Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-03-29
Response of Judge Bates.

ST. LOUIS, March II 1860.
To Messys Peter I. Foy, Editor Of The Missouri
Democrat; DR.. Berneys. Editor Of the Anzriger,
and other Gentlemen:
SrRs.-B. Graz Brown, ESQ.,, rs President Of the
Missouri State Convention, which sat in ST. Louis
on the tenth OF this month, has officially made
known to me the proceedings Of that body, and by
them am enabled to know some of you a, Dele
gates 20 the Chicago Convention, representing the
Republican party Of Missouri. i ~
have received your letter popounding to me
certain questions, (seyen in nualber) which you
suppose will cover most il not all, fhe grounds of
controversy in the approaching Presidential cleo
ton. ifll -, alIa Iif.R Hia
With pleasure I will answer your qucstions -
But before doing so, allow me to glance at the pc
culiar circnmstanccsin which am placed, and the
strangcness of the fact that 1, mere private man,
am called upon to make avowals and explanations,
with any view TO take p:e from the shades Of pri-
vate life anil place at the head of the nation.
came to this frontier in my youth, and settled in ST.
Louis when it was village. All my manhood has
been spent in Missouri, and during all that time
have followed profession which left my charac-
ter aud conduct open to the observation of society.
And while it has been my 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 never. obtrusively, thrust
myself forward in pursuit of official honors. have
held no political Office, and sought none, for more
than twenty FIVE years.
Under these circumstances confess the gratif,a-
ton which feel in receiving the recent NANTES
taion Of the respect and confidence of my fel-
low citizens. First. the Opposition members ofthe
Missouri Legislature declared their preference for
me as candids:e; then followed my nomination
by Convention composed of all the elements of
the Opposition in this State; and now, the Repub-
hcans OF Missouri in their separate Convention Just
held in st. Louis, have reafiirmed the nomination,
and proposed, by their delegates, to present me TO
thesN National Convention to be held at Chicago, as
candidate for the frs. Office in the nation. These
various demonstrations, in my own State, are doub-
~ gratifying TO ne, because they afford the strong
est pooofs that my name has been put forward only
In spirit Of harmony and peace, with the hope OF
preventing all division and controversy among
those, who. for their safety and the public good
ought 10 be united i'm theis action Q ..sfo >dl
Il For all this am deeply grateful. and. as Gar as
concerns me personally, must declare, in simple
truth, that If the movement 60 further and pro-
duce no n:tional results, still am paid and over
paid, for life labor, and for Whatever Of Jealous
effort and patient watching have been able 10 be-
stow in spport of line Of governmental policy which
believe to be for the present and permanent good
Of the country. ht N' ssne sL<sia 3er ~
And now. gentlemen, 1 proceed to answer your
questions, briefly indeed, but fully, plainly. and
with all possible frankness. And to do thia the
more willingly because have received from indi