The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-05-05
Republican County Convension.

EdiGoriai correspondence.
Troubles of the Democracy What the
Debates sn the Chrrissfon Convention
dsmonstrdte- Ths duties Of candid and
honest nasn.
WASHINGTON, April 2s, 1860.
Democracy here In confused and con-
founded. This is the sixth day of the Con-
vention, and what the issue will be, at this
writing, no Democrat 10 hazardous enough
TO predict. But certain it is, If oaths could
be stamped in the mint, the Democracy OF
Washington could furnish, in one day, cur
ency enough for the nation after retiring
every dollar of paper. Ii does me good;
not the swearing, but the desperate eondi-
tion they are in. | am sensible of my Chris
sian duties, and try to cultivate sympathy
for their distress but it . no use. There is
too much wiokedness in me, and can't help
feeling good, the best | oan do. don's like
the Democracy, and never did. II | were
supplicasing concerning it, as the old Scotch
priest was concerning hie enemy, when he
begged the Lord to s'shak' him over the mouth
o. hell, but dinna let him fall in, - am afraid
/ should omit the last injunction. am made
deeply sensible OF the depth of human de-
pravity, when | observe how keen and I'M
conqoerable is my delight over the miseries
of the Democracy. beg forgiveness for the
Gin, but must enjoy the fun.
Ii our readers have not seen oil the daily
proceedings of the Convention, they will
have done SO before they peruss this article.
And in all seriousness desire to draw the
attention OF our Democratic friends ia par
ticular to one matter plainly demonstr ated
by the record. They deny that the South
has been making aggrsssions in the interest
of Slavery, and especially that the Demo
cratic party, under their influence, has been
made the instrument OF these aggressions.
They say that the South-their allies, or
their masters, rather, whom, as such, they
desire to justify-has not been pursuing an
aggressive policy; that they only desired to
preserve their just and constitutional rights
to maintain things as they were, and defend
themselves against aggression; that the De-
mocrasic party had m maintained consistent,
uniform position upon the subject, in the de-
fence of their legal rights, etc. Well, 10 this
Convention we see, whenever o Southern
man defends himself and the Slavery interest
in the demand made for the protection of
Slavery in the Territories, and the rightful-
ness of Slave Code, some Northern Demo-
crat replies to him by proving that either
squatter sovereignty or non Intervention was
the universal doctrine of the Southern lead
ers, only q little while back. And 30 they
get the argument on them, incontestably.
But these men do not hold such opinions
now. They demand the recognition of the
constitutionality of Slavery in the Territories
ht once, and the concession OF Slave Code
whenever II shall be deemed necessary. And
what do tho Northern debaters prove in this
argument Simply that the South has been
advancing. That Slavery is aggressive,
That it is aggressive to such an extent that
they feel constrained even to break up the
Convention and bury the Democratic party
with their own hands rather than admit this
last demand. They hare the argument on
their Southern confederates !; but we Repnb-
licans have the argument on them, furnished
from their own mouths. The Slavery inter.
est has been perpetually advancing in it's dc.
mands; il has been making aggression.
through the Supreme Court, through the Ma.
tional Administrations, and through the De.
mocratic party, which alone has made ag.
gresslons through the Court and the severa
Administrations possible. 1t is within the
memory OF almost all Of US, that Calhoun
who held these identical sentiments touching
the universally of Slavery in all the nationa
domain, in the public ports and arsenals and
on the high seas, and its rightfulness to Con.
grsssional protection, was the Representative
OF but fragment Of public opinion 81
the South. His followers were absolutely
contemplate, in point of numbers. But nov
the whole South, nearly,--the whole Demo
cratic party South, certainly,-is Calhoun
lied. Lis whole doctrines touching the cues
tion OF Slavery abstractly, and its rights un
der this government, have become the doc
trines Of all the Democratic politicians an,
leaders, and OF nearly all men Of any dis
s,poiion anu influence OF every party in tn
South. IL not this progress? Do not th
debates in the Charleston Convention disclos
iti lit not such progress as We have q
along been declaring, and trying to open th
peoples eyes to see Such progress NJ v
have been ssrsnuousy trying to show was hur
rying on through fraud and force and blood /
afearful and deplorable crisis, and which blu
mainly, Christian duty, patriotism, loyalty t
the institutions OF our fathers all demande
should be resisted actively, faithfully an
nrmlys Will men OF sense and candor an