Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-01-30
For the Journal.

For the Journal
Northern Traitors.
Mr.. MAHIN In my first communication
submitted evidence sufficient to convince any
unprecedented mind that we have traitors in
Muscatine, and that E. II. Thayer is one of
them. In the next stated the Inconsistency,
if not criminality, of loyal men supporting a
newspaper whose editor is traitor. / now
wish to submit some reasons why think
these Nernern traitors were, indirectly, the
cause ofthe present rebellion ; that the rebels
would not have dared to measure arms with
the free States, but for the expectation and
promise of helr from the Democratic party
at the North, and but for the belief that that
party will help them they would now cease
fighting. f
1t is well known that the leading slavehol-
ders have, for more than a quarter Of a Gen.
fury, been plotting the destruction of our
Government; that they only waited for what
they considered favorable opportunity; and
that they have always considered the Demo-
cratic party in the North as their allies.
We need go no further back than the repeal
of the Missouri compromise to show that they
could depend on that party to assist in carry
ing out any measure the Shareholders should
want. But for their Northern allies they
could not have repealed said compromises
They assisted them in electing the bogus leg
islature of Kansas in executing, at the point
of the bayonet, their unrighteous laws in
prosecuting to the death, peaceful citizens, for
no crime but wishing Kansas to become a
free State; and finally, to cap the climax Of
outrage and villiany, assisted with all the
power of that powerful party, to force pro-
slavery constitution of the State, when four.
ffths of the citizens of Kansas were in favor
of free State
And here permit me to digress, and say
that the future historian, when he writes the
history of this rebellion, will tell the world
that the seed sown by J. c. Calhoun, received
a vigorous growth in Kansas, and brought
forth its legitimate fruit-the rebellion.
When the shareholders saw that their dia-
bolical conduct in Kansas had only inAamed
the northern mind to frmer opposition
against the encroachments of slavery, which
eliminated in the election of President who
was opposed to the further extension of the
curse, they determined to destroy the Gov
eminent, if they could see prospect of be-
ing successful. They had so long depended
on the Democratic party in the North, that it
was natural they should look to them in this
their time of need They did look to them,
and were assured Of their sympathy, and that
when the time came they would give them
such aid as warriors need. If the rebels in
New Orleans had the names of sirty-taoo
citizens Of Muscatine, handed to them,
,ciM the assurance that each and all OF
them 1ere ready to take up arms IN defense
Of southern rights" had they not good
reason to suppose that an equal proportion Of
the 20,0o0,0OO of people in the free States
would assist them? This would give them
an army of over 2Oo, 900, 900 in the free States,
which would make it impossible for the Gov
eminent to send an army south to fight the
rebels, because there would be fighting all
over the North No wonder they expected
soon to be in possession of Washington, Phil
adelphia, New York and Boston, Such as
surances as the above, but from higher au-
thority and On larger scale, emboldened
them to strike the blow. They were disap-
pointed in many that they relied on.
We all recollect the bowls of disappoint-
ment and rage that arose from the southern
press when they learned the result of the first
great Union meeting in New York, after the
surrender of Fl. Sumter. Many whom they
expected to take up arms in their defense
were ready to fight against them, in defense
of their country. 7wo of the sirty-tsro are
now in the field, risking their lives to pre-
serve our Government; but most of them are,
to-day, doing all they dare to weaken our
Government and aid the rebels. l believe
some of them are doing the rebels more good,
by their efforts to- SOW dissensions in the
North and to separate the West from the
East, than if they would fulfill their promise,
shoulder their guns, and join the rebel army
For one, will thank them to go. If their
counsel be adhered to it will end in civil war
here, when our beautiful cities will be sacked
and burned, as cities in Missouri have been.
Democrats who have property to lose, and
you who love country more than party, pause
before it is too late. If you do not want civil
war in Iowa and all over the North, cease fol-
lowing your traitorous leaders. Their course
will surely lead you to that gulf.
What does this cry of peace mean, when
the rebels are fighting at the very life 70 our
Government Throw down your arms and
cry peace, when robber has knife at your
throat? What did the 'Sir Knight" mean,
the other evening, when he said 1--WE must
have peace" and that 1--WE should see strange
sights before another one hundred days p"
Did he mean that his party intended to inau-
gurate a rebellion in the free States within
the next hundred days? g"
We all want peace. Do we take pleasure
in having our friends lives exposed on the
field of battleY Do we not anxiously pray
for peace, that our friends may return to US
But we do not want peace at the cost of the
destruction CT our Government.
Tbo rscht 70 =. l.
all our means to subdue the rebels. They
commenced this rebellion, calculating that the
Democratic party at the North would assist
them; they continue it, still relying on them