The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-20
4svsrner Kirkw..a,s Ina uturai.

gural in fuh. We heartily commend the
views of the Governor, both to the GEN
eral Government and to our own people.
Although there may have been many
minor causes, all tending to the same end,
such as the disappointed ambition Of bad
men, and the lust for power, the clear
common sense of our people has seen and
accepted the fact that the one great con-
trolling cause Of this wicked rebellion,
and of all the fearful consequences which
have followed and must follow from it, is
the system Of Human Slavery. Sophis-
try cannot disguise this fact, nor argu-
ment illustrate it. 1t ia patent, tangible,
and sooner or later it must be accepted by
our rulers as well as by our people, and
acted on by all This baneful system.
which has wrought such terrible results.
was accepted with great reluctance by
our fathers as an existing but most
unfortunate fact. and Its existence recog-
niaed and protected by them as such; but
surrounded at the same time by inHuen-
ces such, as they confidently hoped. would
soon eventuatc in its total and peaceful
extinction. That hope has been sadly
disappointed. This system, SO reluctant
ly admitted into our form of Government,
and SO antagonistic to its vital principles,
has, like u foreign substance in the human
body, been to the body polite source of
constant irritation. and has been the real
cause Of all the heart-burnings and i'll
will among our people. Circumstances,
not foreseen at the beginning, have fost-
cred it and encouraged it. 1t has been
defended, protected and nourshsd BY it's
votaries with devotion almost unpara :
lleled, until it has acquired strength
and power which enabled it, at first by
stealthy approaches, and then by bold at
tack, to seize the reins of Government
aud control the policy of our people
And when peacefully and constitutionally
1t Was driven from its usurped seat of EN-.
pire, and the determination expressed that
for the future it should be kept in the SUBJ
ordination for which it was originally in.
tended, it revo!,cd, and by civil war has
sought 70 destroy the Republic it could no
longer control, and from the remains to
build new one in which it's empire
should be absolute and undisputed.
1 have said that our people have seen
and accepted these facts, and that the
time must come, sooner or later, when our
rulers too, must see them, and when all,
rulers and ruled, must act upon them. 1t
Is not for us to determine what that ne
tfeif shall he.l hat III HE right and autr
of others. But it 10 for us--i, is our
right and duty-to advise with others,
aud to point out to them the course which
in our best judgments, should be pur-
sued. Understand HE rightly freely
accept and have cordially acted upon the
theory that it is for our rulers to deter.
mine the policy to be pursued, and for us
to sustain them, even it that policy should
not meet our appreciation. But it does
not follow that VIC must not advise a
change of policy, il our judgment teaches,
or experience has shown such change to
be necessary.
What, then, If anything, have we to
adviser Let US SEQ where we stand, and
what are our surroundings More than
twelve months ago this war upon our
Government was begun, and it has been
prosecuted up to this moment on the one
side with fierce vindictiveness and terri.
bic earnestness. Nothing, literally moth
Ing, has been allowed to stand ia the way
OF the advancement of the cause for
winch tins war has been waged. BY those
who advocate that cause. Officers Of the
army and navy, to advance that cause
have deserted their flag. Statesmen, to
advance it have betrayed their trusts. -
Among ell ranks, acts Of fraud, words OF
falfehood and deeds of violence have been
held good and honorable serviss. if there.
by this cause might be advanced, and the
entire energies Of its advocates have been
directed to that single end. The sole
question they have asked has been
What thing can We do which will mos
edsctnally and speedily break the strength
Of our advcrsaries?" And when III,
question has been answered, they have a.
one man done that thing. How have
they been metz Until the 4th Of Marcel
last past. not only were no steps taken t,
arrest their progress. but many Of thos.
who now are not of and with them, in
sisted that coercion should not be used Il
arrest II. After that date, although III,
new Administration took prompt and Wig
orous steps to meet the crisis, many PEG
pie In the loyal States still protested
against cosrcive measures to suppress Re
bellion, and many others sought, as if ex
pectlng 10 find, some neutral ground OF
which to stand, some middle rrount
between Loyalty and treason, as Il
a citizen could he loyal to lis Govern
menl who did not lend his hand /.
defend II when rebels sought to de.
stroy il. But timc passed on until Sum.
ter fell and our nation awoke from wha,
had appeared to be the slumber of death
With fiery zeal and generous emulation,
the Young men of all classes and all par.