The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-05


loosa on Saturday last, in which Kirkwood
and Dodge met for the first time before the
people.
| MIR. Kirkwood made one of his most Ell
feetive and unanswerable speeches, in which
/ he handled the subserviency OF the Democra-
cy to the slave power and the extravaganza
| and corrustion of the Administration, with
out gloves. Gen. Dodge, who entered while
Kirkwood was speaking, seemed to regard
these attacks upon the slaveocracy and the
Administration almost in the light OF per-
sonal assault upon himself, and, in the words
of the writer
When Mr.. X. had concluded his remarks,
Gen. Dodge strobe up and on to the plat
form, with an air of pseudo dignity ana Ill
ira pomposity that would have excited the
admiration or her Majesty the Queen OF
Spain. He commenced the most furious and
incoherent defamation. He fairly boiled
over with rage and indignation. The audience
were taken completely by surprise, and the
scene which followed beggars all description.
For half or three quarters OF an hour the
General continued to walk back and forth on
the stand, to swing his hands. toss his head,
sway his body to and fro, and all the time
splitting forth disconnected sentences on va
riety Of subjects. His excitement and pas
sion had complete mastery over him. In
speaking Of the admission of Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution, he declares that
his sssympathies were oil in favor Of Slave
State" He said "the Fugitive Slave Law
of 1850 was part and parcel OF the Con-
stitution Of the United States" This is but
a specimen of his loose and unguarded ex-
pressions.
In the course of his wild harangue, he
asked Mr.. Kirkwood If he (Mr. k.) support
ed the compromise measures OF loo0p DIR.
K. replied, that in common with great ma
iority OF the people OF the country, he accepted
those measures as settlement OF the slave
ry question. Mr.. Dodge then said: "Alr.
kirkwood, would you obey the Fugitive Slave
Lawfo Mr.. X replied, ssl would not resist
the enforcement of that law, but before
would aid in capturing fugitive slave
would suffer the penalty of the law, but |
would not aid in carrying it into execution"
Mr.. X. returned the compliment, and asked
Gen. Dodge if be would assist in catching a
fugitive slave. Dodge replied, 81 would.
would do whatever the law requires me to
do" Mr.. X. subsequently remarked that he
had, in sc, made speeches in sixteen differ
ent counties in Iowa, and had put this same
question to more than n SCORE Of different
audiences composed Of both parties, and in
not single instance had he found man,
not even postmaster, who would stand up
and say that he would help in capturing run
away slaves.
The discussion was continued again in the
evening, having been opened by Mr.. Dodge,
in a speech Of an hour and half, during
which he apologized for HE excitement in the
afternoon, boosted of his familiarity with
Clay, Webster and other great statesmen of
the country, and his recent experience at the
Court of Spain, in the usual pompous,
turkey gobbler.swell characteristic Of his
manner.
After the General had finished, Mr.. Kirk
wood was called on and spoke for an hour
in his usual earnest and effective style, liter
ally demolshing the proud and pompous ex-
| Minister. Mr.. X, Notwithstanding the harsh
ness Of his opponents remarks, was per-
fectly fair and courteous. When he had
| finished the General took the stand again,
apparently under the greatest possible ex
citement and indignation. He declared that
Mr. X. had painted slavery in its darkest
colors. lie said slavery was a civilizing and
| Christianizing institution. That the poor
negroes were taken from the heather jungle
Of Africa, enlightened, civilized, and finally
/ saved in heaven He said that in old times
when ship arrived from Africa with load
of blacks, the people welcomed them with
open arms, because they would now be en-
/ lightened, civilized, Christianized, and pre-
pared for heaven! He spoke for fifteen or
| twenty minutes seemingly in q state of mind
bordering on frenzy. He asked Mr.. X. a
number Of questions, to which the latter re-
sponded promptly and with the utmost cool
ness and good nature. Mr.. X. said that be
had predicted in the afternoon that the Dem
ocrats of the North would before many
years favor the revival Of the slave trade,
because, as they would claim, slavery was a
Chrstianizing institution, "but," said be,
turning smiling to Dodge, 81 didn't expect
it TO commence SO soon.'
The General sprang to his feet and de-
clared that If MIR. X. said that he dodge,
was in favor of the slave trade, be was
liar, and that, If he repeated it, he would
"cram the lie dorn his throat Mr.. X,
without any excitement whatever, remarked
that, if the General was speaking fgurative-
ly, it was al right, but If he attempted the
matter practically he would find it very
difficult matter.
After some more sparring, during which
there was many hearty laugh at the Gener.
al's expense, and not one at the expense oil
bis opponent, the meeting, it being nearly
midnight, broke up.
/ have given you but a mcagre outline oil
this highly important contest, but my lette,
is already too long. II is my candid opinion
that, if the whole number Of voters in thu
State could have witnessed the proceedings
it would have lost to Gen. Dodge at leas
10000 votes. Never did see man max,
himself so unpardonably ridiculous. meet
hardly tell you that the Democracy are yer,
much chagrined, or that every Republican
has grin on his face.
"BRrsroL Bull According to the CORES