Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-22
For the Journal.
Union Meeting mt Upton.

Union Meeting mt Upton.
Upton, May 18th, 1868.
Mr.. EDIToR:-The Court House was filled
to OVERLOOKING on last Saturday evening
evening appointed for The Loyal League to as
semble-to promulgate through the agency of
able speakers, the true principles that are agi-
tating the minds Of the people at this time.
Truth, though buried for season, will rise,
shake off the manacles which bind it, and cast
into oblivion those leaders who have been the
instruments Of its suppression.
The occasion was enlivened by the presence
of the ladies. The meeting was called to Or
der by its President, Judge Belts, a loyal man
in every sense of the word, whose sarcastic
remark the traitors fear. ReY. j. w. Kynett
then uttered very impressive prayer. Glee
Club dispensed some excellent music suitable
for the occasion. The pledge was then read,
after which an opportunity was offered to any
who desired to sign their names. Many, both
ladies and gentlemen, embraced this chance to
show by action their disapprobation of the
actions of those who are working for differ
ent purpose. The records are to be preserv-
ed for future reference. When these troubles
have passed, many will claim they never affil.
lated with such party, whose very princi-
pies are disloyal in the extreme. The mark
of Cain will be so deeply branded on their
actions that death itself will not efface it.
That good looking gentleman and lawyer,
Wells Spicer, Esq, was announced as speaker
for the occasion. He spoke for one hour and
twenty minutes, to as intelligent an audience
as ever convened within the walls of this Court
House. A phrenologist looking over and ex-
aiming the physiognomy of these, and then
viewing the faces of those who are found at
such gatherings as convene together on cop
perhead occasions, would not be at loss to
tell each ones political procllvities. Intelli-
gence and patriotism blend together on one
hand-ignorance and treason on the other.
Judge Spicer demonstrated conclusively, by
quoting from the Constitution and many
other standard works on law, that every act
of importance which has characterized the
movements of Lincoln and his Cabinet has
been within the bounds of the Constitution
and, furthermore, he offered to debate with
any intelligent man any or all Of the consti
tutional questions which are up before the
people at this time.
The following are the points of the speech
1st. The Emancipation Proclamation.
End. Confscation of rebel property.
3rd. Aiming of Slaves.
4th. Suspension of Habeas Corpus.
9th. Military Arrests.
9Th. Declaring Military Law in the United
States.
Space will not permit me to give full re
cord of the speech. The following descrip
ton, however, truly pictures the position O
the sympathlzers
Imagine party Of citizens returning from
their business to their homes, attacked by as
sassins, demanding money or life. They re
fuse, and give battle. Part of the citizens re
fnse to join in the fight, bit give aid and com
fort to the assassins, by proclaiming them
selves neutrals propose compromise, tt
compromise by giving their money, and re
tanning their lives, thus saving bloodshed
Notwithstanding they have been robbed befor'
in the same way. Soon the assassins ar
worsted in the fight, when the sympathizers
standing aloof, bawl Justify for peace ant
compromise, as they see the assassins abou
to yield. They commenced raising objections
to the manner of proceeding, one citizen il
about to arrest from the assassin his weapon
Here Mr.. Sympathizer interposes, to take away
his arms-it is violation of the Constitution
which gives right to every one to keep arms
DIV tuC IdSCdlS tAlCJ Aoy ooNC eiASi
lives, but to take their property is larceny
Mr.. Sympathizer sheds crockadile tears, be
cause it is the result of fanaticism. They
refuse to compromise. A citizen finally get
the weapon and is about to use it against tn
assassin. The sympathizer thinks this tn
unkindest cut of ALL to use mans owl
property to destroy him.
During the fight, the sympathizer defend
the assassin, and for this gets knock dowl
by citizen. Here, again, is an outrage upol
a peaceable, quiet man, that must be punish
ed by every law in the land. The assassin
recover and are about to escape, when SOM
negroes come up and assist in their arrest
Mr.. Sympathizer is done for now The ide;
of man saving his life by allowing negr'
to aid him, is most disgusting. When sucl
things are tolerated, he can see nothing blu
ruin, riot and anarchy in the future-no law
government, Constitution, Union, right o
Justice, and even no God-only one big blacl
Devil, out over the whole land. The polio
arrest both assassin and sympatbizer. Wha
an outrage The poor defenceless men hav
now become martyrs, by the actions of tn
maddened authorities, and appeal to the PEG
pie for relief When taken to the police sta
ton, they are all about to be searched-al
without process, clear violation of tn
Constitution.
| Is this comparison truthful one? Ar
rebel sympathizers any better than the trait
ors of the South?
Rev Mr.. johnson, of Durant circuit, fol
lowed in few patriotic remarks, stating h
believed Lincoln an instrument of Gods t
abolish slavery. Lincoln was forced into thi
issue by the force of circumstances surround
ing him; if any one is to be blamed for the
emancipation proclamation, it is the rebels, fo
they opened the ball. N. X. E.