The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-06-29
Judge Bates's Letter in Support of
Lincoln.
ST.. LOUIS, June II. 1850.

Judge Bates's Letter In Support of
Lincoln.
ST. LOUIS, June II, 1860.
o. Fl. BROWNING, Esq, Quincy, Ill.
DEAR SIR: When ! received your letter
of May 22d, had no thought that the an
swer would be so long delayed; but, waiv-
ing all excuses, l proceed to answer it
now
Under the circumstances of the case it
ought not to have been doubted that |
would give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination a cor
dial and hearty support. But in declaring
rly intention to do so, it is due to myself to
state some of the facts and reasons which
have a controlling influence over my mind,
and which think ought to be persuasive
arguments with some other pen whose po-
litical opinions and antecedents are, in some
important particulars, like my own.
There was no good ground for supposing
that felt any pique or dissatisfaction be-
cause the Chicago Convention failed TO NOM
mate me. I had no such feeling. On par
ty grounds, | had no right to expect the
nomination. | had no claims upon the Re-
publican party, for | have never been Il
member OF any party, so as to be bound by
its dogmas and subject to its discipline, eX-
cept the Wing party, which is now broken
ap, and its materials, for the most part, alb
sorbed into other organizations. And thus
| am left, alone and powerless indeed but
perfectly free to follow the dictates of my
own judgment and to take such part in
current politics as my own sense Of duty
and patriotism may require. Many Repub-
licans, and among them, think, some of
the most moderate and patriotic of that par
ty, konored me with their confidence and de-
sired to make me their candidate. For this
I to foot bat h..
tween them and me there was coincidence
of opinion upon certain important questions
of Government. They and ] agree in be-
ieving that the national government has
sovereign power over the Territories, and that
it would be impolitic and unwise to use that
power for the propagation of negro slavery
by planting it i'll free territory. Some of
them believed also that my nomination.
while it would tend to soften the tone of
the Republican party, without any abandon
ment of its principles might tend also to
generaliZe lis 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
concurred in opinion with them about the
government of the Territories These are
the grounds, and think the only grounds,
upon which | was supported at all at Chi
cago.
AS to the platform put forth by the Chi
cage, Convention, have little to say. be-
cause whether good or bad, that will not
constitute the ground of my support of Mr
Lincoln. L have no great respect for party
platforms in general. They are commonly
made in times of high excitement, under 81
pressure of circumstance, and with the view
to conclliate present support, 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 ma
ture; their power and influence are con-
sumed in the using, leaving no continuing
obligation upon their respective parties.
And hence we need not wonder that plat
forms so made, are hardly ever acted ont 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,
still far better than any published creed,
past or present, of the Democrats. And as
to the new party, it has not chosen to pro-
mitigate any platform at all, except two or
three broad generalities which are common
to the professions of faith of all parties in
the country. No party, indeed, dare ask
the confidence of the nation, while openly
denying the obligation to support the Union
and the Constitution, and to enforce the
laws. That is a common duty, binding up
on every citizen, and the failure to perform
it Is crime.
To me it is plain that the approaching
contest must be between the Democratic
and Republican PARTIES and, between them,
prefer the latter
The Democratic party, by the long pos
session and abuse of power, has grown wan
ton and reckless; has corrupted itself and
perverted the principles of the Government;
has set 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
and depots of commerce; and even now in
urging a measure in Congress to abdicate
the constitutional power and duty to rcgu-
late commerce among the States, and to
grant to the States the discretionary power
to levy tonnage duties upon all our COM
Inerce, under the pretence of improving har-
bors rivers and lakes; has changed thest
of the negro slave by making him no longer
mere property, but politician, an antaeon-
ISL power IN the State, power to which all
otner powers are required to yield, under pen
atty OF dissolution of the UDion: has di-
reeted its energies to the qualification of its