The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-07-19
For the Gate City

how they run.
For the Gate City
The Question OF Union.
The experiment of free government has,
ON the whUte, succeeded admirably IN this
country, and republicanism 10 no longer q
| problem. Another experiment., upharpily
connected with our free government, has not
succeeded as well, but is equally Instructive.
Ii is the experiment Of union between Free
dom and .Slavery-between thoroughly an
| sagonistic systems of society and govern.
ment. 1t is the experiment OF preserving
and perfecting liberty OF carrying up the
democratic idea to its highest realizations--
under government which, though funda-
mentally free, yet tolerates and protects
despotism. Who, in view of these facts, can
deny that the experiment has jeopardiIed
liberty aud democracy Who can fail to
see that only the existence and federation OF
Slavery have rendered the question Of free
government at all difficult and doubtful? 1t
is found practicable to build Coliseum, but
bard building it upon the back of an earth
quake. 1t 10 easy enough to lay the founda
tons of the temple Of liberty, but very un-
safe laying them over powder magazine.
Free government is practicable, but free
government 10 union with despotism 10
hard problem. This is the lesson of the hour
"A lesson which every American ough,
thoroughly to learn.
The truth 10 that slavery 10 tbs mortal on.
envy OF democracy, and has ever seriously
embarrassed the question Of free govern
ment. The great disturbing, corrupting
cause in the nation, from the beginning, has
been slavery. The force which has shaken
and shattered che Union. The rebellion is
nothing but the Instruction Of the slave
power against our free government and free
principles. Intelligent men OF other lands.
understand it. Every slave understands il.
Every stakeholder and rebel understands it.
The conflict is between Liberty and Slavery
between radically opposed systems of so
cistv. This, nothing but the debased and
oeFP'oonio rFttt VI Fhlty iulie w cees
Every intelligent Sontherner justifes the
rebellion upon the ground that Liberty an
Slavery-frec institutions and despotic insti-
tutions-are irreconcilably hostile TO each
other. and that the attemp. to unite and har-
monixe them cannot fail 10 manifest that
hostility 10 ceaseless agitatlons and con-
ficts, As he loves slavery, so he Of necessi-
ty bates democracy, the Union in
which there 10 20 peace for him, and seeks
peace out OF the Union. A separation be-
tween the free and the slave States is, in bis
view, necessity OF peace. There is come
reason in his madness.
On the other band, you 20 in for the
Union. You ackno ledge that Liberty and
Slavery are thoroughly antagonissic, but you
say you are ready to shed your last drop OF
blood for .''ths glorious Union" Honor to
your patriotism. But what do You mean by
"the Uninn"? Il it upholiing the authority
of the Federal Government 10 oil the thirty
four States? But how can this authority
be established on sure basis while slavery
exists in nearly half Of those States and is
the corner stone Of their civilization As
matter OF fact, only slavery has called in
question the Federal authority. Dcvotedness
to slavery is incompatible with hearty re.
spect to that authority. The insurgents are
slavery and therefore anti democratic.
How are you going to make them loyal to q
free government? Do you expect that the
war for Union will lead to the extension OF
slavery Do you 60 in for destroying the
cause OF dsunion? II so, well. But 10 il
your idea to compel the rebel States to re-
main, with their slavery, under tho govern
ment OF the United States? IL your watch
word "union and Slavery now and forever''P
Are You determined that slavery shall CON-
tnue in the Republic, TO be forever plotting
against liberty Isit true that, in your zeal
Tor the Union, you nave no idea OF the over
throw OF slavery, but only Of some compro.
mise fugitive slave. catching patchwork be !.
tween systems which you admit are essen-
tally repugnans to each other? Are you
thus ready to die for merely outward and
forced Union II 80, then the insanest rebel
y wiser than you. He understands that
there never was and never can be anv real
union bet~een the radically opposed prinoi.
ples and systems. And when he asks vnu
Why you tight FOR such and imrracticable
onlon-why you attempt 10 join together
things which have beed proved, a. YOU ad.
mt, TO DO essentially at war With each other
what can you answer hin2 III II 10 such
Union which you are seeking TO establish.
then history is 10 vain for you. Fao.s have
40 meaning. The war itself 10 the demon.
siration Of the folly Of attempting = union
between liberty and dssposism. The War is
the fruit Of suoh - unsuccessful attempt.