The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-11-26
nl.cA Dcmscratsc Traitors.

MACK Demecratsc Traitors.
We asked Why Barnwell Rhes., Senator
Toombs, Bully Brooks, and other confcier-
tes,-lsadcrs and pillars,--of the Black .
Democracy, proclaiming and arguing in ia
vor OF Reasonable schemes, we're not arrest I
ed, while men in Kansas, Free State men,
were arrested on the mtre pretert Of being
guilty Of that offence consirueiirely. The
Times attempts to do away with the force Of
tho question by saying that the Free State
men were arrested not for what they said,
but what they did: that they were allowed
TO talk, but were molested only when they
had taken arms against the government. for
that treason consisted 10 absolute levying of
war. etc.
Now We wish to make this statement the
occasion of placing the matter again before
the public, and Masking II little palmer and
more odieus yet. The debate between us
and the Times, to settle n point, is of little
account, personally the facts with reference
to proceedings like these alluded to, are, OF
fhsmselres, Of great public Importance and
Significance.
in the first place, the men arrested in Kan
sas have never taken arms against the L. s.
Government. Even Lecompte does no.
charge that they have done that directly,
but only by construction have thev made
themselves amenable to that charge. They
resisted, BY force Of arms, it is said. fbut
not proved, for even that is untrue. ! the ter
ritorial authority, and therefore, as the ter
ritory Was organized under L. 5. laws. they
resisted the United States governments
arms, levied war, against it /. Remembering
that they never resisted, and are not charged
with resisting, process from L. S. courts. or
y. ;. soldiers, does this not appear like the
paitr'sst OF special pleading? Is there
lawyer OF decent standing in the country
who will place his reputation upon il? But
II constructive treason is insisted upon, then,
certainly, the confederates of the Times
come plainly within the offence, and should
De arrested at once, for they are melting and
procuring treason.
The Tact IS. the Free State men hare NOT
committed treason. Neither have the con.
federates of the Times, who saw they are
gong to, and are organizing to do il. But
the free State men have, then the Times'
confederates have. 1t was the discrimiaa-
no" that We complained of. when there was
no Inference, on the Administrations own
ground and the discrimination made on the
ground that the prosecuted were in favor az
Freedom, and the et-alone were Slaverv.
Propagandists.
Next; Certain 1t is that some of the men
were committed in Kansas not on charges Of
positive or constructive, but merely malicious
charges OF treason. For instance a man
was brought before Lecompte, and when he
asked Tor the charge, and none was shown.
Lecompte asked him If he had not EXPRESSED
tne opinion that the laws Of Kansas were
Invalid. The man said he had Iecomptc
then committed him to answer to the charge
OF treason for that offence. And that was
all the "arms" he had taken, oil the s.leyy-
ing war; which he had committed against
tue United States. And yet his legal offence
was just as great AS that of any others under
arrest. And Brooks and Rhet, are certainly
qnitc rs great offenders.
But again: TN the grounds of Leeomn,e
ana constructive treason They have cum
ins'ed treason because they have resisted the
laws OF the territory, and the territory was
organized under Z. $. Laws. La the first
place, the laws and authority Of the terrtort
are not U. .. laws and authority. They are
Independent and separate laws and au,hori.
y. 30 that offence against them is not of
isnce against the [. s. In the next Mace
these laws aud this authority of Kansas are
laws ana authority imposed upon that terri
tory by Aliens, conqaerors. That is a fact
iadieputable,--a fact not deni ed Missouri
ans, non-residents, by force and frnud
proved and unquestioned, enacted a code
ana sci up an authority. And Resistance "a
TINS nsurpasion, this tyranny, 10 called resis.
rance TO the laws and the authority or Kan.
s1s, and so resistance, 'slevying war. > agains,
tic snited States AT every point the logic
fails, and the reply is without force.
mere cover.
The Tact is, and it seems to us that II ia n
plain fact, that the offence Of the Free State
men, 80 lar as any charge of treason,-,he
great charge against the u, lis concerned. i.
Pasaakcn IN ny the leaders and supporters of
the Black Democracy which We have named !.
that their offences are simil ar, and they are
equally liable to feel the weight and mower
81 the federal arm tina, one class. who ARE
an favor OF making the soil on which thew
sand free soil. have be en- yindictiyely. bra
LAZY and perseyeringly hunted down, while
tae Other have gone free and unmnlested
And not man or "a Journal that has favored
the Administration and It's persecution Of
Free State men has rails I'd a voice far the mr.
rest of'he Slavery Prop agands,s, Who are at
least equally guilty, and far more po,en, for
evil.
And SO il Is. Free State men in Kansas
have been arrested on charges OF treason.
ahi been abused in manner which would
nave brought disgrace unan sha ha~ha~a,-s