The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-06-28
JUDGE BATES LETTER IN SUP.
PORT OF LINCOLN.
THE REPUBLICAN STANDARD BEARER WARM
LY EULOGiZED.
Sr. LOUIS, June IL. 1860.

ST. LOUIS. June IL. 1860.
o. II. Bro,rning. Esq., Quincy. H.:
DEAR SIR: When l received your letter
of May 22d. l had no thought that the an
swer would be SO long delayed; but. waiv-
ing all excuses, | proceed to answer it
now.
| Under the circumstances Of the case, it
ought not to have been doubted that 1
would give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination a COR
dial and hearty support. But in declaring
my Intention TO do SO. it is due myself to
state some Of the facts and reasons. which
have controlling influence over my mind.
and. which thiuk. ought to be persuasive
arguments with some other men. whose po-
litical opinions and antecedents are, in some
important particulars, like my own.
There was no good ground for supposing
that fclt any pique or dissatisfaction be-
cause the Chicago Convention failed TO NOM
mate me. 1 had no such feelings. On par
ty grounds. had no right to expect the
nomination. l had no claims upon the Re-
pubhcans rs q party. for l have never been
a member of any party. SO az TO be bound
by its dogmas and subject to its discipline.
except only the Whiy party. which is now
broken up and its materials. for the most
part. absorbed into other orgauizations.-
And thus ! am left, alone and powerless in
Of my own judgment and to take such part
in current politics as my own sense Of duty
and patriotism may require. Many Repub-
hcans, aud among them, think. some Of
the most moderate and patriotic Of that par.
ty. honored me with their confidence, and
desired to make me their candidate. For
this favor was indebted TO the fact that be-
tween them and me there was a coincidence
OF opinion upon certain important questions
/ of government. They and l agreed in be-
lieving that the national Government has
sovereign power over the Territories, and
/ that it would be- impo!i;ic and unwise to use
tnat power for the propagation OF negro
slavery by planting it in free territory
Some Of them believed also that my nomi-
nation, while it would tend TO soften the
,one of the Republican party. without any
abandonment of its principles, might tend
also 10 generalize its character and attract
the friendship and support OF many. espe-
cially 10 the border States. who like me,
had never been members of their party. but
concurred with them in opinion about the
government Of the Territories. These are
the grounds, and think the only grounds,
upon which was supported At all At Chi
cago.
As to the platform put forth by the Chi
"
because whether good or bad. that will not
constitute the ground of my support Of Mr.
Lincoln. have no great respect for party
Platforms 10 general. They are commonly
made in times of high excitement, under
pressure of circumstances, and with the
view TO conclliase present support. raj her
than to establish . permanent system of
principles and line OF policy for the future
good government Of the country. The con-
ventioDs which form them are transient in
their nature; their power and influence are
consumed in the using, leaving no continu-
ing obligation upon their respective parties.
And hence We need not wonder that plat
forms so made. are hardly ever acted out in
practice. 1 shall not discuss their relative
inertia, bot conteut myself with saying that
this Republican platform, though in several
particulars it does net suit nv views, il st,;l
Tar better than any puhlished creed, past or
present, of the D-mocrats. And q to the
new party. it has not chosen to pfomnlgate
any platform At all. except two or three broad
geneyaliiies which are common to the pro-
fession, Of fsish Of all parties IN the coua-
try. No party. indeed. dare ssk the conf
dence OF the nation. while opsnly denying
the obligation to support the Union and The
Constitution. and 70 enforce the laws-
| nag - = common oufy. hm0sn1 upO0 eve
y citizen, sad The failase to perform IL = .
crime. -f
| To me il n Psain tha. the approaehing
contest must Be between the Democratic and
Rspnbiieaa parties: and between them. pre-
fer the lak1sx. es . -
The DeDoeraiic party. by ths lssg pos
session and ab0se of power. has grown vas-
ton and rscAlsss; has corrupted itself and
lpersasssa The pziaaplss Of shs Govssnnsss;