The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-11-01
From, the Keohcuk Gate City. Sept. %.
LETTER FROM JUDGE BATES.
Another able md poaoerfuI reUieso Of TIL
politics Of tie day.

! AHOtHeT 0Ote ma fOLCeIJU6 TeC2e9C OT N
politics Of tie dag.
ST LOUIS, Sept. Is, 1860.
To the Republican Com mittee of Keokuk
Iowa, Messrs. j. N Rankin. William
S. McGavic, j B Howell. George w
McCrary. and John N Noble.
SirS "A few days ago | had the hon
or to receive your letter OF September 3
informing me that a mass meeting Of Re
publicans of Iowa. Illinois and Missouri
is expected to be held at Keokuk, on the
10th day Of October next, and inviting
me in urgent terms to be with you on thai
occasion, and address the multitude, >
which you expect to be very large.
l thank you, gentlemen, for this mark
Of your respect, but beg you to excuse my
nom atte ndan
The simple truth is that / cannot afford
to attend. | answer you as [ have al
ready answered many others. that AN
under a necessity to return to my profes
sioual labors, which for more than a year
have been too much Interrupted by the
excitemen ut of politics was unwitting
! ly drawn into the discussion of public al.
fairs, without any wish or intention to
take an active part in the canvass for the
/ Presidency.
In so far as nay he thought able to
exercise any popular influence, | suppose
the work is already done.
Five letters of mine. bearing upon the
subject. are already 10 print and before
the public. Those letters, as far as they
GO. express ny opinions of men and nea.
sures in all sincerity.
| stand by the doctrines which they
declare, and when they fall, Gf fall they
must), | an willing to fall With them.
never was willing to make the question Of
Negro Slavery in the Territories. and
consequently, the government of the ter
ritories themselves, the dominant question
of the country, overriding and swallow
ing up every consideration of popular in
terest, national policy, and constitutions
law.
Bat the Democratic party would have
it so. 1t has pertin naciousl y sgitsted the
slavery question. in its most dangerous
form, by using all the means in its power
to acquire tropical countries, with their
mixed and ungovernable people, for the
sole purpose of turning them into Slave
States.
1t wantonly repealed the Missouri
/ Compromise, which had been the bond o.
peace for the third of century: aud il
destroyed the compromise Of 1850, under
which the nation rested in quietness and
peace. 1t did all it could to pass the
wicked Lecoupton bill, and did actually
pass the despicsble English bill. and foil
ed in these dishonest measures. it still
keeps Kansa. out Of the Union, for th'
apparent purpose of suppressing its sot'
10 the pending Presidential election. L
labors to establish as sound doctrine il
law and politics, the mon-trous heresy
that the Constitution Of the United State
establishes slavery in all our Territories
and keeps it there beyond the reach of al
human power as long as the country re
IL AIMS in a Territorial condition, and
/, large portion of that country, including
, Kan-as and Nebraska, has remained II
that condition for more than half cen
, tury 1t assais, with violence, the free
dom of speech and the press, and violate
the sancnty OF the posto ofie, because 1T
either conscious Of guilt, and therefore a
fraid to face the truth. or is too timid an
!, weak to ueet and put down error an
falsehood.
1t has not learned what Jefferson tau eh
, terror may be safely tolerated whe
truth is left free to combat it," But j
blind zeal for the defense of opinions an
ideas, iu themselves indefensIble, it strike
boldly at those fundamental right upo
& which all our hopes of civil and religion
q liberty are bssed-free opinion, free loco
, motion, aud free press.
. l bavo long believed that party who's
. character is masked by SO many disqus
a flying vices is unfit to rule free peop
= aud, therefore, it was ny earnest wish
+ see all the elements Of opposition brougl
a into harmonious action for its overthrow
q by the election to the Presidency of sou
Il safe patriotic ms1, untainted with the b'
bitus vices of that dangerous party.
III Ny efforts in that direction have n
only been unsuccessful, but result e;
4 sctly opposite is pow sought to be broug
about by biuing the most oppo-I
and hostile parties and factions for Il
avowed purpose of defeating Mr.. Lncolr
eleetion-not for electiog any other nj
by the people, for that, under existil
al circumstance, is hsrdly possible. III
4. schem me to defe at Lincoln but elect nobod
j. seems based upon principle entirely ne
IS in American policies. though we'll unde
se stood in American trade.
sr 1t is principle of joint stock comp
| ny, in which each subscriber lin ca
r, there is any profit in the adsenture). is
be draw dividend in proportion to his sto
ds iD trade.
at Thus, 10 the political company late
er formed 10 the great CON Uerciai State
re New York land it is ruuored th
there are other like companies 10 ott
States. } the stock of which is divided II
es thirty. FIVE shares, it has been publi'
IA