Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-21
GNOrtester 9ailg SPY.
CAssIUs M. CLAY ON THE PRESIDENTIAL
QUESTION.

0S6SA4O4N'
To the Editor of the National Era Sir
l find the following going the rounds of the
papers =
The Bates Movement. of the Baltimore
Sun, writes from Washington that the Repub-
liean leaders have abandoned the purpose of
nominating Mr.. Seward, and have determined
to nominate Mr.. Bates of Missouri as Pres-
dent, and John M. Reed of Pennsylvania as
Vice President. The movement is very adroit-
In party sense, for it will vindicate the old
line wing and Industrial interests OF the Mid
die States. The purpose of the Republicans
to rally under the highly respectable candi-
dates above mentioned will be manifested at
meeting of the Republican National Commit
tee, which is to take place the present month";
know not whether the above comes from
friend or an enemy to the Republican cause !;
and had it not been attempted to lend the au-
thority of the National Republican Committee,
of which | am one, to its sinister purposes,
shoul have passed it in silence. But as it it
one of a series of attempts on the part of Eek
pSdency per Sc" men to destroy the vitality of
the Republican cause, l shall give it a passing
Iic-.Ss, and, for myself, repudiate its whole
tenor.
In the first place, no discreet friend of the
Republican cause, would, in advance, attempt
to prejudice the claims of any possible candi-
date of the party. Such is not the way of
justice and tair play; and, of consequence, not
the way of success
While have the highest respect for the
character of Mr.. Bates of Missouri and would
cheerfully support him if nominated by Re-
publican convention, l cannot allow that his
claims are to be put up as superior to those of
the fathers of the party. We allow him an
equality-no more. know not by what au-
thOrity the Republican leaders" at Washing
4. 1. 81, 7
venture to dictate a choice of candidates to
their peers, the great people of the Republican
party in convention assembled. Such Con-
gressional attempt is not new in the history of
this country, and its success was such, l think
as not to invite a renewal They will Of
course have such weight in the Convention as
their individual worth, intelligence and pub
lie service, will entitle them to, and no lmore.
So far as William II. Seward is concerned, l
have never been his partisan but know
nothing in his personal or political life which
would not as much entitle him to Old-Line
Wing" support as Mr.. Bates, unless it be lis
RepublicaniSm. And ii that disqualifies him
for their support, then hope that neither he
nor any other Republican will ever get it, |
trust the Republicans will never commit the
gross folly, the crime, and what an eminent
statesman thought worst-the "btunder"-of
allowing our enemies to choose either our
platform or our leaders,
have witnessed with the deepest indigna-
ton the attempt of Southern DULLES of the
Slave Democracy to degrade the distinguish
ed Senator of New York by SANDER and de-
nunciation, and to brighten, by threats of trea-
son, weak and timid men from his support
1t is natural that tyrants should fear and
hate their most potent foe. But l am not
yet ready to believe he will lose the confidence
and manly support of a single Republican on
that account So far as the "irrepressible
conflict" between free and slave labor or be-
tween freedom and slavery, is concerned it is
SO plainly true that had not supposed all the
habitual impudence and hypocrisy of the slave
propaganda would venture to deny or conceal
it All care to say on that head is, that, so
far as any man Of our party is concerned, if he
is fool enough not to see it, or coward enough
not to ayow it, he can never have my support
for any office. Our fathers, in forming a mix.
ed government, were not SO silly as to suppose
that self-government and the despotic princi
pie of slavery could forever co-exist-they
therefore looked and prepared for the extiDc-
ton of slavery, by their aspirations, their
laws, and their constitution. 1t is not the fault
of the Republicans if the old barbarian relic of
the dark ages, slavery, should refuse to die a
quiet dream, and be buried decently, but ven
ture upon an "irrepressible conflict" where it
Will NC hlChcu Out VI preScnCe Vi lIlC la"
tions and rot upon dung-hill So far as all
those boyish threats of dissolution are con.
cerned, upon the contingency of the election of
a Republican President, they will perhaps
brighten those who only see the lions skin /;
but to u.s. behind the scenes, the ass is too
plain for proper stage effect. l know not what
others may intend, but for myself, if Mr.
Wise, or Mr. JEFF. Davis, or any other man,
aspires to play the general" in such cause, as
some of their friends intimate, and which am
unwilling to believe, they will turn out ADLER
strategists than they have proven themselves
statesmen, il they manage to keep their necks
out of a halter In word, the Republicans,
when they constitute the numbers, the wealth,
the intelligence, the worth, of the country, will
rule the country and ifwar is the consequence
.-inevitable-I say. with Henry, Let it
come!"
If there is any such intention as imputed to
the National Committee, | am ignorant of it.
If they so far forget what is due to the trust
confided to them, as to play the partisan of
any man, or set of men, there is time enough
yet to undo their work. IN. CLAY.
Will the presses which have published the
above extract favor HsesiRy publishing my re-
ply? S.s
White Hail. Kus. Dfsfsss2ls 1853