The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-06-14
To the Electors OF the First Com
eresxiona1 DlssrAcg.

To the Electors OF the First Con.
gresxiona1 Dlssracs.
Having been nominated by me Republican
Convention Of the lst Congressional District
Of Iowa, and solicited by friends, accept
the position Of candidate for Representa-
tive. Matters Of vital interest TO the Dis
trict and State are pending before the Ma
tional Legislature. Among these are our
Railroad interests generally and a Pacific
Railroad especially.
Millions have been. layished on ocean
routes of commerce, diverting travel and
trade through foreign countries, that former
" passed through the Western States, and
especially Southern Iowa. A Pacific Rail-
road will restore it and increase it to a vast
extent. W. have three great rivers which
are natural commercial channels, and the
National Government has, by small appro-
priations, admitted their nationality. Yet
the Mississippi, Missouri and Des Moines are
neglected or only triaed with; receiving
from Government mean pittances, which
serve no valuable purpose, while their CON-
merce is subject to an annual loss of mil
lions for the lack of adequate improvement.
1t is time tho West should assert her right to
commercial relief.
Our relations with foreign countries have
assumed threatening attitude. Our diplo
matte relations with Great Britain are sew
cred, and our relations with Central Amcri-
can States are involved in difficulty, and our
friends ami ncighbors are leaving our shores
to particip 20 in foreign revolution. Our
channel of trade with California is threat
ened with danger and destruction, and our
! capital, commerce and political ties are
thus placed in jeopardy.
There is also discord, strife and animosity
within our own borders. Sectional jealous
les have been revived and augmented till
passion has usurped power, where reason and
honor should protect our destiny. Congress
sional halls, judicial tribunals, and frontier
settlements have been disgraced by belliger-
ent strife. In Kansas the rights of person
and property are at the mercy Of armed
mobs, anu tho soil is stained with fraternal
blood. Men in power look on with indifler-
ence or favor, and questions of peace and
war, union and disunion, revolution and in
surrection arc calmly discussed and appar-
rently disregarded. The heart sickens a.
the enumeration Of evils that surround and
threaten our sacred Union. The strife is by
no means inviting, but duty is paramount,
| and for one am resolved to take any posi-
ton deemed proper BY my friends TO aid in
checking the progress of political destruc-
ton. 1t is no time to consider personal con.
vencnce or personal consequences when on,
peace is threatened and our country is en-
broled in bloody strife. Every honest and
/ honorable inan has a part to act, q duty te
perform, AMI there are no privileged classe,
when the Republic is threatened.
! For the purptAe of presenting my views tc
the people on the various topics before them
| appoint the following meetings, all OF
which | will, if possible, attend. As tbs
places are widely separated, leave all ar
rangements for friends, who will perceiy,
the difficulty encounter in the arrangement
and fulfllment of SO many appointments.
During recent canvass was assailed b,
Senator Jones and others with unscrnpulou
vengeance, and have not deemed it neces
sary to rcrly, as my friends and n,ighbor
sufficiently repealed them and sindicate,
truth and justice. ] suppose truth, false
hood and fiction will again be resorted to
and woven into net work to entanglc an,
control the masses. IL occasion offers,
will try to expose the maneuvers by an mp
peal to the sound, sober sense Of community
and if can secure a listening car have n
fear Of the verdict.