The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-05
A CARD.

To the Editor of the National Era:
find the following, going the rounds of the
papers:
" The Bates Movement. - Ion, of the Bal
timore Sun, writes from Washington, that the
Republican leaders have abandoned the pur-
pose of nominating Mr. Seward, and have de-
termined to nominate Mr.. Bates, of Missouri, as
President, and Henry M. Reed, of Pennsylva-
MIA, as Vice President. The movement is very
adroit, in party sense, for it will conciliate
the Old Line Wings and the industrial inter
ests of the Middle States. The purpose of the
Republicans to rally under the highly respect
able candidates above named will be mani
tested at a meeting of the Republican National
Committee, which is to take place the present
month"
/ know not whether the above comes from a
friend or an enemy of 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, /
should have passed it in silence. But as it is one
of a series of attempts, on the part of "expedi-
ency per Sc" men, to destroy the vitality of the
Republican cause, / shall give it a passing no
tice, 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 JUS
tice and fair 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 a Re-
publican Convention, 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. l know not by what au-
q &c D. L. L.
ton If such be the truth, which l disbelieve)
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, think,
as not to invite a renewal! They will of course
have such weight in the Convention as their
individual worth, intelligence, and public ser.
vice, will entitle them to, and no more. Sc
far as William II. Seward is concerned, have
never been his partisan but know nothing
in his personal or political life, which would
not as much enttle him to cold Line Wing "
| support, as Mr.. Bates, unless it be his Repub
licdnism. And that disqualifes 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
| GuOug0C WOrS6-LQ6 OtiUQeT'--Ol allowing OUT
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 distinguished
Senator of New York by SANDER and denun
citation, and to frighten, by threats of treason
weak and timid men from his support
1t is natural that tyrants should fear and hate
their most potent foe. But am not yet ready
| to believe that he will lose the confidence and
manly support of single Republican on that
account. So far as the "irrepressible conflict
| between free and slave labor, or between Free
| dom and Slavery, is concerned, it is SO plainly
true, that l had not supposed that all the habit
ual impudence and hypocrisy of the slave
| propaganda would venture to deny or concea
| it Ali l care to say on that head is, that, Sc
far as any man of our party is concerned, if he
| is fool enough not to see it, or coward enough
| not to avow it, he can never have my supper
| for any office. Our fathers, in forming mixed
| Government, were not so silly as to suppose
that selfgovornment and the despotic principle
| of Slavery could forever coexist-they therefore
looked and prepared for the extinction of Sla
very, by their aspirations, their laws, and theil
| Constitution. 1t is not the fault of the Repub
| licans, if the old barbarian relic Of the darl
| ages, Slavery, should refuse to die quie
| death, and be buried decently, but venture upor
an irrepressibe conflict" where it will b,
kicked out Of the presence of the nations, and
rot upon dung hill So far as all those boy
ish threats of dissolution are concerned, upor
the contingency of the election of Republi
can President they will perhaps fighten those
who only see the lions skin; but to US, behind
the scenes, the ass is too plain for proper stag,
effect. know not what others may intend, bu
for myself, if Mr.. Wise, or Mr.. JEFF. Davis, %
any other man, aspires to play the general
| in such cause, as some of their friends intimate
and which l am unwilling to believe, they vii
turn out ADLER strategists than they have proven
themselves statesmen, if they manage to keel
their necks out of halter In word, tn
Republicans, sohen they constitute the numbers
the acealth the Intelligence, the acoyth, Of tn
country, ,0iU rule the country; and if war is thu
onsequence-inevitable- say, with Henry
| "LET 1T COME"
| If there is any such intention as imputed t
the National Committee, ] am ignorant of it
If they SO far forget what is due to the trus
confded to them, as to play the partisan of an
man, or set of men, there is time enough yet t
| undo their work.
| Will the presses which have published the
above extract favor me by publishing my reply
| C.M. CLAY.
| III