The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-12

evidences Of different temper In the South but "
| shall be content with expressing our belief tina
hostility that is not desgnedly provoked, and tina
cannot provoke retaliation, h m anomaly tina
must be- traced to casual exctemsnts, which canno
perpetrAke alienation.
caGvass fora Presidential election, In some 70
spects more important, perhaps, than any sine,
1890, has recently begun. The Houss OF Repre-
sentAtives was to be organised by majority, while
no party could cast more than plurality Of votes
The gloom of the late tragedy in Virginia rested
on the Capitol from the day when Congress Assem-
bled. While the two great political parties wers
peacefully, lawfully and sonstitutionally, though
tween free labor and capital labor for the Terrific
rcs to its proper solution through the trials Of the
ballot, operating directly indirectly the VA.
rious departments Of the Government band Of ex-
ceptional men, contcmptuous equally Of that great
question and Of the parties to the controversy and
impatient Of the constitutional system which con-
INES the citizens Of every State to political aStion
BY suffrage In rganised parties within their own
borders, inspired by an enthusiasm peculiar TO
themselves, and exasperated by grievances and
wrongs that some of them had suffered by inroads
Of armed propagandists Of Slavery in Kansas, nm
lawful as their own retaliation was, attempted TO
subvert Slavery In Virginia by conspiracy ambush,
invasion, and force. The method We have adopted,
OF appealing TO the reason and judgment Of the
people, to be pronounced by suffrage, IN the only
one by which free government can be maintained
anywhere, and the only one yet devised which 10
in harmony with the spirit Of Christian religion
While generous and charitable natures will prob
ably concede that John Brown and his assnciatss
acted on earnest though fatally erroneous convic-
ons, yet all good citisens win nevertheless agree
that this attempt to execute an unlawful purpose
IN Virginia by invasion, involving servle war, was
an act Of seiition and treason and criminal to just
the extent that 1t affected the public peace, and
destructive of human happiness and human life
1t IL painful reflection that after % long OK
perience of the benefcent working Of our system
- We have enjoyed, We have had these new illus
trations in Kansas and Virginia of the existence
among us OF class of men 30 misguided and 20
desperate to seek to enforce their peculiar prn-
ciples BY the sword drawing after 1t need for the
further illustration by their punishment Of that
great moral truth, especially applicable In . re-
public, that they who take up the sword Is weap-
on OF controversy shall perish by the sword. In
the latter case, the lamented deaths Of 20 many
citizens slain from m ambush and by surprise--ail
the more lamentable because they we're innocent
victims Of frenzy kindled without their agency,
in far distant hres-the deaths even Of tho Offend
ets themselves, pitiable, although necessary and
just, because they acted under delirium, which
blinded their judgments to the real motive Of their
criminal enterprise; the alarm and CONS formation
naturally awakened throughout the country, exc
ting for the moment the fear that our whole system
with all its securities for life and liberty, was
ing to an end--a fear none the more endurabie be-
cause continually aggravated by new chimeras TO
which the great leading event lent air Of probA-
bility; surely all these constituted sum of public
misery which ought to have satisfied the most NOR
bid appetite for social horrors But, AZ In case OF
the gunpowder plot and the Salem witchcraft, and
the New York colonial negro plot, 30 now ; the
original actors were swiftly followed by another
and kindred class, who sought to prolong and widen
the public distress by attempting to direct the in
dignation which it had excited against parties
guiltless equally of completely and Of sympathy
with the offenders.
Posterity must decide In all the recent cases
where political responsibility for public disasters
must fall and posterity will give little heed to
our instructions. 1t was not until the gloomy
reign OF Domitian had ended, and liberty and virtue
had found assured refuge under the sway Of the
milder Nerva, that the historian arose whose mar
ratve of that period Of tyranny and terror has
accepted by mankind.
The Republican party being thus vindicated
against the charge Of hostility to the South, which
has been offered In excuse for the menaces Of I'M
constitutional resistance In the event of ts success
Ifeel we'll assured that 1t will sustain me In meet
ing them in the split Of the defender Of the Eng
lish Commonwealth
nSurely they that shall boast as We do TO be .
free nation, and having the power, shall not also
have the courage, to remove constitutionaly every
Governor. whether he be the supreme or subordin-
ate, may please their fancy with . ridiculous and
painted freedom, fit to coEen babies but are in
deed under tyranny and servitude, ~ wanting that
power, which 10 the root and source of all liberty
TO dispose OF and economixe in the land which God
hath given them, as members Of family la their
own home and free inheritance: without which
natural and essential power OF free nation though
bsariL high their heads, they can, in due esteem,
be thought no better than slaves and vassals born
in the tenure and occupation Of another inheriting
lord whose government, though not illegal or in.
tolerable, hangs on them as Q lordly scourge, not
free government"
The Republican party kr owe as the whole coun-
try will ultimately come 10 understand, that the
noblsst jects of national life must perish IL that
life itself shall be Loss end therefore ii will &C
sept the issue rendered. Twin take mp the word
Union, which others willing to renounce,
and combining IL with that other glorious thought,
Liberty, which has been its inspiration 20 long 1t
will move firmly onward, with the motto inscribed
on its banner, UNION and LIBERTY come what may,
in victory as in defeat, in power ~ out Of power
now and forever
Ii the Republican party maintain the Union,
who and what party Is TO assailit7 Only the Dem
ocratc party, for there ID no other. viii the Dem
ocratlc party take up the ASSAULT The menaces
of Disunion are made, though not in its name, yet
In its behalf. 1t must avow OF disavow them. Its
silence, thus far Ia portentt but 1t IL not alarm
ing. The fleet Of the intimidation, il suoc
would be to continue the rule OF the Democra tic
party, though minority, by terror. II certainly
ought to need no more than this TO secure the sue
cess OF the Republican party. IL indeed the time
has come when the Democratic party must rule by
terror, instead Of ruin through conceded public
iucu ~ 40 quite ctFt3n That III cannot be
dismissed from power too soon. Ruling on that
odious principle, ii ouh not long save either the
Constitution or public liberty. But I. shall not
believe the Democratic party win consent to stand
in this position, though 1t does through the action
Of its representatives, seem to cover and sustain
those who threaten disunon. know the Dsmoc.
racy OF the North. know them now in their
waning strength do not know = possible dis
unionist among them all. ! believe they will be
as faithful to the Union now ~ they were in by
/ A~vH v~ka D kskr -
challenge to the combat wss always the war-cry OF
victory. But, If IL shall prove otherwise thea the
world will all the sooner XII ow that every party in
this country must stand On Union ground that the
American people villa sustain no party that 10 not
capable of making sacrifice Of its ambition on
the altar Of the country that, although = party
may have never 50 much prestige, and never such
traditional merit. yet. II IL be lacking In the one
virtue Of loyalty to tho Union, all Its advantages
win b. unavailiDg; and then obnoxious through
Ions. cherished ana obstinate prGudices, the he.
publican party Is In tho capital States, yet even
there 1t will advance like an army with banner