The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-07-08
The Union Meeting of Tuesday.


was we'll attended, aud with few excep
tional circumstances passed of splendidly
Delegations were present from nearly all o
the adjoining counties-one hundred com
ing from Lansing OIL steamer chartered
for that purpose-and there was also good
representation Of the people Of old Clay
ton.
The Prairie du Chicn Brass Band, and
the McGregor Martial Band furnished the
music, while the "Molly Starks," generous
ly loaned by the officers of the steamer
Key City, put in loud amcns to oil good
Union uttcrances.
Speeches were made at the stand during
the day by Rev. Mr.. Swearingcn, of West
Union, D. b. Hendci son, of Postville, NJ.
II. Carpenter, of Milwaukee, and Judge
Dillon, of Scott county, Iowa. In the
evening speeches were made on Market
Square by Hon. w. B. Allison, of Dubuque,
and Andy Felt, of the Record, West
Union.
Office duties prevented US from hearing
the speeches, with the exception Of that
of Mr.. Carpenter, which was already COM
menced when VIC arrived upon the grounds.
As this was the great speech of the day,
we give herewith as complete digest Of
his remarks as our limited facilities for re-
porting will permit, simply promising that
the happy hits, the choice illustrations, the
ornamentations Of the speech, cannot be
given in his inimitable language and arc
| therefore omitted.
At the time we got our note book and
pencil in running order, Mr.. Carpenter was
speaking upon the slavery question, which
he said he should not consider in its politi-
cal sense but for the purpose Of drawing
certain conclusions, as would appear BY
and.by:-
"At the time Of the adoption of the Con-
stitution, slavery existed in but two states
of this Union. Slave labor, considered by
the laws Of profit and loss, did not pay in
any of the states, with the exception, per-
haps, of the states of South Carolina and
Georgia. This was anterior TO the culti-
vation of cotton, which did not become an
article of export until later period. The
slave trade, however, did pay. An effort
was made to stop this traffic IN slaves, and
the period fixed for the importation Of slaves
by enactment was to cease on the lstof jan
uary, 1900 An effort was made to have
this traffic continued until 1903, and tho
question was submitted to the people
What was the result? Although Massa.
chusetts had abolished the institution Of
slavery from her domain, she voted for its
extension, while South Carolina voted
against it. This change Of sentiment was
caused by a change Of interest Massa-
chusetts was largely engaged in the slave
trade, and as it was source Of profit, she
desired its continuance. And although
am Massachusetts, man myself, l must
tell the truth Of them. They like the ring
of the dollar. Put a gold coin into the
hand &C Massachusetts man and he will
not enquire whether it was the price Of
cotton or corn.
But the northern literature, the northern
press, the northern pulpit teemed with
arguments in favor of the abolition of sla-
very, while the southern literature, tho
southern press, the southern pulpit teemed
| with arguments in favor of the institution.
In the south they were actuated by tho
demands Of their own interest-the north
by that false sense of philanthropy which
delights in correcting evil at the expense
of neighbor. Thus man who has money
to loan, is confident that - per cent. is
very righteous rate Of interest, but the man
who has no money, or who has to borrow,
will tell you it is an ungodly asd exorbitant
rate.
! So matters continued down to 1850,
when the soute9rn men demanded the
passage of the Missouri Compromise;
northern Democrats, de- esirous of conci!ia.
ting the southern men, and closing the
agitation of this question, went to the ex-
tremc verge Of the Constitution, and pass
ed the bill. Then the south demanded OF
northern Democrats that they should pass
the Nebraska bill Senator Douglas, occu-
pyrng position in honor and influence
transcending that of President of the
United States-the leadership of the great
Democratic party--knowing that those who
pressed this measure, would use the rejec.
ton Of this bill as lever to break asunder
the Union of these states, shouldered and
passed the bill. What followed? There
was great indignation throughout the north.
Douglas was pe.ted from Washington to
Chicago for this act, done for the purpose
of avoiding war and the dissolution of the
Union. Even in Chicago, the great city
Of Chicago, which has since claimed the
honor of selecting the place wherein his
bones should reposc-the city Of Chicago
spurncd him. He was actually driven from
stand where, as an illinois man and a
Democrat, he claimed the privilege of vim
dicating his course on the Nebraska bill,
and obliged to take refuge in a private room
in the fremont House, where, surrounded
by a few tried friends, he sat down and wept
not tears of fear and weakness, but tears
of sorrow and regret that although he had
perilled his reputation, his hopes Of the
Presidency, everything but honor, for tho
preservation of the Union, his friends should
deny him the poor privilege of defense.
The Democrats, however, soon came up
to the support Of this bill, and struggled
hard and earnestly for it, failed, and were
lett out in the coll-and We Democrats
know as we'll as you Republicans what q
comfortable thing it was to be in Office, and
what a chilly thing it was 20 be out.
The Nebraska bill, however, did not give
slavery to the territories. Northern enter
prise threw three men into the territories,
where southern lethargy sent but one.
After this, South Carolina said let US
name the price TO stay, and we will go out
of the Union You Democrats are as bad
as the Republicans. Not wanting their
rights they would not nominate Douglas.
They knew he would give slavery all its
rights, he had already gone to the verge OF
the Constitution to give them everything
that could be clalmcd-so they nominated
Breckinridge, desiring to elect Lincoln that
they might 60 before their constituents and
tell them Mr.. Lincoln was the candidate OF
n geographical party, and therefore they
| would have no rights under his adminiStra.