The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-06

1t is known to most of you that as one OF
the delegates regularly appointed by the de-
moeraey of this county. attended and par
ticipated in the proceedings ut the Demo
cratic State Convention which was held Ut
Dss Moines on the 10Th ut. 1t ID due to
you as well as myself, in view Of the action
Of that Convention and nv own course ~
one of your delegates. that should public
lv state to you some Of the circumstances
connected Herewith. The Convention which
assembled at the Capitol on the oath Of July
last, under the unauthorized call OF MIR. Ma
honey, assuming to speak for the democratic
party of the state, had adopted platform
which, it was believed by many good and
true men, swuvse 81 oasou tic '.ate. gst-
and prosperity of the party has Teen mani
Tested BY every act Of their political livss,
did not express the true sentiments, nor cor.s
rec,ly define the position Of the democratic
party Of Iowa, in he present extraordinary
condition Of the Country. 1t was felt by
such men, OF whom claim to be one. that
the 20 called Mahoney platform, -yhile con
| tanning much that all honest democrats could
agree upon, failed TO express that open, frank,
patriotic, and unqualified support of the
General Government, which all loyal Cit
zens owe to its authority in this hour Of the
nations peril Hence when BY the proper
authority, q new Convention was called, i
accepted the position rendered me by your
par,iality, and attended - one of your dele
gates for the sole purpose OF doing all could
to aid in reconciling honest differences VI
opinion, and restoring harmony, and re-as-
sorting those time bonored principles with
} which the party had so often and gloriously
triumphed, the very soul and substance Of
which is ssthe Union, the whole Union, and
nothing but the Union"
In this purpose, sincerely and sealously
followed, am grieyed to say did not sue
: Deed. On behalf Of = very large and respects
. able minority of the Convention, / submit.
Q ted series Of resolutions which, while they
placed the origin and causes Of this terrible
E war, where believe in the opinion Of all
honest and patriotic men, and in the sight OF
Go /, they belong--the fanAticism Of trait
? ors TO he Union and enemies Of the Consti-
4 tuition, both north and southland while they
neither CLOSED over, nor palliated the errors
] Of the party in power, they unequivocaliy
\ and Internationally, declared our unaltera
/ Bile purpose to stand by the Government o.
6 our Fathers. They declared in tho lang ag,
: OF that glorious old patriot John J. Critten
{ den that "the wnr was directly forced upol
! US by the disun,onsts OF the Sou.h, ant
] should be wnged not with any view Of sup
d preston or subj agat,on, nor for the purpos
d OF interfering with the institutions OF any o
the states, but sol,ly for the maintenance o
lhu Constitution, 10 enforcement. * -
laws, and the restoration Of tho authority D
Q the General Government; md that whel
: & csc objects were accomplished the VA
! ought to cease" This was the spirit, tn
tenor, Of the minority platform. 1t woul'
J? be hard to say wherein any democrat coul'
: object to it. 1t was clear, distinct. conciia
!. tory, conservative, unconditional, and loya
to the core. .~ss~ass
But = majority Of the Convention with
e pertinacity that admitted of no compromise
y insisted on the adoption substantially Of tn
a Mahoney platform, upon which religiousl,
d believe tie brand not Of treason, but o
l doubtful loyalty At least, il indelibly stamp
i ed by the just verdict OF the public mind
: Both the platform adopted, and the one 5,
ignominiously rejected will soon be acoessi
y BILE to the people, and | appeal to every can
/ did and intelligent man, when be shall hay,
3 read and pondered over them, to answer
1 whether hare not fairly stated their differ
nnce. ~
1t is due, however, TO candor, and thu
. sagacity OF the leaders Of tho Nahoney party
70 state that after they had voted down al
: the resolutions submitted by the minority
they subsequently, adopted four Of them:---