The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-04
THE GATE CITY.
X EOK u X:
TUESDAY, MARCH 4.
En,ircIy Prss.asurs.

nnEcsy EW0oA0xos
The great rejoicings throughout tn
country over our recent glorious victorie
seem to have impressed many doughfac,
politicians with the idea that tn,
war was over. and therefore they hurried
IN hot haste to urge upon the country
% era ofgood feeling and general amnesty
They denounce the confscation policy;
they demand general impunity for the
crimes Of traitors, and insist that the slave
power shall be re established in its pris,
tine glory and unquestioned domination
They are jealous for the rights of traitors:
they denounce the Administration for
restraining them Of their liberty and de-.
nying them the privilege Of destroying
the 6overDment they hold up the Con-
stItut'on Is the shield of traitors and the
oulwark OF slavery, and they denounce
With unsparing bitterness all who fail to
manifest an equal fervor of affection and
tenderness Of sympathy for slavery and
treason. They have made political plat
form based upon devotion to slavery, and
demanding entire impunity of life, liberty
and property for traitors, the enactment
OF the Crittenden compromise With such
further guarantees for slavery as the trait
ors may desire, and new Interpretation
OF the Constitution in accordance with
their own sentiments, which, while il shall
give Immunity to traitors in arms against
the Government, shall punish the expires.
sion or holding Of anti. slavery views :,
treason to the Cons tuition and the Union
to be punished with imprisonment or
death.
We think this class Of politicians begin to
discover that they have been in too great
haste. and that their whole programme is
premsture. The war is not over. There IS
. groat deal Of hard fighting to be done
u great many patriots must seal their pa.
triotism with their blood before we shall
rejoice in peace again; many millions
more OF treasure must be spent, many
months OF suffering for the country must
transplre before harmony is restored to
the distracted land. And when that long
wished for contamination shall have been
reached, we will al look back with incre.
dullty upon the absurd folly Of the politi.
clans who sought to make such political
platform in the spring of 1862. Tho
world moves, and il moves right awar
from such men, in such stirring times A.
these, They learn nothing from history
or personal observation They are always
plying their petty arts of political manipu-
lation, and seek to control the mighty
throes of nations agony with the sugar.
coated hunbugs used by them in town.
ship caucus. Only the spirit Of charity
shields such politicians from our contemp,
BY covering Them with our pity.
II they cannot appreciate the lessons q
history, why do they not recall the course
OF events within their own observation
during few years past? Can they fnf
anything in that retrospect promising DO
htlcal success on such platform? Blu
take the hast few months since the rebel
lion was inaugurated. and what augury B
success do they furnishY Before the fal
OF Sumter the Democracy Of the Nortl
seemed as likely to take up arms for III,
South as against it; and even here in Ke
okuk We were publicly threatened BY thei
leaders with "frs in the rear" five in
vaded the "sacred soil of the rebe
States. So powerful was that sentimen
that the President in his proclamation If
ter the fall Of Sumter was constr.ined !
limit the call to the defence of Washing
ton city. How is it now! Who talks
ire in the rear; who feels shocked wit
the idea Of invading the sacred soil Of Ii
traitor Confederacy, or their neutral aid
err and abet.ersy And in regard
slavery the progress Of public sen,ime,
has been still more marked. Scarce
mau in Congress INDUCED the idea Of i,
tsrfering in any respect with slavery
Year ago, bat now the sentiment that Il
rebellion must be struck in its vitsls h,
become strong and prevalent, and wheth,
the sentiment BE- right or wrong, Il
course Of events and the progress Of OPT.
ion is gradually bringing the public min
to that conviction. Indeed our chief Al
prehe nslon is that the idea is fast becop