The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-09-28

may be safely tolerated when truth is left
free to combat it." But, in blind zeal Tor
the defence of opinions aud ideas, In them
selves inaefensible. IL strikes boldly at those
fund am entail rights upnn which all our hopes
of civil and religious liberty are baseo-free
opinion, free speech, free locomotion and a
free press.
| have long believed that a party whose
character is marked by so many disqualify-
ing vices is unfit to rule free people and
therefore IL WAS my earnest wish to see all
the elements of opposition brought into bar
monious action for its overthrow, by the
election to the Presidency of some safe and
patriotic man, untaented with tho habltual
Wees of that dangerous party. bly, efforts in
that direction have not only been unsuocess-
full, but result exactly opposite 10 now
sought 10 be brought about, by combining
the most opposite and hostile parties and
factions, for the avowed purpose OF defeat
ing MIR. Lnoolu's eleetion-n0t for electing
any other man by the people, for that, under
existing circumstances, is hardly possible
This scheme to defeat Lincoln, but elect no.
body, seems 10 be based upon principle
entirely new in American politics, though
well understood In American trade. liz 10
the principle of joint stock company, in
which each subscriber lin case there is any
pro6t in the adventure) Is TO draw a dividend
ln proportion TO bis stock in the trade. Thus,
in the political company lately formed 10 the
great commercial State of New York, land
il is rumored that there are other like com
panies in other States, the stock OF which is
divided into thirty five shares; it has been
publicly gazetted that Mr.. Douglas owns If
teen shares. and Messrs. Bell and Breckin-
4. 81 u all
the laws of honest trade, the division OF the
profits (if ANY, must be in that ratio. But
it NAV be well doubted whether there will be
anv profits 60 divide. Ii is far more likely
that the concern will have to Ego into liqui-
dstiono before the middle of November
The scheme. indeed, is attractive by it's nov
city and boldness, and IL characteristic OF the
daring enterprise of our trading people; but,
then. the stockholders are such inveterate
enemies, and are so Justly suspicious of each
other, that ID is hardly possible for the affairs
of the company to be managed with prudence
and success. Besides, the People With whom
the new company must deal, will, in all
probability. prefer to transact their political
business with some firm of longer standing
and better reputation for candor and lib
erality.
But to be serious. This combination OF
opposite and hostile parties, not to elect any
man to the Presidency, but avowedly to de-
feat an election by the people, is factious and
dangerous. On the face OF it, il pr oclaims a
distrust of the people and desire TO with
draw the great question from the body of the
nation, and refer il for decision to small
number Of men--the House OF Representa-
tives-sll of whom are open 10 all The apph.
anoes of political SPECTATORS, who will have
ample opportunity to work upon their hopes
and fears. their ambition and their interest.
If the traders succeed in defeating an elee-
ton by the people, it is more than probable
| that, in view Of the present array of parties
| in Congress, the House of Representatives
/ will also fail TO make an election. And then
/ the Senate must choose a Vice President
| from the two highest on the list voted for by
! the elector, and the person so chosen wall be
come President OF the United States. And
what sort Of q President? Constitutions
President, admit, and therefore to be qui'
etly submitted to, but President that NJ
citizen, in voting for electors, ever thought
of as President. And yet, the parties which
| bargain aud contrive and labor TO compass
this result, ell profess TO be great friends Of
the people and firm believers IN their virtu
and in their capacity 20 choose President
in the way Of the Constitution, wisely AM
we'll. Still, they are doing their worst II
take the election, in fact, from the people
and give il TO the Senate. And why give /
to the Senate, just ow? Because, just note
the Democratic party 10 In sinking con
dition, and already below the hope of elect
ing a President by popular vote. But if thi
new scheme can be made to work success
fully, then the Senate (whieh unforlunatel,
has still Democratic majority may fore
upon the natioa a Democratic President, Il
spite Of the people.
, Thus, il seems to me plain, whatever mas
this intrigue may assume before the public
that the real deslgn OF it, and the probabl
effect OF its success, will be to re-establis
the now broken and defeated Democrat
party, and make il stronger than ever, b
the absorption of most if not all the element
. of the new coalition.
II is easy 10 understand the Democrat
party, for its history is before the world
: and its present division into factions, osteu
: sibly npon a particular principle, but reall
, upon particular men, has not changed il
doctrines nor improved its character. BIZ
il il not so easy TO understand the Oonstitu
I tional Union party, becaaseitis a new part,
r without any history, and without any pledg
/ in case Of It's success, TO support any pariit
ular principles, or TO fellow out any partiS
ular line Of governmental policy. Ii cor
J tains, undoubtedly, many excellent met
4 whose private OPINIONS are known and II
spected, but. as a party, IL lsases itself, b
design, perfectly free to do whatsoever
o pleases and unite with whomsoever il please
: when it comes into power. 1t pledges itse
. to nothing but to support the Constitution
q the Union and the Laws; and that, ever
honest citizen, of every party, knows to be
J common duty. Every President, OF wha
y ever party, must begin his Official life
i swearing that he will preserve, protect ar
defend the Con .titution of the United States;
and that Constitution makes IL his espeoi
duty to stake care that the laws be faithful
Q executed" As party, then, there 10 not
j. ing TO distinguish il from any other party
mt liza n iar