Worcester daily spy., 1860-03-13
THE NEWS FROM ST. LOUIS.

Intelligence from Missouri begins to correct
some of the Unauthorized statements that nave
been made in behalf of Edward Bates, as a
candidate for the nomination at Chicago
There has been a systematic use of false pre-
lenses, in order to mislead opinion and sympa-
thy, in the republican party, and thus prepare
republicans to accept MIR. Bates without much
inquiry. At first, it was said that he belonged
to the emancipation party Of Missouri; but
this was finally contradicted by authority. 1t
has been said, also, that the emancpahonsts
of that state were Unanimously" urging his
nomination. This statement, which thous-
ands have believed, was not only unwarranted,
but also contrary TO the truth, as every one
knew who read the st. Louis newspapers.
The proceedings of the republican state con-
vention at St. Louis, last Saturday, contradict
it so plainly, that it must now give way before
the truth
II Mr.. Bates himself cherishes the princi-
ples and aims of the republican party, he will
declare this fact unequivocally, before allow
ing his name to be used at Chicago. AT pres
ent, we know nothing about his position in
politics, save what may be fol nd in letter
he wrote last year to few old wings in New
York city and, that letter, we remember, was
sharply criticised by the republican press
Since that time, various persons have under
taken to speak for him. There was pronun-
ciamento from the st. Louis News, on the
strength of which the editor of that paper has
been at Washington all winter, begging the re-
publicans to make him house printer The St.
Louis Democrat, (which has strong local rea-
sons for favoring Mr.. Bates,) has made
statement. And general professions in his
behalf have been made by one or two letter
writers. But there is nothing from himself,
nothing for which he is likely to hold himself |
responsible. We do not know where he
stands. All that we know certainly is, that
he has never been spoken of, nor heard of, as
a republican. We do not say that he can not
honestly take such position as would enable |
republicans to support him without treachery
to their principles. But, we say he has not
yet done so.
AT St Louis, the attempt to bring him for
ward threatens to divide and demoralize the |
emancipation party. Our friends there who
have dreamed of permanent ascendancy in the
St. Louis congressional district, to be secured
by urging the nomination of Mr.. Bates, are
likely to realize from this policy more losses
than gains. And the disturbance threatened
there would be felt everywhere throughout the
republican party, if what the particular friends
of Mr.. Bates have planned for the Chicago con-
vention should be fully carried out They re-
quire us to take him as he stands, without
platform, and without pledges. An old Ger
man proverb says :-"Who let's one sit on his
shoulders shall have him presently sit on his
head" If we begin with such concessions to
the clustering spirit of slavery propagandism,
it will presently have everything its ownway.
Our power lies in our principles, and if we can
become so demented as to lay them aside, es-
pecialy in the nomination of candidate for
the presidency, we shall see the party broken
down. The old republican flag, which has
led the way to all our triumphs, is the sign by
which we conquer and shall we hide it now'
on the eve Of victory.
The question at Chicago will be question,
not of men, but of principles. Nowhere among
US is there the smallest encouragement for
those who may be willing to make the party
martyr to men," The only danger is from
these who would make it martyr to cow
ardce. There is nothing more impossible
than resurrection of the old whig party.
But the cowardly counsels, and the passion for
expediency, equivocation, and ambiguous
compromise, which made it impossible for that
party to succeed, and finally, led it to destruc-
ton, are still in existence and they will haunt
the Chicago convention. And nothing, else
so little worthy of federation or SO dangerous.
will venture to appear there.