Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-03-28
The constitutional Union Party ana
the Opinion Of MIR. Clay.

The Constitutional Union Party" of
Indiana-if there is such party in the
State-must feel placed in somewhat OF an
awkward position, when one of the most
able papers Of that party uses the follow
ing language as regards Mr.. Bates. who
has heretofore been regarded as one of the
most prominent men before the Baltimore
Convention, for the Presidency. The
Louisville Journal. speaking of Mr.. Bates
recent letter to the Chicago delegates of
Missouri, says as follows:
eff the main points of the letter of this
gentleman to the Chicago delegation OF
Missouri are correctly presented by the
telegraph, as we presume they are, he has
deliberately and formally subscribed to
every article in the Republican creed
Nay, be has not merely subscribed to the
entire Republican platform, but he has
subscribed to it in the peculiar Republican
spirit. "He is opposed to the extension OF
slavery" says the telegraph, land in his
opinion the SPIRIT AND POLICY OF TIE Gov
EMINENT ought TO be against its extension.
This covers the whole Republican ground
Ii settles the position OF Mr.. Bates deci-
sively. He is Republican and nothing
else. He is just as good or bad Republl-
can as Seward or Chase or Lincoln is. He
is Republican pure and simple. As such.
of course the Constitutional Union men OF
the South will scorn to touch him. He has
by a single blow severed every tie OF con-
fidence or of sympathy which connected
him with the Southern Conservatives"
The principal objection to Mr.. Bates on
part of the editor OF the Journal seems to
be, that "He is opposed to the extension Of
slarery," and that I'm his opinion the spirit
and poliey of the Government ought 10 be
against lis extension"
IL the Constitutional Union party, as a
party, is in favor Of the extension OF sla-
very, and thinks that the policy of the
Government ought not to be against it,
then, in our deliberate opinion, that party
will find bu. few sympathizers in any State
north of Mason d Dixon's line. If this
declaration Of opinions on part of Mr.. Bates
drives, at one "single blow" all Southern
conservatives from him, it will have like
tendency in driving from the nominee o.
the Baltimore Convention all Northern
conservatives If Southern conservatism
consists ia extending slavery into the Ter
ritories, then Northern conservative men
must unite with that party who oppose this
extension, and who are most likely to sue
coed in their efforts. We feel profoundly
obliged to the editor of the Louisville
Journal for this avowal of what is Southern
Conservatism. III he speaks the senti-
meuts Of the Southern American faction,
the Baltimore Convention. amid all Of its
Fourth Of July patriotism, will lay down
a slavery extension platform, and place a
slavery extension conservative on it What
candidate for national patriot to sup
porti
The Journal further says:
Looking TO the antecedents of Mr..
Bates, these liberal minded gentlemen Of
the South had right to suppose that he,
like his professed exernplar the illustrious
Clay, no matter what his private views
might be. rockoned total impartiality or
complete neutrality touching the extension
or non extension Of slavery as the most
solemn duty Of the Government in this re-
lation. They were firmly warranted. I'M
der the circumstances, in believing that
Mr. Bates, whatever might be his opinion
of Slavery in The abstract, would. as a con-
scientious practical statesman. insist on
the broad and equal and upright discharge
of the trust eonsded to the Government by
the organic law Of the nation. They were
entirely justified IN entertaining the belief
that Mr. Bates, like Mr.. Clay. would recog-
nize the great principles Of justice and Of
comfy as sacredly binding or the states
men of the Union. and would regard the
abolition OF slavery ia the District OF Co
lumbia and the exclusion OF slavery from
the common Territories as equally in vic
lation of the national trust, If nothing
graver This belief, however, Mr.. Bates
has now thoroughly dissipated; aud with
il. We conclude unhesitaiingly, he has dis.
sipated not less thoroughly all the hope OF
Southern counter ance and support that the
most ardent Of his well-wishers ever ven
fured 10 cherish in his behalf.