussed, in reference 10 the distinction be-
tween slave and olber property occupying the
territories, we cannot subscribe 70 the doctrine
as enunciatcd, in reference to The F0siliva
Slave Law. The declaration that Mr.. DaTes,
execute this law "if the army and navy were
equal 10 the task,' means that be would com
pei The citizens Of the Tree States to hunt down
and capture the fugitive ayiag for irsedom-jn
ether words, li he would make us Hegro-catCd-
gls tor the benefit OF Southern taskmasters-we
totally and entirely dissent from hI3 views Of
such Constitutional requirements, and take occa-
sIoa 10 record our opinion, that the combined
armies and nayie5 Of the world are insufficient
to enforce such aO o5noXi1us provision. no
man holding such views can receive The suDn07t
for President ot any considerable number Of
those who reside north Of Mason < Digon's
line. We hoii that 'lhe rendition Of iU-itjves
iron labor" does not o5ljgate our citizens 10
catch slaves; but that where our legal tribunals,
after proper investigation, nay fad such labor
due, no Obstacles should be unnecessarily in
terpcsed TO prevent such fugitive from being
restoreG-and nothing more. We profess 10
\, abide by law, properly administered, but we
sCorn all enactmens which sa0ck our common
humanity. We hope MIR. BATGs, whose
general views upon the slavery question, il
correctly put forth, are in consonance with a
majority OF our people, does not mean what the
language Of this part Of the exposition implies.
We must also disgrace with him in the assertion,
that ''the entire Democratic party of the free
States are as decidedly opposed, as even the
Republican party, 10 the extension Of slavery
over territories now free" Il Is well known
that many Of the leaders of the so-caled Demo-
cracy are as confirmed pro.sIavery as the most
inveterate SlavediiveeS OF the South. We
confess, however, that different feeling pre-
vais among the rank and file OF the party here,
many of whom have discovered the schemes oil
those who profess TO lead them, and are now
enrolling themselves under the Republican ban
ner. Mr. BArgs' views are, we repeat,
liberal, but not sufficiently SO, to clam from
the free North an unqualified support.