The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-10-17

OF civil war and civil war, as our people
are now divided, would be sure to run into
social war that IS, var IN States, couur
tics, nelghborhoods, and +bc0 that human
power could prevent thc borrnT ut 4 >erYjle
war. However much I mag differ from
many Of our Southern brethren upon certain
points of governmental policy, | rely upon
their wisdom aud patriotism TO put down
the few desperadoes among them, and thus
prevent the initial crime which, If allowed
to be successfully committed, would imperil
the worlds last hope OF Republican
Freedom, aud would not fail to draw 10 its
train the complicated horrors Of civil, social
and seIYile war.
rely, say, confidently upon the virtue
and patriotism of the Southern people but
even il these were wanting, | would still
rely upon their plain reason aud com mon
sense, for none but mad men would teach
their slaves, 10y their own bad example,
bow to rise in bloody rebellion, against
lawful authority.
Knowing our earnest devotion to the
Union, and our willingness to make great
sacrihceo to preserve il, the plan of intimid-
alton is still pursued, and appeals are still
made to our fears, and men do it who ought
to know better, and do know better but
Z I
as taught in the Court of King Charles the
Second, they assume as true that
g Most men towards all men should Be knsves
and all the subject matter of debate
Ia, only who's the knAye of the first rats"
( And they act as if they expected US to be-
I lieve, upon their interested testimony, two
very false and debasing propositions. First
that if Lincoln is elected, there will be re-
| bellion in the South, and second, that oul
I Gloearnua1rf "a ooIr ff,,t
| it cannot maintain itself and execute the
/ laws-and all this ia done as a clever trick
| to frighten Lincoln men from the conclusion
of their own Judgment and conscience, and
/ drive them to vote for some other candidate
/ to whose support they could never be
| brought by any motive more respectable
than Fear, that at best, even when gen.
uine and honest, is a debasng passion, and
makes men do great many mean things
! which when the fit is of they are ashamed
| of. Bot'fear, unreal and feigned, simulated
| only as a cover and excuse for some mean
action, is despieably vile. Hypocrisy, even
| when it pretends to be virtnous and brave
is bad enough, but the hypocrisy offear anC
cowardice is the last poor artifre of con
scious imbecility.- You suggest in your let
ter that there may be a class of men whG
really desire the election of Mr. Lincoln, bu
are deferred from his support by fear-th'
fear that passionate and unjust men will
! impute to them bad motives-the yagu,
fear eDgendered in weak minds by the per
sistent SANDERS against Mr. Lincoln, imput
I ing to him not bad acts nor bad professions
I but secret bad intentions, at war with hi
acts and profession, and with the tenor o
his life and you seem 10 think that ~,
views of the subject might be helpful t,
such men, | doubt it for Ihave little sy IN
pathy with men who lack the moral cour
age to act ont the honest conclusions of Ihei
own minds. advise every man, however
to do what try to do yself--eareflll,
make up his mind which OF the candidates
under all the circumstances, be would rath
err have for his President, and then frankl,
support that candidate against all opposers
let who will carp nr censure. That is cor
tainly the course of honesty, and | think
as certainly the only course of safety. Fo
the man who begins by forfeiting his owl
self-respect, by humanity yielding to th,
dictation OF others, will be seen in the en-,
to get what he deserves, the contempt OF tn
very men who cowed him into submission
Let every man, then, who really prefer
Lincoln, support him frankly and aboy
board then success will be virtuous tri
umph, and defeat will be no dishonor
Gost respectfully, your fellow citizen,
EDWARD BATES.