The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-01

S"eiy ~ " Vut UaSuTdI tO6t W0 SuOutQ OK.
press our approval. n the primitive Abra.
ham sent away those, WIN according to the
notions Of modern slaveholding should have
been sold or retained solely for the benefit
Of his heirs, the Mercury ought not to ex-
pect any who take the Bible for the standard
Of their faith to disapprove similar trans.
action in our day.
But of course We cannst be expected to
understand the constitution We hope Cass,
Clay, Douglas. Fillmore. Webster, and 9th.
ers understood Il twelve years ago when
they secured the abolition Of the slave trade
At the Capital. We hope the fathers who
established slavery bv their own act, in re.
snacting the laws of Maryland and Virgins
on this subject. understood Il. We hope
Mr.. Lincoln and those republican lawyers.
Of whom the article from the Keokuk Con.
sti,ution 70 which our attention has been
directed speaks 40 approvingly, understood
it. In fine, We hope more than two.thirds
Of our present Congress, embracing four
democrats, who passed the act which we ap-
prove, understood It. Indeed We have a
suspicion that the Constitution Of the United
States, when read in the light Of "historic
facts" and made TO harmonize with them,
is much more easily understood than the
Keokuk Constitution.
For example, the Keokuk Constitution
tells Us that when the Keokuk Presbytery
says shat American slavery having failed
to control the Government, has now sought
its destruction" 1t 10 mistaken. Now per.
hsps the Presbytery have been taught by
one Alexander H. Stephens, probably the
most philisophic mind on the side of the re-
bellion. When speaking Of the relation Of
slavery to tho Confederacy, he says, "the
stone which the builders refused is become
the headstone Of oar corner" Surely our
loyal fellow citizens in Iowa cannot discover
the secret springs of this rebellion with more
certainty than those who have set them in
motion, and take pride in startling the civ
ilized world by boldly pointing them out.
Take another example. The Kcokuk
Constitution Gays, 1--WE suppose this learned
Presbytery will say that the Constitution
- well a. this decision Of the Supreme
Court is not binding on their conscience. ("
"Suppese they wiu say" None know bet
ter than those who nave been our Judges
that there is not pettiogger in all lows
stupid enough to permit testimony of this
kind to be introduced into court to the pre-
JUDGE Of his case. What is the nature of q
cause that needs such testimony What
sort Of loyalty is that which is perpetually
imputing treason without shadow of evi.
dence ana As sssidaously passing it by
where It is boldly avowed.
The passages quoted from the Bible which,
speak Of buying servants Of the heather,
may be applied to justify the slave trade
Is that the thing intended by the Keokak
Constitution and endorsed by the Asreury'
Are they ready to unfurl the black Gag Of
piracy in the face of the civilized world and
call on their fellow citizens to rally to it's
support. If 20, why talk Of the constitu-
ton and the lawse Why not abolish both
and JOIN the Confectionery q once!
But the Mercury asks, as II it were ques-
ton hard to answer, 'Ss il the mission Of the
church to build no Christ's kingdons. or is
Il it's office to build up political marty ~
Hanpily Il has itseN furnished kew for the
solution Of its own question. It tells Va in
two places at least in its last weeks issue,
that Christ lived for thirty wears amid a ma.
t;on of shareholders. II will not deny that
only .bo.t three wears Of his public m;nie.
trv were permitted to pass amid this nation
Of sMvebolders, until with one voice it de.
manded hi. public execution in . manner
the most cruel and ienominous known to
their laws. ev<n recurring the release Of
R.r.hh.. . notor;ons robber and ;n.urrec.
t;o,;.. ;c.te.d Of Him. 40 mad and fan.t;.
-, -. .h.;r rrrnosc IN sacnr. ri. death =
:. :, ..,;.. ..-..;n th.t h. r.v.- ,.h,,L.d
s,avehosdingi Can even the Mercury and
its supporters imagine slaveholding com.
u,,ni,v 70 exist anywhere in our dav. or sny
other d.y. who would treat such NAN in
..,ch . manner IL he never medd,ed with
tbe;, n.cu,i.r institution or nodded With Il
on,v to su,port and Justify It, Did he not
w,rn h;s d;sc;nles against tho ex,,np,e o!