Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-18

Ma. EDlroR In Mr.. Coolbaugh's
address to the Democrats of Des Moines
county, which have just read in the
Havkeye Of the Sd inst, l find the fol
lowing language
81 know Judge Mason well. l be-
licve him to be an honest, upright and
able man but ever since be aided the
Buchansus, the Davises, the Cobbs and
the Floyds in their attempts 10 force
slavery upon an unwilling people in
Kansas, and with them denounced and
persscuted that noble champion Of the
Democracy
- the pure Of the purest,
The hand that upheld our banner the suress.
for daring to stand by the right. ! fear
his sympatbies have been too strongly
with those arch-rebels TO suit the pa
triotic Democrats OF Iowa"
The above quotation includes more
than one mistake, by insinuation, which
my present position before the people
induces me to notice. | never aided
Mr.. Buchanan or any one else in any
attempt to force slavery upon Kansas.
/ have no recollection of ever having
denounced Judge Douglas in any man.
ner, and l know l never assisted in per.
scouting him.
l sometimes disagreed in opinion
with Judge Douglas-quite as much
with Mr.. Buchanan, and vastly more
so with some of his Cabinet. In these
cases always exercised the privilege Of
every American citizen, by expressing
my opinions-generally, l hope, with
can Tor and pIopriety, and never, !
think, las against Judge Douglas) in a
tone of denunciation. For his talents
and the services he had rendered his
country, always entertained the high
est regard.
But believing that the Union could
only be preserved by the success OF the
Democratic party, ] used all my excr-
lions to prevent schsn which would,
l feared, end in its overthrow. As is
usual in such cases, both parties, as |
believed, we're somewhat in fault, and l
did not hesitate to say 80. Some called
me Lecomptonite, then, because did
not coincide in all respects with the
friends Of Judge Douglas, just as l am
now sometimes called secessionist, be.
cause do not fall in with the idea that
the Northern people are wholly in the
right and the Southern people altogcth.
or in the wrong. certainly never had
any reason to believe that MIR. Buchan-
an regarded me as blindly devoted
friend of his administration. Common
civility is all the favor ever received
from any member of that Administra-
ton. One of his Secretaries did inc
greater injuries than ever received
from any other human being, and when
| sought redress from the head Of the
Government l failed to obtain it.
| did not, however, make war on the
Administration on that account, but
used the utmost of my humble exertions
to prevent the severance OF the party,
which: severance has since produced such
banetul results. Just previous to the
last Presidential election | was in Du-
buque, and also in burlington, when !
earnestly urged On every one over whom
thought could exercise any influence
to vote for Judge Douglas for President.
| did also the same in New York, and
should have SO voted, had been able
to do so in either OF those States.
1t is also intimatcd by Mr.. Coolbaugh
that countcnancc or sympathize with
the Southern rebellion. Ii l know my
own heart nothing can be farther from
the truth. regretted and disapproycd
as sincerely AS any living man, the
course pursued in the South Of seizing
by violence the public property, and
finally opened fire on Fort Sumter-ful.
ly believing that IN this as in all other
cases Of supposed grievance among rca-
sonably, civilized men, redress can best
be obtained by peaceful means. And !
feel sure that no one now desires the re.
storation OF our Union more earnestly
than / do. We only differ with regard
to the best measures tor accomplishing
this purpose.
Six months ago l believed it might
be effected solely by pacific measures
still think such means should not be
entirely discarded, but that they should
be prominently presented in connection
with our warlikc preparations. The
South has been most dreadfuliy in fault
but are we wholly guiItlcss! To excite
the animosity of our people and to urge
them to listen to nothing but subm,s-
sion, does not seem to me tho best
means of restoring fraternal relations
with our erring brethren. Ii my neigh:
Dor were to quarrel with his wife, and
supposed there was any hope OF a final
reconciliation, should advise him no,
to call her any foul or insulting names.
| cannot believe that they are the most
| loyal and patriotic who are the loudcst
in their denunclations and most profuse
in their cpithets Of thieves. robbers and
cut-throats. l have never INDUCED in
them, but this does not prove me to be
sympathizcr with rebellion.
MIR. CoolbangL's address having, as
think, done me injustice, ask from your
magnanimity an opportunity to reply
through the same channel.
Yours truly, CmAs. MASON.
| MIR. DICKINSON DECLINES The Sy.
rscnse journal of Thursday says:
I'VE understand that the President OF
| If tho Dnnnlosa Coo,o,,t:r~ ,..A.-l