The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-08-01

DpSs oAtA VII UAsSAVSS ~ -
publication my reply to the charges oircula-
ted against mo by the Keokuk Times, and
the endorsement Of Mr.. Breeder, that
had been refused hearing through its col.
umns.
Comment is unnecessary.
Respectfully yours,
FRANK BALLINGER.
To The EprroRs OF THE kKoxuK TIhEs:
The notice which you were pleased to take
of my speech at the Fremont ratification
meeting in keokuk, and the circulation
which you have given to scurrilous article
found in the narrodsburg Transcript, de-
mand Of me the correction Of the errors
contained in both. As the poorest criminal
is allowed to plead before his accuscrs, ask
to be heard through your columns, that the
antdotc may follow the poison.
did not upon the occasion to which you
allude, express my" hatred and unconqucra-
BILE antipathies" to Slavery or Shareholders.
The relation Of master and servant was not
before me. used the term negro breed
err" but not in the connection or with the
application stated by you. WAS examining
that part Of the Cincinnati platform which
denies to Congress the power Of Legislation
upon the subject of Slavery in the Terri
tories, and the part which denies to the citi-
zens Of the Territories any power over the
subject until they meet in convention TO
frame a constitution, and | insisted that
these clauses taken together would convert
the United States Government into negro
breeder, when barracoons would soon spring
up to supply the markets Of the South.
| have never felt or expressed hatred to
Shareholders as such. cannot hate 225,-
600 Of my fellow citizens, including nearly
all my family relations, for doing that which
they have been reared and educated to be-
lieve is as harmless as working domestic
animal cannot hate those who, in spite
of their education, see in the institution q
moral and political evil, which they would
remedy il they could but would say, il it
were lawful for me to hate any ono bearing
the impress Of their Maker, that hate would
attach to those who have re-opened the agi-
tation of the Slavery question-who have
repealed the Missouri Compromise
have Invaded Kansas, and by the strong
argument Of the bowic-knife and re-
volver carried the elections-who have
passed laws denying the liberty Of speech
and who have .imbued their hands in frator-
nal blood to force Slavery upon Kansas
When speaking Of their conduct, | have
often dealt in strong language, but to appl,
such language aimed at such men and such
offences, TO Shareholders, as such, is doing mt
injustice.
You suppose my motive in thus expressing
my hatred Of shareholders was to gain Office
In this also you We're mistaken, for before
my speech had declined the use Of name
for o!Ioe. With the platform and candi.
dates of the Republican party am entirely
satisfied, and my only motive was to show
nv good will and aid them so far as could
firmly believing that If the Democratic par
ty succeed in extending the area OF Slavery,
our Government will cease to DO what its
trainers designed
Your publication has given countenanc'
and point to most Of the charges contained
in the Transcript, for if | did not expires.
nv hatred of Shareholders as such, then
was not guilty of hypocrisy, though engaged
in the Institution Of Slavery to the full ex-
tent charged.
There is a charge of fraud in the sale Of Z
slave. about which an arb .tration was to b,
had. answer this by itself because it il
the only charge that does not connect itsel
with slave-owners generally, leaving out, o
course, the frosh and foam Of the writer
And to his charge make o fiat denial.
sold no such slave, and Of course m sde n
such representation.
The Transcript until recently bore II
name Of Plouboy. lnever took it. Whel
left, with all my desire to hear from IN.
neighbors, still declined to take it. TIL
editor, or some friend, has been, against m
| all, sending it TO me occasionally. 1t ia
sheet which was never willing to in,roduc
into my family. Its character for siandcl
without regard to truth, may be judged b
the article you publish.
A short narrative Of my connection Wit
the institution of Slavery, will best show
all who are acquainted with its workings
the unprinciplcd character Of the attack mad
upon me.
Born and raised among slaves, imbibe
the opinions of kentuckians generally, thu
there was nothing wrong in exactng servic
from them. By my marriage, became pos
sessed Of Slaves. bought others for III
own use, and sold those of bad character.
In 1886 an incident occurred which in
daced me to revise my early teachings and
change my opinion. 1t was this One of m
neigbbors went to the South with stock an
brought back slave. he sold the slave I
another neighbor. 1t was my duty ~ Circu
Judge to sign tho death warrant Of this siav,
for rape upon a young woman Of incstimabl
character, and tho murder Of her infar
child, which happened in the scufnc. unds