The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-03
WHAT CONSTITUTES A TRAITOR ,

pier Of the Tribune:
WHAT CONSTITUTES TRAIToR2
Propr,esors Of N. j. Tribune:
SIRs: Your paper, the Tribune, has
been made the medium of stigmatizing
and libeling me as traitor, and been
with other papers the means of having
me arrested and confined for nearly three
months In the Old Capitol at Washing
ton. During my Imprisonment saw my.
self alluded to in the Tribune as traitor
and now that ] am at liberty | shall hold
you responsible for your share of the in.
juries done me, unless you make due re.
paratlon. Any reply you may choose to
make will reach me where this note is
written. d. A. MAHoNY.
Dubuque, loaoa, Nov. 10, 1869.
Reply.
Mr.. MAHoNY-When grave charges
are made, impeaching the integrity or
the conduct of the accused. it is usual
and proper that they be accompanied by
specifications. Ii the Tribune has stg-
matized you unjustly, it cannot be diff.
cult to indicate the time when and the
words wherein such injustice was done
you. Vague. unsupported assertions of
damaging inculpation are not to the pur-
pose. Ii you will indicate any charge or
statement regarding you which has been
made by this paper, it will either be jus
titled or retracted. But / am not aware
that your course with respect to the
Shareholders Rebellion and the Civil War
it inaugurated was ever discussed or COM
mented on BY the Tribune prior to your
arrest and imprisonment. Let us have
facts to debate, not mere assertions
Since, however, you seem TO court dis
cussion, ! will-simply for your guidance
IN any further proceedings on your part
state very frankly what | understand
to be your position AID what believe to
have been your course in the great strug-
gle now CONFUSING our country:
/. The leaders of the Democratic party
IN the Cotton States having inaugurated. |
two years ago, their long meditated at,
tempt to dissolve the Union and erect a
Southern Confederaey on it's ruins, their
allies IN tho States further North sup
ported their movement By demanding
that concessions should he made to Slay. |
cry IN order TO arrest the march of Dis
union. lou seconded that demand, and in
so ooing proved recreant to the vital prin-
c'pie OF republican liberty, which concedes
everything to reason and Justice, nothing
to menace and violence. Whenever the
validity and binding force Of an election
are made to depend on subsequent con-
cessions, extorted from the fears of the
successful party by the threats of the de |
feated, elections will have become farce
aud our Government will be republican
only in name.
2 The open traitors having commenc
ed a civil war in furthersnce of their CON
spiracy, it was the simple duty Of every
citizen OF the United States, regardless of
past differences, to give to the constitut.
ed authorities of the Union cordial,
hearty, jealous support in their efforts to
suppress this causeless, wicked but gigan-
tic rebellion. Any citizen may differ
with those authorities in judgment with
regard to the best means Of prosecuting
the war to speedy and trium plant close;
Out he has no right, because of such diff
terence, to endeavor to neutralize their
efforts and expose them to defeat and
failure. Your general course has seemed
10 me an emphatic defiance of this OBJ
vlous' imperative dictate Of loyalty and
patriotism.
.. Judging from the general tone of
your journal, | believe that YOU do not
really desire the overthrow of the Confed-
crate traitors, but rather their success in
defylng the authority and DESTROYING the
integrity of the United States. | can
not otherwise interpret the captiousness,
Inc yirulence, the malevolence with which
you have uniformly treated those charged
ny the Constitution and the People with
the conduct of the Government during
the War for the Union.
=. 1t is my firm conviction that Won
ana those who sympathize with Won de-
sire, expect, and labor Disunion Peace.
ana mat. having subjected our country
~ mat disastrous humiliation, you will be
found urging the. Free West to breaL
away from the Fast, repudiate our Public
Debt, and unite with the Southern ron
tederscy under the Montgomery Cons,;- |
tuition.
am not lawyer, and cannot saw
that all this makes you legally, technical
" traitor. That you are morally, es-
sentiaiiy one, have no manner of doubt.
ANA know nothing in your past career,
especially IN your treatment Of me and
mine. which should constrain me to sun
press these convictions. n. a.