The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-03
Van nuren Dem ocsasic Conventtsn
--Erv. wright s.sheItA,, the Peace
-.-The kympathixrrs, Con-
fuse n ID % eun0ed Adjourn.

we maue, On CdtuTudy last, HyiuS
visit to our old home in Keosauqua. 1t
so happened that on that day the Democ-
raey of sOld Van Buren, met in solemn
convention to guard the interest of that
Anticipated party And if Anticipated any
where, it is SO in the superlatiye degree
among the BaiIeys, and Days, and Robbs,
and Pettits ofthat region We heard and
learned few things, which We noted
down for the GATE, and our readers shall
have them.
1t was the evident purpose of the Hard
Shells to place the party upon an anti-war
footing--to denounce the Administration
and the Governmental urge the neces-
sity of making peace upon Bonded knees
with the rebels---to justify a separation
rather than expend money to preserve the
unity OF the nation---to reyel in the soda
tive embraces of the resolutions of 90 and
the Cincinnati platform-to rejoice once
more that the world did not move. But
thanks to the schoolmaster, true patriot
ism and an enlightened civilization, it was
ordered otherwise Some men, aware of
the consequences of such action, went dill
ligently to work to prevent the suicide,
aud most beautifully did they succeed
Judge Knapp, uncompromising, as we all
know, in his political faith, worked with
untiring zeal to secure an adjournment,
hoping, and Justly so, as we hope, that
time would give the Hards sense and re-
Election, in fact modicum of patriotism
The result was that not without some OPP
position, and no small degree of sparring,
q committee was appointed to wait on Ex-
Gov Wright of Indiana and Judge Knapp
to address the convention The Governor
made his appearance, and then the M1s-
trated Meas ought to have been on hand
to take the long and yhastly faces of the
Hards
The Governor spoke as patriot. My
first vote, said he, was given for Andrew
jackson. Last fall, if at home, / should
have voted for Stephen A. Douglas. My
thorough devotion to the interests of the
Democratic party, no man, trust, has ever
questioned. But, my friends, my country
is before party left this country four
years ago, happy, united, prosperous
return to find it divided and cursed with
civil war. / find a President opposed to
me politically ask what is my duty
To this my heart gives but one response,
and that is to give my time, my means,
my all, to maintain the Government against
the assaults of those who would pull it
down. The Administration may have
done wrong; it is doubtless true that as
Democrats we could Justly find fault with
many things, but when the very existence
Of the Government is at stake, this is no
time to cavil, but every man should do
all in his power to uphold the hands of
ssios II is 81. III. sSa Il t IL
are honestly endcavoring to suppress the
| rebellion. You talk about State rights.
/ have az great devotion to Indiana as
any man on earth, and have as great cause
to, but owe greater debt to my country
This Government, given to us by the best
and purest men that ever lived, demands
my highest fealty, my hearts whole deyo-
ton, and it shall have this and no less. -
When ! know have country it will be
time enough to discuss party and party
issues. In thus standing unreservedly By
my country's flag, feel that am no lcs'
Democrat than ever, but, on the contra
ry, that give fresh evidence that my
countrys welfare is the constant aim q
the party. This Islander Of jeff. Davis
that this Union is but confedency o
States, that each State may 1t pleasure
withdraw from the confederation, must b,
put down. This ID q Government mad,
by the people, and the Constitution, theil
great charter, has provided means fol
the redress of wrong. The right Of revo
luton no one denies, but the revolution
lists are not to be tho sole judges of Their
exercise Of this right, and especially il
! this country, where the Constitution hal
guarded SO well the rights of all portions
and all persons.
He spoke with great confidence Of tn.
ultimate ultimate triumph Of the Government AM
the strong and enduring peace which woule