The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-02-19
TIE GATE CITY.
UNION MASS MEETING +!
GREAT
SPEECH OF EX-GOVERNOR WRIGHT
Delivered In the Asheneum On Tues
day Evening", Feb. n, 1858.
or INDIANA,


The meeting was orga nized by the ap-
point ent Of Judge LOVE- for President,
and J, N. HIATT and Gro. b. SAYrH,
Esqrs Vice Presidents.
Judge Lowe introduced the speaker,
Exc Gov. WIGHT, Of Indiana, in a brief
review of the eminent public services OF
the speaker, abiding in the highest terms
of en- comium to his Berlin letter, and the
early stand be took in favor of the Gov
ernment and in answering opposition to
the terrible and suicidal doctrines of So
cessionism.
The Judge in his closing remarks apt
ly GET forth the true Union sentiment Of
the great majority of our people, which
necessarily discards bitter party strife
and animosities at this time, and made
an eloquent appeal to all classes Of socie-
ty, whether Greek or Barbarian, jew or
Gentle, Christian or Infdel, and oil
races, American, German, Irish, man or
Cossack. to unite in one common party in
opposition to treason and for the main
tenance Of the Government and our glo-
nous institutions.
sPKEcH OF GOV. wRIGHT.
The speaker commenced BY saying, if
person wants to know how we'll he loves
his country, let him travel abroad. At
home We overlook and do not appreciate
the thousands Of blessings which we con
stantly enjoy.
GRAVE OF LAFAYETTE.
When in Paris last. he remarked, in
company with young American, vsi
ted the grave of Lafayette. As we talked
over the great struggle OF the Revolution,
and the part thai Was taken in it by this
illustrious hero, who volunteered his ser.
vices and the services Of q large band 81
devoted followers, and who had contribu
ted his private fortune for the cause O
freedom and humanity, the question arose
care oil these labors to be lost p Wa.
all the blood Of the Revolution split ID
vainY Are the names and memories oil
Washington and Lafayette, which are en-
shrined in the hearts best affections of
all true Americans, to be despised By
those who have Inherited the rich bless
ings which their labors secured 1t can
not be. Though in the midst of civil
strife, Of gloom and darkness, of doubts
and dependency, of succeeding hopes
and fenrs, we will not believe that these
self-sacrifcing, noble and patriotic deeds
are to be lost to the country and the
world.
The speaker said it was not his inten-
ton, in the history of the country, to re-
view all the causes, remote and near, which
brought about the rebellion He might
do 90, but what good would come If it ?
The only question for each one Of as
now is, what is my duty to-day? Each
day page of our country's history is be-
Ing written, and it is for us to see that it
is written right. We are dealing with
great living facts, and these claim our at
tention.
ABoLITIoNISM AND sEOEssIoxIsM.
We hear great many pratinl about
abolitionism and secessioaism, always
putting abolitionism first. Why is his ?
What has abolitionism done /? Did it re-
bel against the Government, steal our
arms and forts, murder our citizens and
attempt to destroy our free institutions 7
An. can tell you Of an isn, that 10 doing
all Of this. The personal liberty bills
and stay laws Of some Of the States have
had great deal said about them. But
these were no sufficient cause for rebel
hon. 1mpolitic acts with reference to
the denenl Government have been passed
BY States North and South, but mind Won
these we're not cited in the start a. the
originating cause Of the rebellion. Jeffer.
son DAVIS did not excuse his career on
the tenable ground Of the Fright Of revo.
lntion." which every people possess il
clsss OF insupportabls oppression. No
he placed il on the ground of the RICH,
OF secession. That the Government Va
mere consideration Of Htatss--4.a ron
Of sand" which could be broken :
pleasure BY any Of the divisions or mem
bars. The power of any State TO seced,
from the Union, he claimed, was CON
stitutional right. He knew there vas Q,
Just cause for q revolution, and 20 h
placed It on the Calhoun heresy Of "Stat,
rlghts.' He knew that this was the be-
Government on earth, and no man ooul,
trnly Say be had been oppressed Or 20
gneved BY it. The rights Of each an,
I'LL had always been respected and protect
ID BY It.
But what = aeeession? It is nothin,
more or less than anarchy. 1t is. as
stated in my letter from Berlin, the en-,
oi al Government. If recognized, Their
could be no security to life or propert,
anywhere: No Government ever did 8
ever could tolerate such ! monstrou,
idea. No, our Government vas frame.
and cemented together a someth;nr 49,.
than mere loose confederation Of A.,es
- Vas solemn. binding. perpetual com
ArI~~ . ~SeAs