New-York tribune., 1869-03-27
OBITUARY.
EDWARD BATES.

Abraham Lncon's for the Republican nomination to
the Presidency in 1850, and who the next year was,
for the second time. rendered Cabinet Office; whs
rose to this high consideration without any
of the arts of the demagogue. even of the
popular poltician-who so retiring in his habits
and so little known to the masses outside his own
State that when President Fillmore offered him the
Secretaryship of War public men were found
dering who he was-and who passed from the Cabi-
net of Mr. Lincoln into such absolute retiracy that
it is not till SO hours after his death that the tele
graph agents discover and announce the event. The
dispatch. even now. simply announces that Edward
Bates, Attorney General under Mr. Lincoln, died in
st. Louis on the afternoon of the 18th inst.
Mr.. Bates came of Quaker family, who had lost
their position in that Church by of their hav
ing borne arms in the war of the Revolution. He
was born in Goochland County Virginia, sept.4 1923,
and was consequently in the 10th year Of
his age. He was educated under the
superintendent of Benjamin Bates relative.
of cultivated literary tastes. BY reason
of their military service during the Revolution the
family were able to command Government favor,
and when Edward was quite young he was ten
dered a midshipman's warrant This, however,
he declined While still young he served in
the Virginia militia at Norfolk for some six
| months. His elder brother Frederick Bates,
having been appointed Secretary of the new Terri
tory of Missouri Edward emigrated to that then dis
tant country, and under his auspices soon entered
upon the practice of the law. AS early as 1916 he
was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the ST. Louis
| Circuit, and in 1870 no had SO gained the conl-
dence of the community as to be
elected delegate to the State Constitu-
| tional Convention. Still higher professional
| distinction awaited him. Toward the close of the
same year he was appointed AttorneyGeneral OF tho
new State of Missouri. This Office he held for two
| years but then, under the temptation which the
| promises Of active political life held out. he
resigned and determined to enter politics. In 1872
he was elected to the lower branch of the state Leg
slature but in 1924 he again abandoned this to ao-
| cept the appointment rendered him by President
Monroe of State Attorney for the Missouri
District. Active political life still enticed him
| and IN 1896 while yet quite young man, he was
elected representative in Congress. He served but
one term. Soon afterward he was returned 70 the
State Senate of Missouri. The condition Of his
private fortune now compelled him definitely to
abandon all idea of further active political career,
and with occasional exceptions in the shape Of SER
| vices in the State Legislature, he devoted himself
for the next % 80 years almost exclusively to the
| practice of his profession. He here acquired high
legal reputation of local sort; but remained we'll
nigh absolutely unknown outside of the limits of the
| State of Missouri. In 1917, memorable internal
| Improvement Convention was held at Chicago. TO
| this Convention Mr.. Bates delegate, and here
for the first time he was brought forward so promi-
nently and favorably as to make q deep impression
| upon the country at large. The brilliant powers
which he there displayed, led men to form
| the highest opinion Of his future career.
Efforts were made to induce him again TO
enter politics. Long practice at the bar
| had however, untitled him for the rough and
tumble contests of the political arena. He had
| grown dignifed in his manners and conservative in
his habits of thought; and he was unwilling to con-
template actvepolitical service. In 1850 ArFimore
anxious to enice him from the barren obscurity Of
his Missouri practice, and deeply impressed by the
powers which he had displayed in tho Chicago In
! ternal Improvement Convention, offered him the
position of Secretary Of War; but he declined IL.
/ Three years later, he accepted the Judgeship Of
| the St. Louis Land Court, TO which he was
elected, and after holding it three years
decided also to abandon this. In 1856 his position in
the Whig party aud his standing before the country
were such that he was selected 10 preside over tho
| Whig Convention which met at Baltimore. -Four
years later he became himself, a prominent candi-
| date for the Presidency.
| Up to this time Mr.. Bates had been known solely
as Wing. In his youth he was ardent friend and
admirer of Henry Clay. He had favored the reelec-
ton Of Mr. Adams and had been elected TO Congress
as the friend Of that Administration lie had been
friend of the protective policy of Mr. Clay. had fol-
lowed that eminent statesman in his views concern
ing emancipation, and had his chief fame before
the country in the advocacy of the Wing policy
of internal Improvements. But when the
question of tho repeal Of the Mis-
souri, compromise was agtated, he earnestly
opposed it and thus. although his habits of mind
and tastes were eminently conservative, he became
identified with the Free Labor party in Missouri,
and was reckoned by them an ally, not only in meas
ures of State policy, but also in hostility TO the
admission of Kansas, under the Lecompton Consti-
tuition. With the growth of ant-Savery principles
in Missouri he gradually became more prominent as
one of the who were valued for the high per-
sona character they brought TO the movement, till
in 1859, when men began to cast about them
for Western candidate for the Presidency, to
be selected by the Republican party, Blr. Bates's
name r~A prominently mentioned. For time IL
seemed probable, at least possible, that the
opposition to Gov. Seward might concentrate
upon him. The State Of Missouri warmly supported
him. and his prospects at time thought to be
excellent. When, however, the Convention assembled
at Chicago the opposition to Mr. Seward rapidly
settled upon Abraham lincoln. On the first ballot
tho vote stood: for Seward 1874 for Lincoln. 102;
for Simon Cameron 50l; for Salmon =. Chase 40.
and for Edward Bates, 49, On the second balo Mr..
Bates had 35 and on the third %, his strength
gradually going over to Mr. Lincoln. ..I
When Mr. Lincoln after his election, decided upon
selecting the leading men Of the Republican party,
including those who had been his principal competi-
tors for his Cabinet the eminent reputation of Mr..
Bates as lawyer, induced his assignment to the
Office of Attorney General. In the Cabinet.
he played q dgnifed safe. and faithful, but not
spicuous part. He was not reckoned one Of the
Radical members and indeed tho extreme Radicals