The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-05-01

The discussion now pending in Con-
grsss 10 one that loyal men everywhere
will watch with breathless interest. II
involves the question who shall be the
sufferers by this war. There is q share
OF ssffering and sacrifice that the loyal
States cannot escape, and will not shrink
from, and this includes the loss of blood
and treasure needed for the restoration
and perpetuity of the Government. But
this is only sacrifice. Is there 70 bs :
penalty inAiotsd upon the authors Of these
woes? IL the Government TO yindicate
itself in tho condign punishment Of trait
orss Will the Con6scatiou Act become
law, and It's provisions include slaves
and all the property Of rebels This ID
what the debates and action Of our Legis-
laton are within few Days To decide
There u but one path Of honor and Of
safety. No Government jealous Of its
own honor and the happiness of its peo-
pie can avoid it. Slavery is the cause of
this war. There ID not among the entire
list Of the snemies Of the Federal Gov
ernmsnt one rebel who is an Abolitionist.
There Is not one in arms or 10 the coun-
ellis Of the Confsdency Who deems man
selling crime and Human Chattelism !
blot upon the humanity Of the age. To
man they are the defenders Of the In
stitution OF slavery In behslf Of which
they have aimed blow at the existenoe
Of the Government. And now that the
question il pending of penalty to be
adjusted 10 the crime, from what source
comes the oppositiony Who arc the men
in Washington and throughout the land
that are vigorously working and declaim-
ing against the progress OF the Govern
ment in the punishment Of traitors! AZ,
Of the class before named. so there is not
among these last, one man who ID not
lover Of slavery. They are the Dsvises
and Wickliffes Of Kenfucky, the Vallan-
dighams Of the North, who with 6deli-
ty worthy Of better cause, ars instant
and zealOus to guard tho institution which
disgraced our nation throughout al its
prosperity, and has now brought the Gov
ernment 70 the verge of ruia.
With oil their protestati0ns that slaverY
il not responsible for the rsbsllion, these
men are shrewd enough to sse that the
punishment Of traitors will fall upon
shareholders only. That the con6scatiion
act carried ont will liberate the bulk Of I'll
the slaves of the South, leaving to the
chattels sof the small moiety Of Union
shareholders : doubtful and prscarions po-
sition u property. No wonder that pro-
slavery men are opposed 70 such meas
ure. II would b more than the death
knell Of slavery. It would roll the stone
to the door Of its tomb. The question
then simply takes this form, Shall slavery
be protected! Has It deserved sufficient
~ we'll Of the nation, that it should be
exempt from the punishment il hs. .;chl-
earned Il the institution in inslf
enough Of glory to uur nation to atone
for the diagrace that must ki upon !
Governments which, having the power and
the pressure Of anscesaity to psniah the
enemies that threaten ito existence, spares
It through the doubtful clemency--or
rather from timidity and lack Of moral
courage 70 deal with what has been pro-
nounced BY the humanity Of our age, the
sum Of Ill vilAiniss. Freedom i bleed
ing atsveRy pore. Free labor is suffer