The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-16

A Dem ecrntic soldier to sAs Copper
needs. -

Cap q. s, SIGNAL Corps,

q march LUtb, nom MEMBER OF the Dem
ocratie party. Charity requires that
should deem the souding of the same an
act of courtesy, in which 1ight | choose
to view it. But hope you will ma deny
me the columns Of your paper 70 wAke
sot,e comments and state sumo facts.
Such papers - the Courier and Chica-
go Times are regarded in the army M
disloyal and trsitorous, and are spurned
with The contempt their sentiments mer
it. Without attTibuting unworthy mo-
tivss TO the sender Of the Courier, i will
stats that such papers are sent to Demo
Gratis in the army for the purpose Of TO-
menting discard and characterization -
There is asystematic attempt on the part
OF disloyal person. TO corrupt the army.
and the Democrats are in constant receipt
of these reasonable prod uctiops Of north
arm poltroons, who have the will but hack
the nerve to take up arms against the
Government. Il is insnlting To Demo.
Gratis in the field. We are here in direct
contact with the rebellion, and should Ger.
tsiniy know 10 much shout its features "
those ut q distance and the only con-
struction ! can put upon the circulation Of
such documeuis ID that they take W. 10 be
either fools or knaves. have been
Democrat ever since attained my sjor-
ity. was IA member Of the State Con
seotiou that assembled at Davenport 10
1860, and occupied place on the ticket
it put before tbe people. but if opposl-
ton TO the Constitutional Government,
placed in power by the unbiased vote Of
The people. u Dswoosscy, an 10 longer
Democrat. ! love my country better
than do my party. and now 10 her tune
OF need think it is the duty Of every ICY
oil MN to stand unsquivocally ID the sup
port of tie Gosernmcn !, tsr one. will
dcnounce any men u party that will not
give the Gov ernment . cordial and hearty
support. There is no middle ground 70
occupy in this struggle. Every citizen
must be for or sgsiost, and every man
that II making an outcry about the
measures the Government has been com
peeled TO adopt for its self preservation is
al ieart . traitor.
| have been participant IN t-ls ssrug-
gle from the commencement, and been
20 unfortunate M 10 be prisoner in the
South for over eleven months. ! have
seen nv comrades bayoneted when nsim-
ed and asking for quarter on the field Of
battle. have seen prisonsrs sho; down
in cold blood when not violating any or
der, rule CT regulation Of their captors,
and the authors of these murders no
pnnahsd, but in one instance promoted
have seen our fsg, that ives brave ,
9orue over a bloody fsid--a tag rouuJ
which brave hearts had rallied that ar
now siiil III deatt-a a. z that was staincs
with tbs Likelihood OF its defenders
trampled in the dust and subjected to ev
CRY indignity. have beea spit upon b,
females calling themselves ladies. ~he'
marched prisoner through the streets .
Memphis. have beented ON horse beef
have been starved for three days;
have been loaded with chains. for no Of
fence but trying TO regain my liberty.
have seen prisoners be&. with club an
permanently disabled. have seen rebe
officers cast s,o.,es and brickbats into
crowd of prisoners, careless Of who wa
hurt. have been answered, when al
ply,ng for medicine ior sick comrAd'
that they would rather furnish cofhns tha
medicine. have seen men kBocke
down. beat aud starved, until they woul
swesr iato The Confederate service.
My experience in Southern dungeog
il but the tex perience Of thousands OF OIL
ers who have been unfortunate enough
fall into their hapis Il saen the Go
eminent undertakes 70 pssish the
tends ia human shape, there Is party
our midst that will make m outcry abo
the violation Of their constitutional RICH,
Who first trampled the Constitution u
der foot Who has deluged the lai
with blood? Who has caused the ".
ows and orphans 10 mourn throughout q
Union! Is it constitutional to turn ht
tile canyons on our Capital and boast th
JEFF. Davis will issue proclamations frt
the White House, II must be, for
never hear these Constitution Siickl'
dsnouucs ii. Bu. wheus the Govcrnme
which exists by the voacs Of majority.
bssas by armed rebels In front sndac
ardly ours in the rear; puts forth its en-
pies TO maintain its existence. 1t must
bound by an instrument that Is not rect
nized by the opposing force aud was
found TO meet the igencles ofan mt
tine war, it Is assailed with vitupera,i
and abuse. Ideny that the Adtninist
,Ion has violated the Constitution. but
law and equity party violating contr
forfeits its benefits and it looks fanci
for traitors and tier synpathix-rs to
making an ado about the violation Of
instrument they have done their utin
to destroy.
A nation the same ~ an individual,
the right of self. preservaticn, and hist
,a.ches us that in the maintenance
that right the law Of necessity for
the time being is paramount to the org
ic law, or, in other words. war measu
superceds the organic code when the
al nation il threatened. We find
the Roman Republic invested one !
with Dictatorisl powers and with tina
turn Of peace their civil code resumed
vitality. =.
BUTT il useless to refote the sophi
Of these men. Their course from the
ginning has shown them 70 be traitor
heart, and that their proper places ar
our military prisons. They pronoul
the calling out Of troops for the pro
r. ~ AsxsS ii