The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-05-13
What Converted Him.
SpnlNGrrELD. Mo, April28. 1868

Dear Sir " ours OF the 10th inst Is
at hand, and in the course Of that quite
welcome communication, you inquire the
reason and the process by which / became
a Republican and Abolitionist.
Sir, ] am not Republican, but am
Democrat and an Aboitionist, Let not
this startIe you, my friend. but let me ask
you why you are Democrat Is it be-
cause you have become identified with
the so-cslled Democratic party, or is it be-
cause you have always cast your vote with
and for the candidates brought before the
people by said party, considering that you
are bound to indorse any and every meas
ure, no matter how inconsistent 1t may be
with true Democracy, because it has been
brought forth by the political church in
which you are member in good and reg
ular standing? Has it never occurred to
you, that the name under which you have
plightcd your political faith has blinded
you to the heresies that may have found
their way into the doctrines and creed Of
the party to which you cling with super
stitious tenacity; / contend sir, that
Democrat will never bind himself to any
party, will never adopt any partizan
creed, but leave his influence; and vote
free to be used in the Advancement of ev-
cry measure, and the adoption OF every
policy of the Government which the best
interest of the people and country de-.
mands, let it be brought forth by which
ever party 1T may be.
Now, will tell you why am Dem.
ocrat. i am Democrat because | hon.
estly intend TO use my rotc for The odop.
ton Of dose measures and policies Of Coz.
eminent rhtch promises The greatest good
to the greatest number, and sir, l am an
Abolitionist because am Democrat
have seen the peculiar institution in all
its different lights, have seen both, par.
don me, was about to say ! had seen
both the bright and dark side of the pic
ture, but it has no bright side, view it in
any light you please, and its aspect il
dark. / have seen it hang like dark
cloud over the fame Of our Nations glory.
and when the American in foreign lands
would speak with pride of the free insti-
tuiions, and thehappiness Of his people,
they would with the finger of irony point
to the dark spot of African Slavery on
our Nations escutcheon, and ask, do you
call that freedom do you find in that the
happiness you boast of
have seen it blight the soil that har-
bored it. / have seen, as if by decree
from heaven, the mother earth refuse to
yield up its fruits, to feel wrougso great.
Plantations OF thousands OF acres, whose
soil would yield to the hand of industry
and freemen to all coming time, feel but a
short time the iron heel of the great enor-
NIFTY, hear but short time the clankng
OF the chains that binds the poor down.
trodden African to his task. when, an ifby
the will of God, they would refuse to
yield up their fruits, to aid the tyrant
master In perpetuating so great an evil
Throughout all the Cotton States these de-
serted plantations lay spreading their sur.
lace, desolate and dark as if blight had
settled down upon them as curse, or to
make them a monument to the impracti-
cability of the institution, if not to its
evil.
lhave seen its influence hang like thick
dark mist over the morals OF every com. |
munity that fostered it. II is the father
1.-The unsuitable, unholy passion Of the
master 1t has destroyed the priceless
boon of virtue, it has made null and void
the marriage VOW, and the wife has learn.
ed by established usage, to look upon the
evil as right. / have seen the masters
son, with auburn hair and light complex
ion, with the blood that course d his veins
two-thirds of Anglo Saxon, driven like
dog TO his task; and his back barred TO one
hundred and thirty lashes, and when the
Anglo saxoa in his nature would rise IN
In rebellion to the wrong, Lave seen him
sold Tor gold into hands that would ouoll
his white nature, and deal out seryitude
to him without stint or measure. Ihaye
seen the daughter of master, the mis-
tress Of his son, subservient to the lust
and unholy passions of the master, who
estimates her life, her soul and body and
Inc uod-glven gem of virtue, at the price
oi so many pieces Of silver. Is it not
wrong which makes it a right, to deal
with sister thusg Is it no. wrong that
prompts men to abrogate to themselves
Tue night to deal with the God given rights
Oh men, only with self sh, lustful and ay-
aficious motive. and steels the heart
against all the higher attributes of man.
n0oa' 1t degrades alike the negro and
'he poor white man. Ii has made laho, /,
u'sgiace' verdict against him on whom