The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-01-19

I pie or sAIe f0unuck4 oTEslHe IsepuDlIt bceH
Iasintaiped and foEowedpp BY the men Of
Ne praeent day In ~ sqath, there would be
70 grounds of diFsfenee between the two
sections of the ,cosnsg 1t is because they
have repudiated those principles, and sought
to extend and perpetuate slavery through the
influence of the general government, that We
oppose them The Presidents remarks on
the Kansas question are in admirable keep,
| ing with his conduct; weak, pusilanlmous,
one sided and inconsistent, all under the
pressure Of predetermined purpose to make
Kansas Slave State. lie sees in all the OPP
position Of the north to slavery extension
| only the spirit of sectonalism, fanaticism
and treason to the Union, and in all the con-
duet Of the south the utmost liberality, in
| tense devotion to the Union, and high souled
patriotism.
The invasion of the Territory Of Kansas
by armed bands Of Mssourians, the forcible
taxing possession of the polls, driving away
the rightful voters and usurping the elective
power, the exercise of legislation by Nilsson
rians, and the armed invasion and violent
seizure of national arms, with all the murders
and robberies committed by these border ruff
fans, in their unholy attempts to force slay
erv upon the citizens of Kansas, are desg
mated in the message by the mild phrase of
''acts preiudicial to order.o Yet the Presi
dent SAYS he has no authority to interfere TO
prevent their repetition, and assures us that
he trusts to the good sense of the citizens of
Kansas to help them through all their diff
cultes. How ridiculous And yet the
good sense Of the people Of Kansas has
prompted them to take up arms in self-de-
fence, and itmay be that Sharpe's rifles will
procure them ''security for the future though
no Indemnity for the past"
| The President seems to have hopes, and to
give the South hope, that through his efforts
their Kansas will yet apply for admission
with a slaveholding Constitution, and he
seems 10 welcome contest upon that issue
with kind Of Joyous exultation. 1t would
seem from his view Of the obligation resting
upon the States to admit new States into the
bought not Webster or Calhoun, nor indeed
any other great statesman of former days.
The President presents our difficulties with
Great Britain in very threatening aspect,
which will doubtless have the effect intended.
Of diverting the public attention partially
from his own position and misconduct, and it
will prove fortunate for the country if it
should have no worse effect.
1t has become the policy of all politicians
to s'go for the next war" on principle, with
whatever country or under whatever circum-
stances, and, as Il matter Of course, the pub
| lie voice will always be for war at the start,
/ whatever the sober second thought may
lead TO. But il it not a little strange that
this Central American matter should all at
once became so fraught with international
difficulty and imminent peril of war:
The treaty under which the eaSuS beiA is to
arise was made some six years since, during
President Fillmore's administration, and It's
ratification was opposed in the Senate of the
United States by more than enc Senator, If
recoliect right, on the express ground that
Great Britain was not excluded from the
occupancy or exercise OF authority in that
region. From that day to this, Great Britain
seems to have acted upon the presumption
that she was not entirely excluded by the
| treaty stipuatious, and yet Mr.. Fillmore's
Administration for three years, and Mr..
Perce's up to the present time, tolerated the
conduct of Great Britain in acting upon her
Interpretation Of that treaty. Evidently,
then, there nothing new in the position
of affairs up to the time Of tie presentation
of the Presidents Message to the world. |
cannot. therefore. believe that this long stand
ing difference of construction OF q treaty
stipulation 10y the two governments must
now, at this late day, lead to a rupture Of am
icable relations. If war was the proper and
only remedy, and was demanded by the dig
nitv Of the Government, why did Fillmore
sleep for three long years over the matter
| and then 20 out of Office without word on
subject Why has Pierce thus far, till the
/ approach Of the last year of his Presidential
term, quietly submitted to the occupancy of
| Great Britain In accordance with her claims
Of the proper construction of the treaty.
The truth suspect to be that the treaty is
somewhat general in it's terms upon that
point, and, so, liable to a construction to
suit the interests Of each contracting party,
and circumstances require that it should
now be definitely settled and understood
Surely there can be nothing in such a pis-
understanding to furnish jrstihabe grounds
upon which to peril the interests of humanity
and leopardze the prosperity and permanent
peace and welfare Of two great nations, and