The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-03-29
SrlrtteO Sfllstrllanp.
From the Chicago Times
Bates, Of st. Louis.

Bates, Of st. Louis.
There is much more scrambling for the
Republican presidential nomination than,
considering the small chance, if indeed
there is any chance, of electing Repub-
lican president, is explainable on any OBJ
vious grounds, and far more than consists
with the safety of the Republican organi-
zation at best. The mud Of which it was
originally composed has not yet had time
to dry, and before it will be able to accom-
plish what it started out to do, not one
stone of that tottering tower will be left
standing upon another.
There is candidate for the Chicago
nomination in every state where the Re-
publican party and its dangerous heresies
are tolerated ,and in one or two of the states
there are two or three candidates. Mr.
Seward made his last speech, not to ad
vance the public good, or to explain and
enforce any measure OF government, but
to put himself on more commanding
hight in relation to the prize to be awarded
in this city in May next. He does not de-
sire the nomination in one event--viz: the
nomination of Mr.. Douglas--and still his
party may force the nomination upon him
in any event. The are thousands of Re-
publicans who know that as long as Sew
ard exerts controlling influence in shap-
ing their policy, their party will inevitably
continue in the minority, and they are
hoping to kill him off by running him for
the presidency-knowlng that he will be de-
faoto1 onI hot tho f,,.,ro bo ooo,ot H.
troublesome. So Stewards ambition and
his party's distrust seem likely to conspirc
to make him formidable candidate before
the Chicago Convention.
The east is full of candidates. Fessen-
den, of Maine, wants the nomination--Hale
of New Hampshire, would not refuse it
Banks, of Massachusetts, half expects it.
Collamer, of Vermont, has hopes of it
there are at least three anxious expectants
in Pennsylvania, and as many mere in New
Jersey. And in the west candidates are
plentiful. OEio has two, perhaps three;
Indiana has one; we don't know that Mich
igan is blessed with even one; but in Hi
nois there are two presumptuous men cal
ling themselves statesmen, who are look
ing with exhausting interest TO the forth
coming convention in Chicago Unless
Schurtz is taken up, We don't see but that
Wisconsin will be without candidate: for
Booth is in disgrace. Iowa has not yet
offered her man, nor has Minnesota not
that both these states have not men rs
good and every way as deserving of high
honers, as their more forward sisters But
these latter states are TOO modest by half
While they might at least compete for the
distinction OF leading the Republican col
umns in the presidential contest this fall,
some other and perhaps less deserving
state will carry off the honor unresisted.
At last, we come to Missouri. How does
ii happen that in "a state that never did and
never will cast vote for a Republican
candidate,is made conspicuous now by the
use of the name of one of her citizens
until recently, one of her slaveholding cit
izens-in connection with the presidency?
1t is calculated that by any means the
practical doctrines of the Republicans can
be engrafted on to the old stock of Missouri?
Then the calculation is falsely based
Even with Bates as the candidate, the Re-
publicans would have as little chance of
carrying that state as they would of sweep
ing over Virginia. But Bates is an aspi-
rant, and he has friends. He also has op.
ponents. One of the newspapers of St.
Louis. which is not it is presumed, very
friendly to him, not long ago alluded to
Bates slaves, land told how he happened to
be rid of them. The Evening Post of that
city says-and nobody there cortradicts
the assertion-that SO far from Bates ever
freely giving his slaves their liberty, sit is
uudeniable that they ran away from him,
and he used every means in his power to
recapture them We have, indeed, within
the last few days seen an irresponsible de-
nial of this statement in one of the Repub
lican papers of this city; but what does
such denial amount TO when weighed
against the ST. Louis Evening Posts ac-
count of transaction? But further still:
We have the word of another and very
highly respected paper, also published in
st. Louis, that what we have given from
the Poste is true. The Bulletin says that
these slaves ran away from him Bates,
and he used every means in his power to
recap:ure them. but they proved too smart
for the old chap Reader, if you ask
Republican who is posted whether Bates
ever freed his negroes. y'u will get for an
answer-'His sister freed her negroes
If that answer will satisfy the Republicans
of honest abolilionist convictions, we, GER
tainly. will not complain And if the
Republicans choose to put old Mr.. Bates
on the the track, there is no man among
them all whom Stephen "A. Douglas could
run over, more easily or beat more sound
ly.