The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-06-27
me Coming Campaign.


~, was the source of about as much harm
q, IN : legislative way, il was of good
Lsteery the seasons of its si'tings have
bsen synonomcas with seasons of sgita,
don and turbulence. Whenever it ed.
jeurns. excitement and angry feeling sub.
side. repose comes to the relief Of the pub.
No mind, and the general good sense
and calm. Independent reflection of the
people. restore public feeling and public
STAIRS TO . condition Of safety and quiet.
For these ten years at least we have had
no degree Of public excitement which
was the reasonable cause of any great
public soIicitudes that was not either
born n Congress or exaggerated by it,
Matters Of great public interest. in COM
msrcial and economic point Of view, have,
Of course. been involved in all our general
elections; but whateyersha risen up to be-
come a matter fpositiye danger, toshreat
On the public welfare, and the peace and
permanence OF the Union, has had It's orr.
gin with the uneasy spirits, the selfish
damogogues, the reckless lotteries that
annually assemble at Washington. There
oil the caprices of the widest fanaiacism,
oil The bigotry of the narowest and most
unpstriotic ultraism. but more than the &C.
eli the tricks of the vilest and wickedest
adventurer, all the promptings of the bold
est and most pnscrupulous ambition. have
free scope and ample room. But by some
singular good fortune, these subjects
which have afforded Congress with the
means of the most serious agitation, have
heretofore presented themselves for Con-
gressional discussion and public consider.
alton at periods some distance apart from
our general elections
The difficulties Of 1850 sprang from
questions involved in the canvass of l84S,
but they were not 30 far developed tina,
Ill the demogoguery and personal interest
Of the Congress Of lsa7 could. in anticipa-
tion, 30 employ them as to render them a
really dangerous element in that canvass.
Before 1852 these questions had been
substantially disposed Of During that
period Of comparative quiet, before the
II 6restless eye of ambition could dscoy-
er new means Of notoriety and a new
source Of public danger, the presidential
election was held. Immediately after
ward came fuller development of old
questions and a connection Of new schemes
which demogugues in Congress and
through the country were able to employ
to their own personal advantage and the
public detrlment. But these schemes
and these issues come so late, linger SO
long. and involve SO much, that, for once.
the influence of one Of our greatest and
most exniiing questions will run over int
the presidential canvass. Kansas and Ne
brlska were..organized by the last Congress
butthe question of slavery, as an existing
and unquestionable fact, which was either
to be legalised or permitted, under the au.
thority ofthe General Government, wa,
NOT before tina, body as i, will be before
Tie new Congress, and the general cues.
Mon hardly could have been be ore it in
Ne aggravated and fearful form in which
Il will face tho next Congress on the frs,
day Of ito converting. The Nebraska.
Kansas difficulties had their very origin in
Congress. They need not, and they
should not, ever have existed. Their.
VAS no population which demanded ths
organization OF the territories, no public
sentiment which required the repeal q
the Missouri Compromise, no need and ne
excuse for public tumult aud public dan
ger. The whole matter wasa pure in
seniion. thing hunted up after earnes
seeking for the bssest purposes. But i
vas brought into the political arena, for
tined there, but not yet finally dispose.
81. And now the most difficult crsis j,
the most dangerous question Of all .hos
important ones which have employe,
Congress and agitated the country thes
many years. will come before the mex
G0ngrsss. The next session of Conrre.
= the long session. and tina, long sessio
will carry this exciting question, in all b,
man probability. nearly through tho mex
presidential canvass. What, therefor.
we have hitherto escaped. viz: the occur