The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-07-03
Judge Bates' Letter in Support Of Lin.
coin.

ST. LOUIS, June IL, 1860.
Q, H. BROWNING, ESQ, Quincy, H.
DEAR SIR When l received your
letter OF May 22, had no thought that
an answer would be SO long delayed
but waving all excuses, proceed to an
swer it now.
nder the circumstances of the case,
it ought not TO have been doubted that
would give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination a
cord ial and hearty support. But in de-
claring my intention to do so, it is due
to myself to state some of the facts and
reasons which have controlling influ-
ence over my mind. and which | think
ought to be persuasive arguments with
some other men, whose political opinions
and antecetents are, in some important
particulars, like my own.
There was no good ground for suppos-
ing that | felt any pique or dissatisfac-
ton because the Chicago convention fail
ed to nominate me. had no such feel
ing. On party grounds, had no right
to expect the nomination. | had no
claims upon the Republicans as party,
for | have never been member of any
party. so AS TO be bound by its dogmas,
and subject to its discipline, except only
the Whig party, which is now broken up.
and its materials, for the most part, ab-
sorbed into other organizations. And
thus am left alone and powerless, in
deed. but perfectly free to follow the die
Iates of my own judgment, and to take
such part in current politics as my own
sense OF duty and patriotism may re-
quire. Many Republicans, and among
them. think, some of the most moder-
ate and patriotic of that party. honored
me with their confidence, and desired to
make me their candidate. For this favor
| was indebted to the fact that between
| them and me there was coincidence of
opinion upon certain important questions
of government. They and agreed in
believing that the National government
has sovereign power over the Territories,
and that it would be impolitic and un-
wise TO use that power for the propaga-
tion OF negro slavery by planting it in
free territory. Some of them believed,
also, that my nomination, while it would
tend 10 soften the tone of the Republican
party, without any abandonment of its
principles. might tend also to generalize
It's character and attract the friendship
and support OF many, especially in the
border States, who, like me, had never
been members of their party, but con-
Cured 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 Convention, l 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 ex-
citement, under a pressure Of circum-
stances, and with the view to conciiate
present support. rather than to establish
permanent system of principles and
line Of policy for the future good gov
ernment OF the country. The conven-
tons which form them are transient in
their nature their power and influence
are consumed in the using, leaving no
continuing obligation upon their respect
i've parties. And hence we need not won
der that platforms SO made are hardly
ever acted out in practice. shall not
discuss their relative 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. Aud as TO
tho new party. it has not chosen to pro-
mulgate any platform at all. except two
or three broad generalilies which are
common TO tho profession of faith of all
parties in the country. No party, in
deed, dare ask the confidence of the ma
''on while openly denying the obligation
TO support the Union and the Constitu-
lion, aud TO enforce the laws. This is o
common duty. binding upon every citi-
zen, and the failure 10 perform il is a
crime.
To me ii is plain that the approaching
contest must be between the Democratic
and Republican parties and, between
them, l prefer the latter.
The Democratic party. by the long
possession and abuse of power, has grown
wanton and reckless has corrupted it.
self and perverted the principles Of the |