Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-06
Letter From Mr. Bates


To vessrs. r. w. Firing, Z. T. rrhcndcn, Rrh-
nd &. Idughan, Aitfcd IoarS, Nm SpfdR, Um
s. fiet3 Taos H. alHcn anil Nm. y. Bcard
! Uhig Committee. LtIHgton, Missouri:
| SINS Your kind letter, inviting me to visit
your city, and address meeting OF The Wings OF
Lafayette county, on the first Monday in Oelohcr,
arrived here during my absence ON visit to sauie
irnds north of the Missouri. consequently my
answer hos bccn somewhat delayed.
| | would he right glad 10 accept Your invitation
| If could do 81 without II breach If duty bat
cannot. Thr fall tcrms Of unr var us rpur', arc
Just at hand 50 thnt professional but!ncs will cn
gage all my time for months IL como. really
wish has an opportunity ~ speak to the good
Wings ol Lafayette. III regard. to the course which
II becomes ny. Whigs, TO pursue in tie present
W'Xe,l aud critical "'n'e ct political nhars The
| few who have wilhsood Nil temptations t. nhan-
don tho pure doctrines and renuuucc the honor
ed namc oi our once glorious party, may surely
nov be trusted ; for. protesting the truth al the
IcUnstituirn, understood and expounir hy
tho fathers, they have approved their fath, in
pr asperity aud in alvorsy through good report
land through evil. They have not been frightened
by the passionate violence OF fierce partsans, who
threaten to ruin tho country ilnot allowed To rnlo
At. They have not been bliuded To the true mud
lasting interest of their whole country, hv the
glare Of inise issues md transient projects. gotten
iup ia sectional spirit. and urged IN ira.
tr.cilal rare; and they have not been seduerl t,
desert their OH, trua position on patriotic duty.
by the temptation, industriousy held out to thrm
to divide the spoiIs with the Stroug."
TIE Wing party, whether IN success or defeat,
has been always respected, even by it's adversar,c-
Why? Because it is mtrlnscally respectable.
Conscious OF lis avn honesty, intelligence and pu-
triosm, it respected itself, and thu enforced the
respect uf Others.
While the Democrats and Wing parties wetc
ihe.mly Two antagonist powers. and held divi-
IGsd sway IN the nation, there Wa, this marked
difference between their systems 81 discipline
Among the Democrats, tho thinking MAS d9uc2 10y
"a very few; all cnunciations Of principle ali pro
gran,lnes ii action. and all special meas re-, al
importance. were determined hy lew leaders in
convention or caucus: aud every private member
from Senator down to simple voter, re
iqnired TO obey implicitly. Discipline was street,
aud rgdy enforced and hence the wonderful
unanimity with which until vcy lately all the
measures OF that party have been sustained 10y
Its members. however opposite 10 each other IN
principle and policy. Among the Wings. on the
contrary. quite different system rcvaiied. Then
discipline like the party itself WAS based upon
the idea OF the intelligence well rs honesty and
patriotism at their members. Discipline was com
iparuuvely lax, ani there was allowed To every
mcnll er u large latitude of private judgment anu
indi, dual opinion up all unessertial doctrine,
and NIL incidental questions. And hence the ire
iqucnt d horences ct opinion among the most cmi
ncnt members of the Wing party in its best days
upon collateral questions. While this is evidence
% the intelligence and freedom "t the Wing ,arty
it may also be the cause Of it's deteat--ior ie.pol
ism, ut the head OF nation or party, has more en-
iorgy than freedaui. and more easily accom-,
psh its ends. when has the right 10 OPP
pose or question its commands. But u party sue
cess, won by tyrnuizins over the judgments and
conscenccs of men. is not the s,ltcess we desire
because it is wrong itself, aud is ut exam.
pie and fit instrument for imposing upon our coun
try arbitrary government.
But the question returns upon US. what ought
the Wings do in the present crisis2 What can
they do? You inform Inc in your letter that ''ths
object Of this meeting is to call together and re.
organize the scattered fragments of once glori
Gus patty. believing as you do that it is strong
enough 20 effect some good purpose In coming
elections" Yes, surely, you are right II ii
strong enough to do much good, If the attempt be
made, not in passion and violence, not in urging
extreme opinions. offensive to others and useless
to our canse. but in . spirit Of conciliation and
lpeAce, and with the prudence and moderation
which marked the character If Wings in the DAYS
of their glory But il ID not strong enough TO act
. separately and alone. To accomplish any real
gnod for the country and for the cause Of truth
nnd ffeedpm, it must corporate with tile othcr 81
= cments of Opposition 10 an Adminis,, atioG AMI
parry which have divided the nation into sectional