The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-18

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The opinion Of . Democrat ia~xKs
s><r Army.
| A friend hiss kindly furnished US with
| the following copy Of letter received
from member of Go. B, Cd Iowa Infant.
ry, BY his relatives in lie Claire, where
the writer is web known " a young iuan
of iatelligence and probity and very
ardent Democrat
RrxszI. Miss, Nov. l9, 1869.
You alluded to the Proclamation, and
asked my opinion on the subject. Wen,
as you were once somewhat OF p0liti-
cian and Of the same school ss myself, /
will compare notes With you. l Endorse
the Proclamation to he, letter. Many
oppose the prosecution Of the war on such
a policy; such people in my estimation,
only exposs their heretofore weak-kneed
loyalty. Emancipation is q necessary re-
sort on the part Of the Government oput
down the rebellion and no honest, loyal
man will DO injured BY it. Me-, at the
North, BY their words, actions and votes
are condemning It,
Do you know what this means? 1t is
the cry Of quarter iot the rebels; they are
attempting to stay the hand of Justice
which would fall upon none hnt those
who deserve the blow. What matters II
to the people Of Iowa ii the institution of
slavery does fall? Even if ! did regret
its fall, there is one thing | would regret
more; it would be TO see it fostered and
Ierpe,uated, after it has voluntarily rear
ed itself against the Government. / am
sorry TO see so much hostility to the ad-
ministration manifested by the Democrat
ic party. That party was once consider
ed the embodiment of the Constitution
and the Union. If it is the same old
Democratic party, what falling off is
therey What set of hypocriaes they
have proven thens,dye by basely desert
ing, in its adversely, that which they so
loudly proclaimed their love for during
it's prosperity.
| did not vote at the last election, tho
| WAS entitled to vote for the first time
il my life; our regiment gave majority
for the Republican ticket, though it al
ways has been.L..d is yet Democratic
regiment few Democrats voted at all,
and most of those who did gave Repub-
lican votes. read as many Democratic
papers as ever, though not with the same
pride and interest, and | know too well
the record of such men as Mahony and
Thayer, and Others Of the Nallandigham
stripe, whom we were asked to vote for.
If Iowa Democrats arc truly loyal. why
do they permit such dannable dema-
gogues to lead and represent the party 7
Iowa soldiers may fight battle after battle,
they may eclipse all their former deeds of
valor on the field of fame, but what will
it avail If they elect men to represent
them who will stand up in the halls Of
Congress and basely betray them? am
as sound Democrat as ever, and accord
ing to my creed the stronger Democrat
a man is, the more sound he is on the
Constitution and tho enforcement of the
laws, and | will not belle my every day
acts and Frl ciples by supporting a man
who Is not thoroughly sound on all these
points.
l have written more on this subject
than | intended when began, and doubt
less more than your curiosity desired, but
of late / seldom meddle with politics, and
this explanation will do :oral my friends
who wish to be acquainted with my po-
litical principles.
A. A. BARNES.
Co. B, I'd Iowa Infantry.