Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-07-06
JUDGE BATES's LETTER IN SUPPORT
or LINCOLN.

81. lufts, June ID, lo1i.
y H. Broiraing, Esq., Qaiarg H
DrAn SIn--Whcn received your letter NJ May 2ld
bad no thought that the answer would bc 800 long de-
hycdi but, waving all excuses, proceed to answer
Under tho circumstances Of the case It ought not to
have been doubted that would give Mr.. Lincoln nom
iuaon cordial and hearty support. But DO declaring
my intention 20 do Is doe TO myself 90 state slmc Of
tc facts and reasons, which have controlling influence
over my mind, and which think ought TO- De persuasive
arguments with some other men, whose political opinions
and anoeedcuts are, In some important particulars like
my own.
There was good ground for tupr sing that frta any
pIquc dissatsacon because the Chicago Convention
failed 10 nominate had un such feeling on party
grounds, had right 10 expect the nomination, bad
claims upon the Republicans as party, for have
never been member Of any party, a. 90 Doe bound by
a. dogmas and subject 20 its discipline, except only thc
Whg party, which tx broken up andits material
Tor the most part, absorbed into other orgauzatnus-
And thus am lc, alone and powcrlcs, indeed but per-
mcty frce 10 follow the dictates Of my own judgment and
TO take such part in current politics my own sense oi
duty and patriotism may require. Many Republicans,
and among them, think some OF Che most moderate ana
patriotic Of that party, h1uorcd me with their confidence
and desired 60 make their candidate. For this Nor
was indebted 20 the fact that between them and me
There coincidence OF opinion upon certain mpor
flnt questions NJ government They and agroc in he
ryIng that the national government has sovereign pow
rr over the Territories, and that il would De impoc ana
unwisc 20 that power for Che PROPAGATION of negro
slavery by planting it in free Territory Some Of them
believed also that my nomination, while 20 would tend 90
soften the tone of the Republican party, without any
annndonmcni of us principles might tenl also W Rcnri
ailc It's character and attract the friendship aud support
OF many, especially In the border States who IKE mei
he'd never been members N their rArN ont f'hclfeh
with them in opinion about the government of the ler-
tories. These arc thc grounds and tniuk ine only
grounds upon which supported az aIi At Chicago
As 10 the platform put forth By the Chicago Conyen-
tom, have little 20 say, because whether good or bad,
Tinc,in b,ye rn ret rtssrt f,r ,frr,s In yoncr.
II 11,, 49, -,i,. .,,l a., ,i,l-s - Li,t ,,ci,o-
mont, under pressure Of circumstances and with tho
Xxx ,.., -, - ,,l.l,,ci,i,s 1rJ Ta, ,r rolie,
Tor the future good government Of the country The con-
d. ~ 1880, ,,J i,5,- s,, c,,s,,,,I In tbo usiur
lc,, M, g,,i,,;,, oliig,ti,p un,n their re.pcetiye
-.,@s Nj 49,, a., ,,ceJ 1ot v,o,ior b,t M, f,rrus
so made are hardly ever acted out in practice shall
. i, ,t,- ~ ,., ,.;ts h,, r,,,,,,t mo ,If ,,;,h
sa,ing lai his Rcnubean patf5rm though I'm several
r,rtiruisrs IL docs 1ot conform 10 INV views +, s FAR
b,,er tt,, ,,, bJ c-crd ,sst- ar r,reart of tbo
Dcrocrsts tpd ,s g. M c, Il,rty IL has not chosen
h., ,e,e sry nj. 4f,r,u AZ IN rv.ont Uo or threc
t1 ~" ,it;ot az. ,,,.,r a., tl,c Som.
~ fith IN ,i r,tic. i'm tbo country No n8rtv indeed
@ q y, a'i "P y y ~ w .t ,,i5, .lii ,',,,is J.,,,.
,, tb, ,f-,io, h.. .,or tl 'ri1r and tfa Consfit.
fi01 and fo rnflree fhe l,vs Thatis O. common ditv
binding upou cycry citizen ana tie failure 20 perform
h crime
10 one t s plain that the approaching contest must Dc
between uc Dcmorratic and Rcpu6iean parties; and
between thrn, / nrofrr d,o latter
The Democratic party by the long aud abuse
Of pger ba. rrosn ssrton ana reckless has corrupted
plf and ar,rtcd te rrincipes ~ h. rovcrnnent has
t tIf opcni soainst ths rea home inrres IS Of the
cf.iur IN inprove and keen in order the HIGHWAYS aud
lepots Of commerce; and even now is urging
aN Nm
A., m eusie ro,rrrco anon, the States and 10 eraut
n tbe states the discretionary poyer 20 lew tonnage du
dos ,r all or commerce under the urpfcuce nf im-
,,i bsrbors rivcre md lakes has changed tho sta
,,. ~ ,b ,o,r l,rc bv ,okiu,, him mo- LONGER mere
,,r,oer,v b1t a norian an anta,-onist mower in the
st, n,yr a., which ali other noy,ers are reauirod 10
,i.ii rlsr ner,itv m diseointinn Of the Uuon has
.oc,cl i,s oer,es IN tho 6r,,iou of lis ust N for
, d,,,,,i, , nanif,s,ed in id nerssiert forts 20
NY, ,,r tri,,I r,e,,,. nat boeaise those countries
, ,iei i,.1-r,,,s r,oc,e sro ree.sarv or even De-
stable m b. incnrn,r,tcd into our nation but for The
moro Tose Of kipp slave States i'm order DO advance
.irs NJ ,be plcrt a a. cf,e,tally no trapsfer the
rf yor M .he oernr,crt from tho many to the fcv;
ms in y,ria instances endangered the equality of the
riiratr r,ucics of he government hy urrcnt cIror.
W te mowers Of the Executive al The expenso Of
h Tri,tir, en,rtu,cft. i,a. ,tcru,3 t1 III scre,,it
,d l6,r,Jo fbc Jniiriary hv .Fctfnr 10 make it, at
sr.f no ariter ~ ,rfv otrres 81, become soon and
inevit,liv mo r,ssivo registrar ~ marty decrces
In most il not alI tboso parterl lrs understand the
Republican pary Gudsrt by its acts and by the known
i,ns M "a, ,r ~ its iu tnent IN o tho AK act o-
te N tbo DeI1asrnc p1rty and mat (. hc ground Of
INV oforcncc of fie ono marty over the other Aud that
,itr would he sufficient re.1u IL hlI mot other good
r,,,ns for s,lnnrtiny Mr. Lincoln against any man who
, he Dn f1rw,ri b no Dc1orr,tic rartv MS Che cN-
usucrt 0f 10. prnciplc and he agent % work out In
/ arsaiieo he d,rsaroiis p1lirics
re ,trl t,ty Win ID bv it worry frriatinn has de-
.,r,d te e ,f tl, A4,ofr.n ,UJ Wbirpar-
/ ,i b ,,.,5r,t,J tvr, ,,,g. ,y-eilort mo, kn1,y
t, ,yu g,,l stt.s,,.,, and fr,,o t,,triof. Moro
dian iry ,r,rs ,go served ,iih Them both in Com
. .r f-., nf ,ir,, IN tbis I baye ,lty- held them
p rsoort and honor DYt what ,,n ti, tfl urrty do
,o,.,rl. ,l. ,, ~ .ycr ot ,y,rfhy mon "a. these