The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-16

advocates Of this doctrine, stands humss
slsvsryi
ID it strange that the bold promulga cation Of
these doctrines, acting upon tho minds 81
men msddened by the recollection Of wrongs
indicted upon them In Kansas, becsuss q
their love OF freedom, would lead them %
the oonclusion that they should do and dars
~ much at homo for liberty, q those who
bad oppressed them we're doing abroad for
slsveryf 1t seems 10 ne most natural; and,
while deeply deplore and must unqualified
~ condemn, cannot wonder at, the recent
unfortunate and bloody occurrence at Har-
psr's Ferry. But while We may not wonder
q, We must, condemn il. II vas On act OF
war,--of war against brethren, and ia that
. greater crime than the invaders OF Cuba or
Nicaragua wsrs guilty of,--relieved 10 soma
extent OF its gsilt in the minds OF uany. by
tho fact that the blew was struck for free-
dom, and not for slavery. Still Il vas !
wrong, and 90 such the deliberate public
opinion OF the North, @ well % OF tho South,
condemns It. In my opinion, much missp-
pfehension exists on the subject among our
Southern brethren, and this 1isapprsh snsion
renders proper the present allusion TO it,
The mass OF them, relying upon the state
msDts Of tho leading men Of the South, Who
should know better, and Of prominent men
OF the North, who 30 know better, but fall
sify for . purpose, believe that the sympathy
expressed By many OF orr Northern mon for
the leader OF that invasion covers and con-
tains our approval OF his aet. This 10 Z
great and 1t may become dangerous ssror.
While the great macs Of our Northern peo-
pie utterly condemn the act Of John Brown,
they feel and they express admirstion and
sympathy for the disintsesstednsss OF pur-
pose BY which they believe hs was governed,
and for tho uutincaIsg ooufags and calm
eheerfulness with which hs mss the oonse-
qusness Of his failure. Many, very many Of
eur Northsrn people felt deep sympathy for
the gallant Crittsadsn who died 90 brayely in
Cuba for a act they strongly condemned,
and tho tears Of many Of the best and brsvsst
OF oar Revolutionary sirss believed the grave
OF Andre, who, BY their own judgment, died
the death OF spy his sentence approved
81 Washington. When passion has passed
away, and oslm reason resumed it place in
tho minds OF our Southern brethren, they will
fully appreciate oar feelings, and then, IL |
do mot mistake them, while with 40 they oon-
denim yet pity John Brown - q misguided
bnt not base minded man, they will also with
10 detest and scorn those men in our midst
who now seek, BY distorting our language
and falsifying our sentiments, to use the
passions and prejudioss Of our Southern
brethren ~ means to pave their own base
way to power and place.
! cannot concur in the opinion expressed
BY some psrsons that the constituted author.
ties Of the States Of the Union hays dis
'hefged their entire duty, when they have
looked to and cared Tor their own internal
l6airS, and that they travel ont Of their L.
gitimsts sphere whom they, in any manner,
'onosfn themselves in the affairs OF our Gen.
.rsl Government. The several States. q
luoh, are the Constituents OF one branch OF
he National Oongress, and il 1t be true that
he constituent may and should concern him
elf with what h done By his Rsprsssntativs,
must be true that each State may and
hould concern itself in the actions Of that
General Government Of which her Represent
Itivss are . part. IL it be true that the
states OF our Confederscy are interested id
he administration and preservation Of that
ompact without which they would be wholly
Independent and rival, perhaps hostile, SOW
retgnties, instead OF one great and united
latlon, il must be true that they may and
hould concern themselves with the - amor
a which those TO whose hands that admins
rstion and preservation are committed, dis
hargs their trust.
The passage BY Congress OF the measure
commonly known - the Homestead Bill
Vonlds 10 my opinion, be reproductive Of much
GOD, preventing in great degree the acqui-
ition BY speculators Of large bodies Of the
.ublie lands 70 the injury OF tho actual set
Ter, md ~ enabling many honest and in
lustrioos poor men, who can NOT now do 90,
o enroll themselves in tho class OF indepcn-
lent farmers, who are the support and
trength OF our country. The government
'rioe OF quarter section Of land may appear
Q many small and insigni6oant sam but
be many thousands Of the farmers oil the
Vest, who hsve opened farms either in the
FOODS or on the prsiFies, can more justly
ppreoiate tho great benefits dsrivable from |
bat small amount in their work OF toll and |
respectfully recommend that
on nenoxiAiise Congrsss for tho passage Of |
uch . law.
The buildisg Of Railrosd 10 tho Pacific
OCEAN 10 . measure which, in my opinion, 10
emAnded BY tho best intsresss Of our whole
ountry. In ease OF war with any OF the
reat maritime powers, the States on the |
'scihc would be peculiarly opsn TO attack,
nd our Government could afford then the
Ieosssary aid for their defense only ct great
lax and enormous expense. Troops could
lot be sent to their assistance through our
wn country except BY the overland route,
vhieh experience has shown to be for Cd
rmy almost impracticabls; while IL sent BY |
ny other route they might bs compelled to |
ght their way to tho States they are sent 80 |
!efsnd. Il seems to me TO be bad policy
h.s woold compel y % depend upon other
essions and onr own homes. when 10 oau |
ave such way within our own limits. A |
'reat central trunk route, with braashss q
ithef end to accommodate Ill parts OF our |
country both upon tho Atlantic and Psei6s. |
vould moet our wants and commend itself to |
no sound sense and calm judgment OF our |