The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-11-24


party and no other agency which has carried
that policy up to ito present alarming cul.
mination. Without stopping to ascertain
critically the origin Of the present Dem ocrat.
10 party, Ne may concede it's claim 30 dan
from the era Of good feeling, whieA occurred
under the Administration OF President Mon.
roe. At that time in this State, and abou,
that tima 10 many others Of the free States
the Democratic party deliberately disfran.
chised the free colored or African Citizen
and it has pertinaciously continued this dis
reimbursement ever since. This Vas IN cifcc
tive aid to slavery; for while the slav sho der
votes for his slaves against freedom, the
freed slave in the free States is prohibited
from voting against slavery. In 1894 the
Democracy resisted the election Of John
Quincy Adams, himself sfore that timc IN
acceptable Democrat, and In 1928 il cxpell-
cd him from the Presidency and put slave
holder in his place, although the Office had
been filled by slaveholdsrs thirty-two ont OF
forty years. In 1886, Martin Van Buren,
the first -alassholding citizen Of : free
State to whose election the Democratic party
ever consented --signslized hn inauguration
into the Presidency by agratuitous announce
ment that under no circumstances would be
ever approve bill for sbolishing slavery 10
the District OF Columbia. From 1898 to
1914 the subject OF abolishing slavery 10 the
District OF Columbia and in the national
dock-yards and arsennls was brought before
Congress BY repeated popular appeals. The
Democratic party thereupon promptly denied
the right of petition and efsctually Suppress
cd the freedom OF speech in Congress 60 far
"a the institution OF slavery was concerned.
From 1910 to lS43 good and wise men
counselled that Texas should remain outside
OF the Union until she should consent to re-
linquish her sclf.instituted slavery; but the
Democratic party precipitated her admission
into the Union, not only without that condi.
ton, but even with covenant that the State
might be divided and re-organixed 90 as to
constitute four slave States instead OF one.
La 1876, when the United States became
involved In war with Mexico and il was appa.
rent that the struggle would end in the dis
memberment Of that Republic, which was
non slnveholding power, the Democratic par
ty rejected declaration that slavery should
not be established within the territory to be
acquired. When, in 1850, governments were
to be instituted in the Territories OF CAlifor-
mia and New Mexico, the fruits OF thar var.
the Democratic party refused to admit New
Mexico ~ a free State, and ONLY consented
to admit California az free State on the
condition, ~ it has since explained the trans .
action, OF leaving all New Mexico and Utah
open to slavery, to which was also added the
concession OF perpetual slavery 10 the Dis-
trict OF Columbia, and the passage OF an un-
constitutional. cruel, aud humiliating law for
the recaptare Of fugitive slaves, with . for
Their stipulation that the subject Of slavery
should never again be agitated in either cham
Der OF Congress. When, in 1854, the slave.
holders were contentediy reposing on those
great advantages, then 10 recently won, the
Democratic party unnecessarily, obviously,
and with superserviceable liberality awaked
them from their slumber, to offer and force
on their acceptance the abrogation Of the law
which declared that neither slavery nor in
voluntary ssryitude should ever exist within
that part Of the ancient Territory of Louis
lana which lay outside OF the State OF Mis-
souri,, and north Of the parallel OF SO dsgrees
80 minutes Of north latitude Law, which,
with tie exception Of one other, was the only
statute Of freedom then remaining in the
Federal code.
In 1856, when the people Of Kansas had
organize cd q new State within the region thus
abandoned to slavery, and applied to be ad
mtted ~ q free State into the Union. the
Democratic party contemporary rejected
their petition and drove them with menaces
and intimidations from the halls OF Congress.
and armed the President with military power
to enforce their submission to Q slave code,
established over them by fraud and usurpa-
ton. At every subsequent stage of the long
contest which has since ragged in Kansas the
Democratic party has lent it's sympashies, its
aid, and all the po~ers of the Government
which it controlled to enforce slavery upon
that unwilling and injured people. And
now, even at this day, while it Knocks US with
the assurance that Kansas 10 free, the DEM
ocratic party keeps the State excluded from
her just and proper place in the Union, under
the hope that she may yet be dragooned into
the acceptance Of slavery.
The Democratic party has finally procured
from Supreme judiciary, Fixed 10 ito inter-
est, decree that slavery exists BY force OF
the Constitution in every Territory Of the
United States, paramount to all legislative
authority either within the Territory or re-
siding in Congress.
Such Is the Democratic party. 1t has no
policy, State or Federal, for finance, or trade,
or manufactures, or commerce, or education,
or internal improvements, or for the protec.
ton, or even the security, Of civil or religious
liberty. 1t is positive and Incorporating
in the interest Il slavery negative, COM
promising, and vascllating in regard to ev-
cry thing else. Ii boasts its love OF equality,
and wastes it's strength and even its life 10
terrifying the only aristocracy known ia tho
land lsprofesses fraternity, and, 50 often
~ slavery requires, allies itself with pro-
scrip,ion. 1t magniies itself for conouests
in foreign lands, but it sends the national es-
gle forth always with chains and not the
olive.branch in it's fangs.
This dark record shows you, fellow .citi-
zens, what was unwilling to announce at
IN earlier stage Of this argument Of the
nefarious schedule OF slave holding desirps
which have submitted to you tho Democrat
ic party has left only ono yet to be consum.
mated-the abrogation Of the law which for.
bids the African slave trade.
Now, know worry well that tho Democrat
10 party has, at every stage Of these proceed
ings, disavowed the motive and the policy Of
terrifying and extending slavery, and has OK
cused them ON entirely different and more
plausible grounds. But the inconsistency
and frivolity OF those pleas prove still more
conclusively the guilt charge upon that par
~. II must indeed necessarily excuse such
guilt before mankind, aud even to the con.
| sciences of it's own ndherents. There is a
instructive adherence Of slavery and nm in
born and inhcring love OF freedom in the hu.