The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-12-11
pres,acnt.s Message.

We shall no. employ much space or time
in reviewing this document. So far rs its
merits are concerned, in its general tone, il
deserves the severest excoriation. And II IL
receiving that reward, at the hands Of all
honorable and candid men. But there are
two reasons why it is n matter Of little
moment to waste ones breath upon it, except
to give expression to righteous indignation
first, it is the parting illumination Of a
seured and defeated man, the venomous and
bigoted paper Of man without power and
inhuence,--of s.dead cock in the pit,' con-
corning whom no one cares more than that
he should be tossed out OF the ring, to rot and
be trodden under the feet of the crowd, IN
cared for and forgotten; second, its very ma
lightly, and the transparency Of its msstate-
ments, special pieadings, and utter false
hoods, defeat their own end and render them
comparative by innocuous.
We speak more particularly Of the first
bali OF the message, which relates to the
affairs Of Kansas. Those affairs he spends
half his time in attempting to belittle. The
very space they occupy in the message is the
amplest proof Of their great Importance
proof direct and incontestaLie. But we call
attention again to some Of the most noticea-
Bile points.
lie sees not one thing in the North, mot
solitary act performed or position taken,--
which 10 right, agreeable to the laws and the
constitution, or consistent with good faith
and honest dealing. This universal and un-
qualified Reproduction he visited upon one half
OF the country in his last message. But this
year ne spices the ferocity Of his denuncia-
ton by adding the charges of treason against
them, and no more lets them of with impu-
tations Of blind zeal, which would partially
qualify wrong act, but attributes to them
bad acts understandingly done with the ba-
scst intent. This IL the unmeasured cen-
sure, the highest arraignment Of character
an motives which could be made, that the
Q hief magistrate Of the nation perpetrates
upon ono-half, and the most enlightened, up
right and respectable half, Us honest and rs
patriotic Is himself. On the other hand,
the patriotic, the honorable, the high mind
ed, slavery extending South has not done
one act in the least degree censurable or i'm
proper. We leave this broad contrast Of con-
duct and spirit without argument, to be de-
cided according rs it may appear probable to
every ones mind.
lie says the Kansas difficulties are not
the consequents Of the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise. Who believes that hut him p
Who believes that if the Compromise had not
boon disturbed, that they would have arisen
Not one man OF decent sense ia this nation, We
venture the assertion. But he says the Com
promise was repealed as measure Of right,
because II WAS unconstitutional. Unconsti-
iutional, when the Cabinet Of Monroe,
under whose administration il WAS passed,
"a Cabinet comprising j q. Adams and j. G..
Calhoun, unanimously declared il constitu-
siouai. Unconstitutional, when no ros pecsable
.,arist or statesman in the land ever question
ed it's aonstituiional,ty till these late days.
Incopstitutionsl, when Douglass and kich-
ardson, the engineers Of it's repeal in tho
Senate and House respectively, are both on
record in it's favor. and the former moved
the extension of It's line TO tho Pacific. I'm
constitutional, when the very organ OF the
Administration, the Union, ~ late ~ two
weeks before its introduction, while vet it
had not been determined to repeal 1t, CEN
sured in advance whoever might suggest sudh
an act. lie Gays the South made that pre-
iexf, and began the raid immediately on its
repeal. A. II the country were not entirely
~ peace when iss repeat was proposed, and
no body OF men were seeking pretext for
public agitation. Al il the Slavery extern
sionists themselves we're not the frs. to take
steps TO settle the character Of the country
With reference to the institation 81 Slavery,
Gen. Atchinson, U. s. Senator, President os
the senate, Vice President Of Ne United