The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-23


Wings, we're all nominated by this extsmpo-
| have known Mr.. Lincoln for more than
twenty years, and therefore have right TO
speak of him with some confidence. Az an
| individual he has earned high reputation
| for truth, courage, candor, morals aud ami
ability, so that, as q man, he IL most trust
worthy, And in this particular, he is more
entitled to our esteem than some other men,
bis equals, who had far better opportunities
and aida In early life. His talents and the
will TO use thom to the best advantage, are
unquestionable; and the proof is found 10
the fact that, in every position In life, from
his humble beginning to his present we'll
earned elevation, he has more than fulfilled
the best hopes of his friends. And now, In
the full viger of his manhood and in the hon.
Lest pride of having made himself what he ia,
he is the peer of the first men of the nation,
we'll able to sustain himself and advance his
cause, against any adversary, and in any field
where mind and knowledge are the weapons
used.
In politics he has but acted ont the princi-
Piles of his own moral and intellectual char
aeter. lie has not concealed his thoughts
nor hidden his light under O bashel. With
the boldness of conscious rectitade and the
frankness of downright honesty, be has not
failed to avow his opinions OF public affairs
upon all fitting occasions.
The following suppose. are In brief his
opinions upon that subject: |. Slavery 10 b
domestic institation within the States which
choose TO have it, and il exists within those
States beyond the control Of Congress. 2.
Congress has supreme legislative power over
oil the Territories, and may, at its discretion,
allow or forbid the existence of slavery with
in them. 8. Congress, in wisdom and sound
policy, ought not so to exercise its power,
directly or indirectly, as to plant and estsb-
iish slavery in any Territory heretofore free.
a. And that il is uuwise and impoitic in the
Government Of the United States to acquire
tropical regions for tile mere purpose of con-
verting them into slave States.
These, believe, are Mr.. Lincoln's opin-
ions upon the matter of slavery in the Terri
tories, and | concur in them. They are no
new Inventions, made to suit the exigencies
OF the hour, but have come down to ns az the
Declaration of independence and the Con-
stitution have, sanctioned by the venerable
authority Of the wise and good men who es-
tablished our institutions. They are CON-
formable to law, principle and wise policy,
and their utility 10 proven in practice by the
tory. They will prevail, not emily because
they are right In themselves, but also because
. great and still growing majority of the
people believe them TO be right. and The soon
err they are allowed to prevail In peace and
harmony, the better for oil concerned, az
well those who are against them as those who
are for them.
consider Mr.. Lincoln sound, safe, ma.
tional man. lie could not be sectional IL he
tried. His birth, his education, his habits
of life, and his geographical position, com
pei him to be national. All bis feelings and
interests are identified with the great valley
of the Mississippi, near whose centre be has
spent bis whole life. That valley IN NOT a
section, but, conspicuously, the body Of the
nation, and, large as il is, it ia not capable
Of being divided into sections, for the great
river cannot be divided. lt is one and indi-
visible, and the North and the South are alk
necessary TO its comfort and prosperity. Its
people, too, in all their interests and affec
tions, are as broad and general as the re-
gions they inhabit. They are emigrants, a
mixed multitude, coming from every State
in the Union, and from most countries in
Europe; they are unwilling, therefore. to
submit to any one petty local standard
They love the nation ASA whole, and thew
love all it's parts, for they are bound 90 them
all, not only by feeling of common interest
and mutual dependence, but also by tho re-
collections OF childhood and youth, by blood
and friendship, and by al! those social and
domestic charities which sweeten life, and
make this world worth living in. The Val
ley is beginning to feel its power, and wilt
soon be strong enough to dictate the Law of
the land. Whenever that stat, OF things
shall come to pass, il will be most fortunate
for the nation to find the powers Of govern
mept lodged in the hands OF men whose bah
It's OF thought, whose position and surround
ing circumstances constrain them o use those
powers for general and not sectional ends.
give mJ opinion freely in favor of Mr..
4 lincoln, and hope that, for the good OF the
whole country, he may be elected. But it ID
| not my intention to take any active part In
! the canvass. For many years past have
had little TO do with public affairs, and have
asplred to no political office; and now, 10 view
OF the mad excitement which eonvulges The
country, and the general disruption and dis
order OF parties and the elements which com.
| pose them, am more than ever assured that
FOR me, personally, there il no political fu
l-ture, and accept the condition with cheer
fnl satisfaction. Still cannot discharg,
myself from the lifelong duty to watch tn
| oonduot OF men IN power, and TO resist, 9,
far as mere private man may, the fearful
progress of Official corruption, which for sew
eral years past has sadly marred and deiile.
the fair fabric OF our Government.
If MIR. Lincoln should be elected, comm,
in as new man at the head Of Young part
never before 10 power, he may render grea
service to his country, which no Democra
could render. He can march straightfor
ward in the discharge Of his high duties
guided only by his own good judgment an
honest purposes, without any necessity /
temporize with established abuses, to win
at the delinquencies Of old party friends, o
to unlearn and discard the bad Official habt
that have grown up under the misgovernmen
OF his Democratic predecessors. In shor,
he can be an honest and bold reformer o
easier and cheaper terms than any Demo
cratic President can be, for, In proeeedin