New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-22
JUDGE BATESS LETTER IN SUPPORT
fFEfgfft e. or LINCOLN 1frrIF

delayed; but, waving all excuses, proceed 70 an
swer ii now.
Under the circumstances of the case it ought not 70
have been doubted that | would give Mr.. Lincon's
nc minatn cordial and hearty support. Bat In de-
caring my intention to do So it is due to myself TO
state some of the facts and reasons which haze con-
trolling influence over my mind, and which think
ought to be persuasive arguments with some other
men, whose political opinions and antecedents are in
some important particulars like my own
There was no good ground for supposing that ieit
any pique or dissatisfaction because the Chicago Con-
venton failed to nominate had no such feeling
On parry grounds, had no right to expect the nomi-
nation. had no claims upon the Republicans as q
party, for have never been member of any party,
co as to be bound by its dogmas, and subject to Its
discipline, except only the Wing party, which
is now broken up and its materials, for ths
most part absorbed into other organizations. Ana
thus am left, alone and poweress indeed but per-
feety free to follow the dictates Of my own Judgment
and tc take such part u current politics as my own
sense of duty and patriotism may require. Many he-
publicans and among them, think, some OF the most
moderate and patriotic of that party honored me with
their confidence and desired to make me their candi-
date For this favor was indebted to the fact that
between them and me there coincidence OF opin-
ion upon certain important questions OF government
They and agreed in believing that the National Gov
rmen has sovereign power over the Territories, ana
that il would be impoc and unwiseto use that power
forth propagation Of negro slavery by pantiog In Tree
territory Some of them believed also that my nominal
ton while it would tend to soften the tone OF the ke
publican party without any abandonment OF It's prin
cples might ted also to generaze its character and
attract the friendship and support of many especially
in the border States, who, like me, bad never been
members of their party, but concurred with them In
opinion about the government of the Territories
These are the grounds and think the only grounds,
upon which was supported at all at Chicago.
AS to the platform put forth by the Chicago Con-
vention have little TO say, because whether good or
bad that will not constitute the ground of my support
Of Mr.. Lincoln. have no great respect for party
platforms in general. They are commonly made IN
times of high excitement under pressure Of circum-
stances and with the view TO concifate present sup
port, rather than to establish permanent system of
principles and line of policy for the future good gov
eminent Of the country. The Conventions which
form them are transient in their naturei their power
az d influence are consumed in the using leaving no
continuing obligation upon their respective parties.
And hence we need not wonder that platforms so made
are hardly acted out in practice shall not dis
cuss their relative merits, but content myself with say
IL that this Republican platform though In several
particulars it does not conform to my views, is still FAR
better than any published creed past or present. OF the
Democrats. And as to the new party, II has not
chosen to promugste any platform at ALL except TWO
or THREE broad generaties which are common to the
professions of faith of all parties in the country No
marty i, deed dare ask the confidence Of the nation
while openly denying the obligation to support the
Union and the Constitution and TO enforce the laws.
Tia, is a common duty, binding upon every citizen,
and the failure to perform it is a crime.
To me ia plain that the approaching contest must
be betw cen the Democratic and Republican parties;
and, between them, prefer the latter.
The Democratic party, by the long possession and
abuse of power, has grown wanton ana reckless has
corrupted sef and perverted the principles Of the
Government; has itself openly against the great
home interests of the people by negecting to protect
their industry and by refusing to improve and keep IN
order the highways aud depos Of commerce. and even
now il urging measure in Congress to abdieate the
cor sttutonal power and duty to regulate commerce
anon the States and to grant to the States the dis
creionary power to levy tunnage dules upon all our
commerce. under the pretense OF improving harbors
rivers and lakes has changed the status OF the negro
slave by making him no longer mere property, but
poltician. an antagonist power in the State, power
10 which all other powers required to yield, under
renalty of dissolution of the Union has directed its
erergts to the qualification of its usis Of foreign do
MAN, ar manifested in s persistent efforts to seize
mon tropical regions not because those countries and
their incongruous people necessary, or even de-
sirabe to be incorporated into nation but for the
mere purpose of making slave States in order to ad-
vance the political power of the party in the Senate
and in the choice of the President, efiectuay TO
ransfer the chief powers of the Government from the
MANY 10 the few has in various instances endangered
the equality of the coordinate branches of the Goyera
ment by urgent efforts to enlarge the powers OF the
Executive at the expense of the Legislative depart
ment has attempted to discredt and degrade the Ju-
dietary by affecting 10 make it, at first the arbter of
party ouarels to become and inevitably the pas
five registrar Of party DEGREES.
In most, if not all these particulars, l understand
the Republican party udgil it by its acts and by the
known opinions Of many of tie leading mem to be the
exact opposite of the Democratic party; aud that is
the ground Of my preference Of the party over the
other And that alone would be sufficient reason, if
had no other good reasons, for supporting Mr.. Lin
coin against any man who may be put forward by the
Democratic party, as the exponent of its principles
and the agent to work out in practice its dangerous
Policies.
The third party, which, by it's formation has de-
stroy ed the organizations of the American and Wing
tartits has nominated two most excellent meu.
know them well, as sound statesmen and true patri-
OTIS More than thirty years ago served with them
both in Congress- and from that time to this have
always held them in respect and honor. But what
can the third party do toward the election of
even such worthy men az these against the two