The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-03-29
ALeoesoc. Psac. Prsgra.m..

Ath ~ ....a.....Es h VIZ n EA16 11 ~ M
ALocoaocs Peace Programme.
Dennis Mahoney, editor Of the Dubuque
Herald, the leading Democratic paper Of
Iowa, Aspires to lay down the programme for
the settlcme nt Of the difficulties Of the coun-
try. Dennis, notwithstanding bis Celtic
patronymic, is . man Of peace and craven
10 council in the present emergency. He 10
anxious TO hurry up peaceful arrangement
BY acknowledging the independence Of the
traitors At once, before they become % exas-
perated that they will not grant us favorable
terms. lie wants President Lincoln to open
neketiasiens to that end. He aaya;
Were We 10 Mr.. Lincoln's confidence We
would advise the opening OF negotiations at
onoe with the seceders, and endeayor to make
such treaties with them IS would secure TO
all the States = free interchange Of commod.
tiles among them, free of com nercial restrio.
tions, and ii possible, . uniform rate Of i'm
posts BY both Governments upon commodi-
ties OF foreign growth and manufactures
Several other matters Of not less importance
might be made the subjects OF treaty stipula-
tions, and when this Was done the separate
existence OF the seeded States should be
recognised De jure. II Mr.. Lincoln waits
much longer, she seceded 6tates will have
become both 10 name and feeling foreign to
oil iOtents and for every purpose. They will
become in many respects enterprising com.
petitors and successful rivals, and when they
wilt have reached that position, II will be In
vain that any effort may be made to acquire
those comm ercisl advantages and privileges
which would be now easily secured. We
commend these suggestions to the considera-
ton OF the powers that be, not to embarrass
their action, but to clear the way as much 40
possible for reaching condition OF amity,
repose and prosperity for our beloved coun-
try.
A profound constitutional lawyer 10 this
editor MahoDey. How unfortunate that Mr..
Lincoln should have made 90 wild mistake
ae to select Edward Bates for bic legal DON
stisutional adviser, and utterly overlooked
Dennis Mahoney. How easy the matter
would be settled if Dennis were in the coun-
ellis OF the President! A treaty would be
made at once, acknowledging the indepcn
dsnce Of the seeding States, and securing
from them tho most favorable commercial
arrangements possiblel As, however, the
country has not the benefit Of Mr.. Mahoney'l
presence in the Cabinet, will be not favor III
with an exposition Of the Constitution OF the
United States that We may oil be able 10 see
how, under bis strict construction theory, il
gives the President power to recognise the
Independence OF a portion of the rebeliious
States and enter into commercial treaties
with tben9 We 6nd no sooh power in our
reading of the Constitution, and the Prssi
dent who should attempt to exercise it would
violste the Constitution and his oath OF Of
nee, and become . pcrjured traitor and
usurper, liable to impeachment and punisb
ment ~ such.
10 another article on the same general sub.
ject, in the same number OF the paper, v.
notice that the editor, despairing Of Lin
coin following his advice, advocates thu
adoption by the people Of the United Ssate
OF the new Constitution Of JEFF. Davis Con
federate States. The editor OF tho Heral
evidently argues With A. II. Stephens, tina
the old Constitution framed BY our father
10 unsuitsd to this ago, for the reason thu
1t 10 not bssed upon the idea OF human slave
~. That our readers may see for themselves
and IN bis own words, the exact position o
the Dubuque Herald, We quote:
The Constitution Of the Confederate State
embodies tho principle which the people o
the South contend for 10 their controvers
With the people Of the North. Ii provide
Tor the recognition Of slavery and for III
legal profession Of slave property. This
the principal point OF difference between ID
two Constltutions, and this point being con
ceded, the Union could be preserved an
perpetuased for oil time TO come. For on
Own part, We would willingly acoede to tn
amendments OF the Conetitution VI the Upi
ted States proposed BY the seeded States.
And now, in order that our readers ma
soc what perfect coincidence OF opinion ex
lists between great Democratic and secsssio
leaders, South and North, we quote from
speech Of A. u. Stephens, Woo President 0
the Confederate States, delivered ct Aueus
IA, few days ago. lie said:
In the fourth place--and this is the nrin
pal and mostinportant point Of alive ~
settled, and, trust, settled forever, the erea
question which was the prime cause OF GU
separation fran Tie Uniie. Sisses-i mea
the question OF African slavery. The oil
Constitution set ont With wrong idea o
this subject; il Was based upon an erroneou
principle. II was founded upon the ide
that African slavery is wrong, and il lookn
forward 70 the ultimate determination or Ia,
institution. Bot time has proved the erro,
and ~ have corrected il in tho new Con.t
tuition. We have based ours upon the prin
siple Of the inequality q races, and the prr
cipie 10 spreading --it il becoming Apprecia
sed and better understood and though the,
arc many even in the South who are stil
the she'll uron thia subject, yet the dry is NJ
far distant when il will be generally unael
stood and amir eciGt ed--DOt only in the Snutl