The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-27
esw views of a Dem ocrntbe Soldier.
BLACK RIVER BRIDGE MIss(
August, Is, 1868.

August, Is, 1868.
EDITOR GATE CITY.-It may seem like
folly for me to attempt to write upon tbe
subject of slavery, but while nothing new
can be said upon the subject. the old ar
guments through new channels may find
their way to different PERSONS speak
now to my Democratic friends who are
tender footed on the emancipation policy,
and to the sympathizers With the rebellion
Come now, let us reason together. Be
fore we oppose the constituted authority,
as sensible men we should be well assured
by positive knowledge of facts that by
opposition we will render positive good
to the nation at large in moral, relig
ious, or pecuniary point of view. In
such Investigations we should divest the
mind of all early prejudices and dogmas
which might in anyway Interfere with the
fullest scope of our judgment. One of
the first questions which we have to set
tie is, how much protection the States in
rebellion against the Constitution are en-
titled to under that instrument? 1t re-
quires but glance TO come to the con
clusion that they are fully entitled to all
its protection or none. Identified to all,
then we may as well withdraw al once, for
AZ ytIo INC
under the whole scheme of secession
The only sensible conclusion we can come
to, then, is to deny the protection OF the
Constitution to all who are in open rebel
lion against the Government, founded on
it. This being the case, (and it seems
foolish if not knavish TO think otherwise
it does away with the mooted question.
nDoes the Constitution sanction slavery
for il is folly to spend time haggling over
q question which when settled is power
less for good or evil. There is then no
poin. Of difference between Democrat and
Republican. Slaves in loyal States and
Districts are already provided for to the
satisfaction Of bot parties, and VIC both
agree that the States aud Districts In re-
bellion, have no rights to prosperity un.
der the Constitution. Now be careful,
friends, and do not allow that old party
prejudice to arise, and you will find that
we all stand on one common platform,
hand TO hand, and heart TO heart TO sup
press this infamous rebellion. This, then
is our object What measures shall we
adopt to be successful Would he Gen
eral be excusable who destroyed shot and
shell, while he left the foundry and
moulds all in good condition. Would it
be sensible to destroy the rolling stock,
and leave the railroad in good order il we
were trying to cut off communication?-
In both cases you say no. Let Us carry
tie same principle little farther We
capture Forts Henry Donelson, Island
No. 10, force the rebels to evacuale Co.
lumbus and Fort Pillow. Then comes
Vieksburg, Fort Hindman and jackson.
These places all fortified by unwilling
negro labour, men whose hearts burned
with shame to think that they were forced
to protect their oppression. We captured
the ioriincs'ionS' and either occu pied or
destroyed them, but, until lately. drove
the builders away, when they WOW ia viii.
llngly have performed the same VI ork for
US, whichthsy unwillingly did for their
masters.
Now calculate how many extra mer
were required to overcome these obstacles
aud how many men they saved for ,h,
rebels, and this, TO, at a time when the,
are strsislng every nerve 70 raise men,