Heroes of The Civil War: Edward Bates

Having lived from 1793 to 1869, Bates was the Attorney General in Lincoln’s cabinet who, as a moderate devoted to the rule of law, found himself at odds with the more radical Republicans. Bates had been raised in the Quaker tradition, and this seems to have influenced many of his later actions. He settled in Missouri and by 1816 he had started his career in law.

When he moved into politics, he made his views known gradually in speeches and articles, speaking against any repeal of the Missouri Compromise or the admission of a of a pro-slavery Kansas.

By 1860 he had become a Republican of sufficient reputation that he was a serious challenge to the nomination of Lincoln. His reward for stepping aside was to have a choice of any cabinet position except that of State, which was claimed by Seward, and Bates choose to be Attorney General. Bates, however, holds claims to another distinction. He is the first man from the west of the Mississippi to serve in any US cabinet.

Bates soon fell out with Lincoln but not over the conduct of the war itself nor over the issue of slavery. It was over what Bates saw as the encroachment of the military on the constitutional rights of all citizens. Bates also found that strong-willed and influential cabinet members such as Seward, Stanton and Chase were all too ready to usurp some of his powers. Bates resigned in November of 1864 and returned to Missouri, and there he found himself once again in conflict with fellow Republicans. This time the radicals voiced their strong opinions against the South. Bates tried to convince people throughout the North after the war that the radicals’ vehemence would backfire, but his health failed and he died just as the radicals were beginning to impose their version of reconstruction.

Links to other articles on Civil War heroes.

Heroes of The Civil War: Charles Francis Adams

Heroes of The Civil War: Turner Ashby

Heroes of The Civil War: Edward Dickinson Baker

Heroes of The Civil War: Clara Barton