Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-06-27
WHOLE NO. 920-.
From the Missouri Democrat.
JUDGE BAFRS'S LETTER TN SUP
PORT OF LINCOLN.gaC1 sci
THE RRpUBL1CANs STANDARD BEAR
-.1-uz Err WARMLY, EUL0GIZED.

THE RRpUBL1CAN STANDARD BEAR
-a17qz sER WARMLY, .EUL0GIZED-
.-sa-.' Va.-- ST. Louis. June II, 1860
%. r. ByoSnins. Esq, Quincy. R.'
. DEAh SIh When I, received your lette
Of May 22d. had no thought that the an
swef would be oiong delayed; but waiv
ing al excuses. r proceed 10 answer it now
Under the circumstances Of the case. I
Nought not TO have been doubted that
wosfd give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination I
cordial aud hearty support. But in decis
ring to 90 SO, It is due to myself to state
some Of the facts and reasons, which have
a centroiling influence over my mind, and
(which I think ought to be persnavine argu
ments with some other men, whose poilti
-caf opinions and antecedents are, in some
important particulars. like my own.
There was no good ground for supposine
that felt any pique or Dissatisfaction be-
cause the Chicago Convention failed TO
noainate me- had no such feeling. On
party grounds. Il haduo right to-expect the
nominstiou. r had no claims upon the
Republicans as party. for ! have never
been q member Of any party, so as to be
bound by its dogmas and subject to its dis
cipline. except only the whig party. which
is now broken up and its materials. for the
most part. absorbed into other organizs-
= tions And thus am left, alone and pow
erless indeed. but perfectly free to follow
the dictates of my own Judgment and TO
take such part in current politics as my
own sense Of duty and patriotism may re
quirs. Many Republicans. aud among
them. think, some Of the most moderate
and patriotic OF that party. honored me
With their confidence, and desired to make
me their candidate. For this favor I was
indebted to the fact that between them and
me there was coincidence Of opinion up
on certain important questions OF govern
ment. They and ] agreed in believing that
the national government has sovereign
power over the Territories, and that it
would be impolitic and unwise to use that
power forthe propagation Of negro slavery
by planting it in free. Territory. Some of
them believed also that my nomination,
while it would tend to soften the tone of
the Republican party, without any aban-
donment of its principles. might tend also
to generalize its character and attract the
friendship and support OF many especially
IN 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 I think the only grounds,
upon which / was supported at Chicago.
As to the platform put forth by the Chi
esgo Convention. / have little to say, be.
cause whether good or bad, that will not
constitute the ground Of my support of Mr..
Lincoln. l have no great respect for party
platforms in general. They are commonly
made in times Of high excitement, under q
pressure Of circumstances, and with the
view to couciliate present support, rather
than to establish a permanent system OF
principles and libe Of policy for the future
good government Of the country. The con-
ventions which form them are transient in
their nature their power and influence are
consumed in the using. leaving no contin
uing obligation upon their respective par
ties. And hence we need not wonder that
platforms so made. are hardly ever acted
out in practice. I shall not discuss their
relative merits, but content myself with
saying that this Republican platform
though in several particulars it does not
conform to my views, is still far better than
any published creed, past or present, OF the
Democrats And as to the new party. i
has not chosen to promulgate any platform
at all, except two or three broad generali
ties which are comnon to the professions
b of faith of all parties in the country. Nc
party, indeed, dare ask the confidence o.
the nation, while openly denying the obi
CATION to support the Union and the Con
stitution, and to enforce the laws. That il
common duty, binding upon every citi
zen, and the failure TO perform il is
= crime. s- ..-
To me it is plain that the approaching
contest must be between the Democrati
and Republican parties; and. betwee'
them. prefer the latter. a
The Democratic party, by the long pos
session and abuse of power, has grow
wanton and reckless; has corrupted itsel
and perverted the principles of the Govern
ment; has set itself openly against tn
great home interests of the people, by ne
glecting to protect their industry, and b
refusing to improve and keep in order th
highways and depots of commerce an
even now is urging a measure in Congre'
TO abdicate the constitutional power an
duty to regulate commerce among th
states, and to grant TO the States the dii
cretionsry power to levy tonnage duti'
upon all our commerce, undeo the pretent
ofimproving hsrbors, rivers, and lakes
has changed the status of the negro sla'
by making him no longer mere Propert.
but a politician. an antagonist power
the State, power 10 which all other pov
ers are required to yield, under penalty OF
dissolution OF the Union /; has directed !
energies 70 the qualification of its lusts
foreign domain, as manifested 10 Its pc
sistent efforts TO seize upon uopicai
gions, not because those countries an
their iDcopgruous people are necessary
even desirable. to be incorporated into o
nation, but for the mere purpose of 'Dsklr
slave States, in order TO advance the poll
ical power Of the party 10 the Senate al
IN the choice of the President, so as effe
tusliy TO transfer the chief powers OF
yosernmspt from the many % the Few; b
iu various instances endangered the equ'
ity Of the co ordinate branches oftbe 60
srumeDt, by urgent efforts TO enlarge
powers Of the Executive at the expense
the legislative department. has attempt
% discredit aud degrade the Judiciary
affecting 70 make it, at first, the arp'ter
party quarrels to become soon and ineVi