Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-08-14

or Constitu' ion; that not month has passed
since May, 1851, that armed bodies Of rebels
have not invested the State; that in the lat
ter days of July, force Of near ten thousand
rebels were moving through Kentucky to re-
inforce Morgan, ostensibly, but really to pre-
vent the election. Louisville was threatened,
and the city was all excitement. Gen. Burn.
side proclaimed the State again under mar
tial law, and declared that the laws of Ken
lucky relating to voting must and should be
enforced. The laws of Kentucky require
that judges and clerks of elections
shall be UNCONDITIONAL UNION MEN,
and that NO D1sDoYAL PERSON shall
exercise the right Of suffrage. No person
there is allowed to vote who will not sub
scribe an oath that he has never entered the
service of the Confederate States, has not
been engaged in the service of the so-called
Provisional Government OF Kentucky, either
in civil or military capacity, and has never
directly or indirectly aided in the rebellion
against the United States, or State Of Ken
lucky" The military orders were that no
one should be allowed to vote unless known
to be loyal to the State and Federal Govern
ment and in favor of a vigorous prosecution
of the war for the suppression of the rebellion.
The Courier finds fault, and declares that
for a man to be Internationally in favor of
the Union and vigorous prosecution Of the
var is to be an abolitionist. That is the
meaning bis language conveys. The military
orders were simple reiterations of the Ken
lucky laws prohibiting disloyal man from
voting, and thereupon the Courier cries
"barbarous." ii
Had every traitor in Kentucky, including
the invaders armed to the teeth, to prevent a
fair election of Union men, been permitted to
vote, the Courier would have cried GLORIOUS.
But as disloyal men could not vote, the Cour-
les friends were robbed of the elective fran.
chise. The only question to consider was,
whether it was better for Burnside to secure
the election of only Union men under the
operations of martial law; or whether only
disloyal men should be elected under the d.
rection Of armed rebels. We, for one. prefer
the former course, and if all the unconditional
Union men in Kentucky are abolitionists, we
prefer them to traitors-that's all.
But if unconditional Unionism prevails in
Kentucky and loyal men only are returned to
the next Congress, then says the Courier
editor, 1--WE boldly declare that we believe
God and the country will forever smile upon
the Democratic party, if Democrats leave the
House, break up quorum and prevent abo-
lition QoyaD legislation
Twas treason for the South to secede. To
seccde from the halls of Congress is revolu-
'ion-to declare yourself no longer part of
the Government. The proceedings advocated
by the Courier man is treason to this Gov
eminent.
''We have uniformly advised our readers to
obey the laws, and under no circumstances to
resist the execution of any of them.' But we
are free to say that the time has passed when
the public mind should be permitted to be
poisoned by the foul, reasonable breath Of
the editor of the Courier, and repetition of
the ofense would demand the authors exit
from our midst, if martyrdom was not Of his
own seeking. But there is point where
forbearance ceases to be virtue. The loyal
citizens of Muscatine, having commended so
long against notification and secession, are
not prepared to tolerate the dangerous here
sizes at their own doors. If this be advoca-
ting mobs, then make the most of it. Sup
pressing treason is a duty Of loyal citizens,
And we believe that Mr.. Thayer has no more
right to advocate secession in Iowa than
Yancey had in Alabama. He may cunning'y
conceal his violation of law, but in these days
Of popular excitement and Copperhead vio-
lence, the safety of the State may require =
recognition of the law Of necessity.
Having sent sc, 900 brave men from our fire.
SIDES to tight the very heresy now advocated
by the pitiful tool of treason in this city, the
people of Iowa WILL NOT tolerate it at home
Because the people of Kentucky choose to
send unconditional Unionists to Congress
may be a good reason for traitor. in the
stolen cloak of Democracy, to secede from the
Federal Union. But because a vile tool of
Jeff. Davis has been tolerated to publish his
treason for six months past unmolested, is no
reason why he should be permitted to do so
for six months to come. And this THING of
an editor proclaims himself friend of law and
order! A very cheap ticket should be fur
nished him to migrate among his friends
His contemplate insigni6cance is his armor
of safety. Let him wear it.
Is Gen. futile an stAbOlitiOnist 20
The Dubuque Herald wishes to know
whether ION the occasion of visit of Adiu-
tant General Thomas to Gen. Tuttle's COM
mand, the latter officer advocated the arming
Of negroes to aid in prosecuting the war
against the South ?" For the benefit Of the