Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-06-21
@atlg alntelligeneer,
Judge Bates's Letter in Support
of Lincoln.
The Republican Standard Bearer
Warmly Eulogized.
Sd. LOUIS, juno u, 1850.
o. II. Broustnq, Esq.. Qnney, IN:

DEAR SIR:-When received your letter
of May 22d. l had no thought that the an
swer would be so long delayed; but, waiv-
ing all excuses, | proceed to answer it
now.
Under the circumstances of the case, it
ought not to have been doubted that l
would give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination
cordial and hearty support. But in de-
clarine my intention to do so, it ISduc to.
myself to state some of the facts and rca-
sons, which have controlling influence
| over my mind, and which l think ought to
be persuasive arguments with some other
men, whose political opinions and antece-
dents are, in some important particulars,
like my own.
There was no good ground for supPos-
ing that felt any pique or dissatisfaction
because the Chicago Convention failed to
nominate me. | had no such feeling
| On party grounds, had no right to expect
the nomination. had no claims upon
the Republicans as IL 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 Wing party,
which is now broken up and its materials,
for the most part, absorbed into other or
CARNATIONS. 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 Republicans, and
among them. | think. some of the most
moderate and pntriotic of that partv. hon
Orpd me with their confidence. and desired
| IN ol.o mo thc;r coDd;Iat. For This IA
ror wos ;rdohtnJ 10 tho foct that ho.
twaen thnr nnd mo tLora woe coinci-
6enco NJ orir;or r,,or corta;, ;,nrort,rt
onoStiono cf ,r0v.rnmont They and
a,rroe1 j., h..i;o,.;ncr +L"t tho rotjcnm rov-
crnmcut has sovereign power over the
| Territories, and that it would be impolitic
and unwise to use that power for the prop
agation of negro slavery by planting it in
free Territory. Some of them believed
also that NV nomination. while it would
tend TO soften the tone of the Republican
marty. without anv abandonment of its
principles. might tend also to generalize its
character and attract the friendship and
suDport of many. espcciullv in the border
States. who. like me. had never been
members of their party, but concurred
with them in opinion about the govern
meut of the Territories. These are the
grounds. and | think the only grounds,
upon which I was supported at all at
CHICAGO.
AS to the platform put forth by the
Chicapo Convention. have little to say.
! hncHnSG
constitute the pround of my support of
Mr. Lincoln. have no respect for party
uIntforms in general They are common
" made in times of high excitement, un-
der a pressure of circumstances, and with
the view to couciliuto present support,
rather than TO establish n permanent svs-
tenn of PRINCIPLES and line of policy for
the future good government of the coun-
try The conventions which form them
are transient in their nature: their power
or5 inancncc ore consumed in the using,
Ieoyinr NO continuing obligations upon
their rcsnective parties. And hence we
need not wonder that platforms so made,
ara hardly over acted ont in practicc.
shall not discuss their relative merits but
content myself with saving that this Re-
nubIi,on nIntform. though in several par
! t;cujorS If docs uot conform to nv views
ia StiIi far hettcr than any pubIished creed,
most mr. nrnsent of the Democrats. And
as to thc now marty. it has not chosen to
nromnlooto any platform at all. except
| Two mr. three broad peneralities which are
commnn m thn nrnfrSsionS of faith of all
I,r,;os IN ,Lo connirv M marty. indeed.
H"ro osi. tLo coniionce Of the nation.
I'LL o,,oriv d.nvirr tho oblipation to
.,',',,o.t tl,o Ir,ion oS5 tho Constitution
III 20 rcorco tho 1owc That ia n COM
NO., d,,+r L;,d;ro unon every citizen. and
tIo .Io" c.;Inyy,s H., 20 ,eriorp il is crime
'"T IT, l"roI Il 10 mlain that the approncbinr
contest lU H'g mnst ~ he che between the Democratic
oUI'siS ond Rc,Siican ""Si ma narties. and, between
,'"m thor, II profnr Gr,c The Latter
'"TiI, TLo nnmocrStic n1 air Nartv bv the long nos
soss;nr iHT and abnsc of hover. has grown
eSnto" ssSatn, onJ rectIesS. has rorrnntcd itself
""I,Vn wa ,"rvnrt.d the nrincinles Of the Gov
,.M '.,,rdent. has srt itself onenlv against the
,n""t hono intoroete of the nconIe. nv nc
ge,.s g,ie"t;ner ~ nrotect their industry, and by
glect;ng 70 md pro.eTs ."e,t hnon IN ordnr ,bc
[G.Issng %;, 20 6mI ,'I Jsn"ts " Of commerce: and