Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-03-24

This distinguished citizen has, with the can:
dor and m.rIiness which have ever charac-
E fsrized bin, made known his views upon The
political topics Of the day of most eenerslin-
terest. We re-publish them in another col
umn.
II will be noted that
1st He is opposed to the extension of sla--
very, believing both the Esprit and policy of
she government ought to be against its tx
tension" And be further believes that Con-
Tress has exclusive control over the question
In the territories.
I'd He repudistes the doctrine that the
Federal Constitution authorizes and protects
slavery in the Territories; and denies that
the bred Scott decision decided anything
more than the status of the plaintiff, Scott.
srd He favors the colonization of the Free
Blacks in the tropical regions of America.
4th. He recognizes no distinction among
American citizens, and holds that all are
alike entitled to the enjoyment of their rights,
and the protection OF the Government.
9th. He favors the construction of a rail-
road from the Mississippi Valley to the Pa
cifc, under the auspices Of the General Gov
srnment.
9Th. He favors the principle Of donating
tracts Of land to those who will actually in.
habit and improve them.
7th. He favors the immediate admission of
Kansas as State.
The point of most importance in this decla-
ration Of principles. is that relative to the ex-
tension of slavery. Upon it there is thorough
accord between Mr.. BATES and the Republi-
cans. Mr.. SEWARD himself, in his recent
speech In the United States Senate, does not
enunciate the republican doctrine more dis
tinctly. Mr.. BATES afirms that bis views
upon this point, are not of recent formations;
he has entertained them since the memorable
controversy springing out of the application
for the admission of Missouri into the Union
When we consider that it was the declaration
Of the republicans in 1856, that they demand
ed the administration of the governmentupon
the principle that its spirit and policy are
opposed to the extension of slavery, which
gave life and yigor TO the party, il will seem
strange that Mr.. BATES did not then support
Hr. FREMONT instead of Mr.. FILLMORE. The
republicans demanded no more then than they
demand now-they are not less sectional now
than they were then. We fear that Mr..
BATES, after refusing Offices. high Offices, too. |
has at last become affected by the mania of
the day, and permitted bis mind to be warped |
by the hope of taking a stride from the '.pri- |
yate station" to the highest position in the |
gift Of his countrymen. He has thrown him |
self into the embraces Of party which he |
denounced, in 1856, as sectional" and an |
"enemy to the peace of the country )" and, |
10 doing so, he has completely shut himself |
out from the support and sympathy Of the |
multitudes Of conservatives in the South who |
have regarded him as a proper leader to unite |
the Opposition to the democracy. in the en- |
suing Presidential campaign. He has strick- |
en- his name from the list of candidates for
she nomination at Baltimore and even rem
dered hinself less available as the nominee
st Chicago, for it is improbable that the
FILLMORE men of 1856, in the Free States,
who have been laboring TO secure his nominal
ton. viii support him, since he has elected
TO stand upon the ''vital principle Of the re-
publican organization" Unless be can take
them with him into the republican ranks, he
Is no stronger, as a candidate. than Mr.. SEW
AHD or Mr.. CHASE, and the party will have
nothing to gain by nominating him over
them The Cincinnati Gazeae evidently ap- |
prehends this when it remarks that "the |
whole tenor of this letter leaves it no longer |
10 uncertainty that Judge BATES will be
either the nominee at The Chicago Conven- |
tion, or else mol a candidate at ALL" The Gazette
feels that the Baltimore Convention must re-
ject him, and that his only hope is now of
Chicago, where his chances are diminished
There are other points in the declaration
OF principles by Mr.. BATES which invice COM
mens; but we forbear. Unless Mr.. Bates
should be the republican candidate they will
be Of no more consequence than the opinions
Of any other private citizen