Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-06
ETTER FROM HON. EDWARD BATES
OF MISSOURI.

Democrat. DR.. BcrRays, Editor Of The IN
zciger, and other gentlemen:
SrRs :-B. Crate Brown, Esq, as President
of the Missouri State Convention, which sat
in st Louis on the 10th Of this month, has
officially made known to me the proceedings
of that body. and by them ! am enabled to
know some of you as delegates to the Chiea-
20 Convention, representing the hepuolican
party of Missouri.
have received your letter propounding to
me certain questions (seven in number winch
YOU suppose will cover most, If not all, the
grounds of controversy in the approaching
Presidential election.
With pleasure ! will answer your questions.
But before doing 30, allow me TO glance at
the peculiar circumstances in which ! am pac-
cd, and the strangcncss Of the fact that !,
mere private man, am called upon TO make
uvowals and explanations with any view TO
take INC from the shades Of private life and
place me at the head of the nation. ! came TO
this frontier in my youth, and settled IN ST.
Louis when it was village. All my man
hood has boon spent in Missouri, and during
all that time ! have followed a profession
which left nv character and conduct open to
the observation of society And while il has
been nv constant habit freely to express my
opinion of public measures and public men,
the people of Missouri, of all parties, will
bear me witness that ! have mover obtrusively
thrust myself forward in pursuit of official
office, and sought none, for more than twenty
five years.
Under these circumstances, ! confess the
qualification which ! feel in receiving the re-
cont manifestations Of the respect and conf
dcnco OF my fclluw-citizens. First. the oppo-
ution members Of the Missouri Legislature
fl.r mo nd n gauflt-
date then followed my nomination by a con-
vcntion composed of all the elements of tho
opposition in this State and now, the Repub-
licans of Missouri, in their separate conven-
ton, Just held in st Louis have reaiiirmcd
the nomination and proposed, by their dele
gates 90 present me to the National Conven-
ton soon TO be held at Chicago, candi-
date for the first office in the nation These
various demonstrations in my own State arc
doubly gratifying 70 me because they afford
the strongest proof that my name has been
put forth only in a spirit of harmony and
peace. and with the hope Of preventing all
division and controversy among those who,
for their own safety and the public good,
ought TO be united in their action.
For all this am deeply grateful, and, as
far as concerns me personally, must declare,
in simple truth. that IL the movement go no
further and produce no national results, still
/ am paid and ovcrpaid for life Of labor
and for whatever of Jealous effort and patient
WATCHING have been able 10 hestow i'm sun
mort of a line of governmental policy which /
bohrvc to ho for tbr presont and permanent
good of the country.
And now. gentlemen. proceed to answer
vour question. briefly indeed. but fully. plain
/, and with all noss;ble frankucss And |
H. pis ,bo mo-, ,,;llin,ly hecauso have re-
,.i,.J rror, i,l;y;dnsIs r,apv lottors ltoo
r,oy 20 bo .cr,r,toly ,,.v,cred and have
.n IT,, -,,,, ,,rl,I;c ;o,,r,ols ar,iclos making
-. a.li. 49,, ',,- s,.h s,,toment of
-
So sox,o,s;or &, tho 'rorritorio.
N, ia. syttoc, /, bc States and in the
r...,,.r:os I,,c M, rc,, opinions formed in
r,I,,;,, ~ ,tc ,,o.crt array of narties. am
.,.t H.. ,f;..,..r; ,,,.c. ian ortsto %
h,,ir- hon, ,, r,li,;coi lilo in the midst of
r., ,;r,o r,, r,s;tio, no.
;.,I .,,, .,,l iii tbo NOM. of knovled,e
.tt- .a,-t, .,'i -, s,,I,. tho rr;ncinios
;..,,l,od ,.;G. an ho ,o,yr,. M INV mind
na1 s-,;,od ~. ,,,rI,. o,s hcn which mo-
.nL.co,'.rt e,s,,t. ba.yo induced me 10 cban,e.
:.,.,.,, ', ,,l,,,. .l,ys,, n, ,,,r c,,,r,r,
lille t...,;,rio. In n,o o.iv t,,,s of tho
i.oi,. anal ,,. ir,,..c1 liz the r,other
,,,n,r, ,,,ip.t tbs ,yiu or most or the colo
r.,s A. ,bc tin,c of tbo Reyolltiop. and
Ior- amer il v,,. commonly REGARDED as an
c.I ,c,,,orory in its nature and likely TO
d,.n,,c,r in tbc course Of time. vet while it
continued y, misfortune to tbe country. so-
cislly and politic,Iy
Tinsyas 4 t,,,,bt NV tlose. who m,do our
qovcrnro,t and mother the pov li,bt of
modern civilization. nor the discovery of a
NOW syston of constitutional law and social
,,b;i,sc,by ma. enabled mo 10 detect the err
ror of NOR teach;n,
Slavery is e., social relation-a domestic
;,stitution Within the States it exists by
the local lav. and the Federal Government has
mn control over il tbero. The Territories.
whether acouired by conquest or poacoable
rur,ba.c are subject and subordinate-not
loy,r,;,, Inc III, S,,tos Tho nation i,
s,,rc,,o ovor tncr and the national Govern.
re,t has tho ,oy,cr IN nrrmit or forbid slave.
rv y;,lip tbctn Entertaininq these views
am opposed TO the extension of slavery. and
in INV opinion the shirt and policy of thc
government oupht to be against lis extension.