New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-06
MR.. BATES INDICATED AS A REPUBLICAN.


WAsHrScros, Saturday, March 3, 1860.
Every candid man in the country must admit that
The TRIBUNE hs treated the names Of gentlemen pro-
posed ar Republican candidates for the Presidency
with singular fairness and justice. If anything
uuanHity and happy result of the deliberations
of the Nstana Republican Convention at Chicago, the
course ii is pursuing viii certainly gucceed
But as friend of Edward Bates Ihave somewhat
against The TsIBUSE. , viii easily convince you
that you have not done Mr. Bates jngce in admitting
that any in the nation 10 thoroughly than he
representative Of the principles Of tse Republican
party. Your language on this subject has been about
this If the Republicans deem themselves sufficiently
strong to carry their candidate by the force Ct
their principles and their sole party organization,
then Mr. Seward or Mr. Chase should be the nomi-
nee at Chicago. But If there is doubt of success in
presenting purely Republican candidates, then it
viii be the part Of wisdom TO nominate Mr.. Bates,
rho has not been identified pHk the Republican
party, but who will be cordially supported by the
Opposition of Missouri, and by thousands of others
whose votes on our side could not otherwise be OBJ
toned" 1t is upon this admission that the editors of
The New-YOrk Corier and Enquirer and Of the
AJendzeitung have charged you with willingness to
sacrifice the principles of the Republican party merely
for the gross and unworthy end of obtaining possession
Of the Offices of the Government.
Let me a.k you in what particular Mr.. Bates is not
truly snd purely representative of the principles
Of the Republican party ss Mr.. Chase, Mr. Seward
himself l understand that the cardinal principle of
the Republican party is opposition to the extension Of
Slavery over the Territories. mr. Bates has stood
upon that principle always, and unswervingy as
any man in the nation. He has opposed, and does OPP
pose, the Slavery propagsndism Of the Democratic
party as sternly as Mr.. Chase, Mr.. Seward or any
Republican living.
But if Republicansm means more than mere opposi-
ton to the extension of Slavery-which is sort of
negative posiuon-if it means an enlightened and
Christian protest against the institution itself,
relic of barbarism,' then let me ask you who
zobly represents that Republican idea than Edward
Bates of Missouri, who, born TO the heritage of Slsy
cry and swathed from bis cradle in the preudices in
favor of the slave system yet had the moral ken to
zee through its pernicious nature and the moral
age amid slsvehoding people, to uncoil the folds Of
the ydra from around his household and stand forth
an Emancipationst in practice years before the great
lights Of the Republican party" such as Mr. Seward
and Mr. Chase had elevated the grounds of emanepa
ton into lusrious political principles Why, twenty
years ago. twenty years before the present Republican
party was formed or thought of, Edward Bates held
and was quietly working out in practice the funda-
mental principles of Repubicanism. Mr. Bates is in
deed one of the Fathers of the Faith, of which Mr.
Seward and Mr. Chase are certainly honored and able
apostles.
But let ask further in order TO arrive at the true
luster Of Mr. Bates's position-Does Republicapsm
mean even something than the non-extension Of
Slavery and something more than protest against
the institution itsef relic Of bsrbarsml" Does
it mean, also positive vindcaton of Free Labor,
the only honest agency by which man may elevate
himself in society Then what ia the record of Mr..
Bates this point Not only did he emancipate all
the slaves that into his possession but he
old it wisely and hnnaney, as welconsidered
scheme Of life. He did not turn them adr ignorant,
helpless and unprovded for, to become paupers and
pest to society but he carefully instructed them, and
prepared them for freedom and established them as
well as he could in life that they might be sefsup-
porting, and useful to society And one of them at
east-a intelligent boyle educated thoroughly, and
sent to Liberia to be what he really is-a missionary
of civilization and Christianity among the heather
tribes Of his kindred race. While Mr.. Bates was
doing ills work Of Humanity for dependent class by
his unaided Free Labor he at the time rear
ing and educating one of the largest families of his
own that God ordinarily gives to men. Excuse me
that / mention here the particular fact that
the wife of Mr.. Bates, South Carolina lady, has
borne him in their long married life seventeen children,
eight of whom survive Consider these two families,
Sir the White and the Black, that Mr.. Bales has pro-
vided for as Christian father and phianthropist and
tell me what citizen Of this great republic has more
gloIously illustrated the dignity and power Of Free
Labor Is it any wonder that Mr.. Bates has always
been poor-too poor to be politician and an office
seekertoo poor to occupy seats in Congress and in
Cabinets which he had the opportunity to occupy, but
declined because he had "work to do" and could not
afford to hold office Let any candid and rue-hearted
man in the world consider the relative efforts Of Mr.
Bates, Mr.. Chase, and Mr.. Seward, toward efectpg
wise and Christian solution of the great problem of
Human Slavery in our Government and the COMPARE
tive trying circumstances Of their individual relations
to it, and my word for II, he will hail Mr.. Bates
very Paul among the apostles of Republicanism-the
tue Jeilersonan Repubicansm which it is the desire
and purpose Of the present Republican Party to re-
store. And Mr.. Chase and Mr.. Seward will hail this
award with manly pride and fraternal sympathy.
Mr. Bates may not be the man TO lead the Republi-
cans in the next canvass though you and might hold
that for many good he should be- not the least
Of which ia the absolute certainty Of his election II he
should be the nominee at Chicago. But if he IL not
selected as the standard bearer let not be said that
is because he is not identified with the Republican par
ty, and is no fit representative of its principles y
putting aside Mr. Bates such grounds, the hepu'n
can party would be doing grieyous wrong 10 Aee''
and fragrant iIjusce to one OF the most 49,
adyocates of Human Freedom, aud indicators VI N'
nowey and duty OF Free Labor that this age mas Pio
ducsd Mr. Bates is QoTiously identified Win eerani
p.uciples in regard to Slavery and Freedom 'n0y
sro NO, tbe principles of Republeansn, 80 much worse