The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-02
THE GATE CITY.


pAG ana tho Vas. -----4-
The last number Of this old, able and
conservative Organ Of the Presbyterian
Church. has leading article on the war.
The writer regards the questions connect
cd with the war AZ Of the most vital char
acter, and - absorbing in their nature to
all christian citizens in every position
and relation, and rs demanding the per-
sonal exercise on the part OF every chris
tiAn in every position, of.all the faculties,
mental and moral, with which he has
been endowed by nature and by grace,
and in that view he urges that the du-
ties arising from it, be no longer exclu.
ded from the Pulpit.
"The war which is now desolating our
country bids fair to be an cpoch-making
event. 1t viii probably modify essen.
TALLY our political and sosisl institutions.
Should Europe become involved in the
struggle, it can hardly fail to produce
changes in that part Of the word equally
important. Should European nations be
wise enough to abstain from interven-
ton, the disturbances in the courss of
trade, and the radical changes therewith
connected, may yet produce results which
ne human sagneity can foresee. The In
terests involved in this struggle are there
fore 60 momentous that tho eyes Of the
civilized world are anxiously watching
it's progress. None but the Frivolous can
In this matter be indifferent or neutral
Men must take rides, aud must speak out.
Silence 10 impossible. The feelings OF
the community do, and must, find ex.
preston at the family altar, FROM rHz
PULPIT, the forum, and the press, beth
secular and religious. The cobue6 theo-
sies BY which some among us attempted
to muxxle the church, speaking through
her ministers, her religions journals, and
ecclesiastical courts, have been swept
sway. The authors of those theories were
among the fra to discsrd them. This
war touches the conscience in too many
points to render silence on the part OF re-
ligious men either allowable or possible.
There never was a time when the public
conscience was more disturbed, or when
1t Was more necessary that moral princi-
pies in their bearing on national con-
duct should be clearly presented"
The writer insists that in this strug
gle OF the Nation for existence. the pow
or of the President as such, and As Com
mander-in-chief of the Army and Navy,
"extends a. far Is the preservation OF the
country demands He therefore defends
the suspension of this AaJeas corpus and
defends the Proclamation. He says:
"The above principals apply to the
emancipation OF slaves. 1t the Presi.
dent, as Commander in chief, or his SUBJ
ordinates, may, in time of war, and in
case OF pressing necessity. appropriate
the property of the enemies of the couD-
try, why not their property in slaves p
They claim slaves 40 property they have
reconized and legal title to their labor;
on the proceeds of that labor they live
byit they are enabled to carry on this
war for the overthrow of the Government.
There seems TO be no reason why this pc
cuiiar kind Of property should be exempt
from the operations of the laws of war"
Confscation of ordinary property and
emancipation of slave property are alike
the exercise Of the rights and policies Of
war, and justifable on the simple princi-
pie that the enemy is to be weakened and
subjugated by every means allowable by
the rules of civilized warfare.
We commend the following paragraph
Of the article to all christian men and nat
riots who desire to know their duty, that
they may do it in these trying times in
the fear Of God. Hessys:
''In view of the present state of the
country. it is certainly imperative on all
good men to unite in the support of the
Government; to render to those in au-
thority ell the aid they need to csrry on
this struggle toa successful issue cheer
fully TO submit to the burdens and sacri-
hces which the war imposes; ana to REM
der prompt obedience to all the lawful
commands Of the powers that be. This
duty does not depend on the opinion
which men may form Of the wisdom or
efficiency Of the national administration
whether the weakest OF the wiscst Gov.
eminent the country ever had, the duty
of submission and devotion is still the
same. The threats Of revolutionary or
factious opposition, which have 1t times
been made, are in the highest degree
criminal. Our only safety is in fidelity
to the constitution and to constitutional
duties"
And now having read this advice, act
upon it at once BY inducing your friends
to 60 with Jon to the Union meeting At
the Court House on the night of the I'd
instant, IN order to "unite with good men
In support Of the Government and the
y