The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-06-29
Tiffiu at'rEkIp Gribnur.
Judge Bates Letter In Support
OfLincOln.
THE REPUBLICAN STANDARD
BEARER WARMLY EULOGIZED.
81. Lnr1s. Jhne IL lseo.
o. II. Brosninq, Esq, Quincy ~.

sr. Lou1s, June H. 1860.
o. n. BroCRiRg, Esq, Quincy ~;
DRAR SIR; When received your lot-
ter ofMay 22d, had no thought that the
answer would be so long delayed; but
waving all excuses, | proceed TO answer
Il now. 10
Under circumstances Of the case, Il
ought not to have been doubted that I
would give Mr.. l.inculn's nomination
cordial and hearty support. Out in de-
claring my intention to do SO, Il 10 due TO
myself TO state some Of the facts and rea-
sons, which have controlling influence
over my mind, and which ! think, ought
10 be persuasive arguments with some
other men, whose political opinions and
ant1cedents are, in some important par
ticulars, like my own.
There was no good ground for suppose
ing that | felt any pique or dissatisfaction
becauae the Chicago Convention failed
TO nominate me. / had no such feeling.
On party grounds, | had no right to
expect the nomination. had no claims
upon the Republicans as party, for l
have never been a member Of any party,
80 as to be bound by its dogmus and sub
lect to lis discipline, except only the
Wing party, which is now broken up and
its materials, for the most part, absorbed
into other organizations.
RHR
Asto the platform put forth by the
Chicago Convention, have little osoy,
because whether good OF bad, that will
not eonttitute the ground Of my support
Of Dir. Lincoln. have no greatrespect
for party platforms in general. They are
commonly made in times of high excite
ment, under a pressure Of circumstances
and with view 20 conciliate present
support, rather than TO establish per
manent system Of principles and line o,
policy for the future good government Of
the country. The conventions which
form them are transient in their naturoi
their power and influence are consumed
in the using, leaving no continuing OBJ
legation upon their respective parties,-
And hence we need not wonder that plat.
forms so made, are hardly ever acted out
in practice. | shall not discuss their rel.
otive merits, but content myself with
saying 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 20 the new
party, II has not chosen 90 promulgat'
any. platform at all, except two or three
broad generulitics which are common &
the professions of faith oral parties i
the country. No party, indeed, dare Nsl
the confidence Of the nation, while open
I ly denying the obligation to support The
Union and the Consultation, and 30 en-
force the laws. That is a common duty
binding upon every citizen, and the fail
ure to perform il is a crime. ".t
To me il is plain that the approach
ing contest must be between the Demo
cratic and Republican parties; and, be
tween them, prefer the latter.
The Democratic party, by the loul
possession and abuse ofpower, has growI
wuntonan reckless; has corrupted u
self and perverted the principles of'th'
Government; has setitselfopcnly aghins
the great home interests OF tho people
lby negleoting to protect their industry
and by refusing 70 improve and keep II
order the highways and depots Of com
mcrce; and even now isurging a meas
ure in Congress to abdicqte the cunsti
tutional power and duty TO regulate com
merce among the States, and TO gran
to the States the discretionary power L
levy tonnage duties upon all our com
merce, under the protense Of improving
hnrbors, rivers, and lakes; has changes
the status Of the negro slave by mnldnl
him no longer mere property, but poll
tioian, an antagonist power in the STATE
a power TO which all other powers ar
required TO yield, under the penalty Of
dissolution ofthe Union; has directed il
energies to the ratification of is lest 0
foreign domain, as manifested in It's per
sistent Efforts 70 seize upon tropical re
Igions, not because those counties an
their incopgruous people are neces
sary, or even desirable, to be ineorporai
cd into our nation, but for the mere pur
pose Of making Slave States, in order I
advance the political power Of tie pnrt
in the Senate and In the choice Of tn
I President, so as eliectuRlly 20 transfe
! the chief powers of the Government froI
the many TO the few; has in various in
stances endangered the equality Of tn
coordinate branches Of the GoyeFnmen
by urgent efforts to enlarge the power
Of the Executive at the expense Of III
, Legislative department; has attempte
90 discredit and degrade the Judiciary, b
affecting to make i, a. first, the arbits
of party quarrels, to become soon and II
: eyitably the passive registrar Of party Dc
cTRes.
In most, IL not all these particulars,
understand The Republican party 0udq
ing it by itC acts and by the known opiI
ions of many of its leading men) 70 be III
! ! exact opposite Of the Democratic party
! and that is the ground Of my preferenc
of the ore party over the other. An
, that alone would be a sufficient reason
il had no other good reasons, for SUI
porting blr. Lincoln against any man VIII
, may be put forward by the Democrat
party, as the exponent Of is principles an
the agent TO work out in practice, i
Z dangerous policies.
Q The third party, which, by its yer
y formation, has destroyed the organic
tions Of the American and Wing partie
has nominated two most excellent meI
, | / know them we'll, as sound statesme
and true patriots. More than thirty yea
ago served with them both in Congress
ohd from tndt time 10 this I have dlway
held them in respect and honor. Bl
what can the third party do towards III