The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-02-22
For the Gate City,

CITY In tn Cnurt House last night 70 Hftc
to q abatement Of the condition OF the SUI
feriog poor in the Republic OF Mississippi
by Major Hawkins, who resides among them
A highly respectable committee was appoint
ed to solicit subscriptions.
/ Resolutions were adopted expressing
kindly feeling for "our brothers OF tn
South,o ard taking active measures to ex
tend the required aid by contributing corr
and other provisions. The last resolution
has tho following significant thrust:
Resolved, That it il no more than righ
that the corn thus contributed should be lei
into that foreign country frse Of duty.
Upon getting into the omnibus at ST. Louis
on the 18th lost, to leave that city by rail
road, | found this same gentleman, Major
Hawkins, then on his way TO Springfield
lie stated that at the hotel be put up at in
st. Louis there were a number OF seces.
sionists, who insisted on his keeping silent
while in St. Louis on the subject OF HE mis-
sion, az the Democrat and News might ge'
hold Of il; and they actually followed him
about when he went out, and would not al
low him to remain alone while there.
lie stated that they electeda cooperation
list in his county, who turned secessionist at
ter going into the Convention, and that the
people were very indignant; that they wero
expecting trouble among themselves that
two counties were ready TOR rebellion, and
that in eight counties there was determina-
ton to ask the Governor to submit the Or
dinancc Of secession to the people; II 90
Submitted they would vote il down; il not
submitted to them they would not submit to
it. Major Hawkins said that one man had
been taken up and whipped for expressing
sentiments, and that the Union men were
rubbing up their muskets and aiming with
HE deter HHiHatieH that HE outrage eAeHla
not be repeated. And, said Maj Hawkins,
81 am expecting every day to hear Of their
being attacked" .'lf they do, you can get
re- Endorsements" said a stalwart free State
man present in the cars,--a sentiment which
was repeated, and apparently generally ae-
quicsoed in.
Major Hawkins said that along tho Mis-
sissippi and other large rivers, the crops
were not so poor, but in the interior they
amounted to scarcely anything. Some had
quit trying to plough, and had turned out
their stock because they had nothing to feed.
Numbers Of horses and cattle had died, and
be knew a number Of families with nothing
to live on but turnips.
Through brother Living in Ottumwa,
Major Hawkins had FIRST learned that there
was plenty in the North, md not that bitter
enmiiy towards tie South which they had
been taught to believe. lie bought guam
tity OF corn at 0ttumwa, which is now
stored with Messrs. Harrison & Eiiason OF
Kookuk. He suid that Mr.. Harrison had in
daced him to call on President Lincoln
When he stated the result Of that conversa-
ton to bic friends in Mississippi, they said,
"Why, that is all we want ~ The news Of
the feeling u the North. it's plentiful supply,
and the sentiments of Mr.. Lincoln, spread
rapidly; public meeting was called, resolu-
tons passed, and Major Huwkins was sent
by bis neighbors and friends 90 this mission.
These resolutions were published 10 the
cansiJ paper, and Hawkins was endorsed by
the editor as m honest and noble. hearted q
man as ever lived. Is showed me these
printed resolutions and remarks.
Major Hawkins said the people we're learn
ing that they had trusted in their leaders
and been deceived, and Northern opinion and
sentiment misreprescnted. Said | to him.
''lt il charged that freedom OF speech and of
the press in the North has caused all the DIFF
Guilty think it is the xant OF freedom Of
speech and the press in tho South "That
10 So" said he. "By the law of Mississippi
the postmaster throws all abolition docu.
ments in the firc, and be don't know what
are abolition. Generally all from the North
are considered abolition" "Why," he,
when it became known that had seen Mr..
Lincoln, hnndreds,-no, l wont say hun
dreds,-but will say fifty men, not, to be
sure, the best informed, but who might be
called intelligent, took me out to one sdc
and asked me II Linco,n uas not a biacA
man"
lie says there has boon no increase OF Ia,
yet, but the people are expecting the Legis
lature to meet and double the taxes, TO b,
paid forthwith. II 30, they will not pay il
Even the secessionists say that they will no
pay it.
| ! read him that portion or Lincoln's La
dianapolis speech in reference to the collec
ton OF revenue, and put the question to bin
whether the people would prefer that th
merchants 10 the Gulf cities should pay shoi
dntias, or the people be overwhelmed wit
I direct tsxstlop2 make them pay the du
ties, Of course" Vas the reply.
Major iiaskins informed ms that he ha,