The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-07-02
The nscsrA es the Conssi,u,l.n.

As the record Of various parties has
been called up before the Military Com.
mission now in session, it may not be
amiss to give the Record of the buried
Constitution an airing.
On the 9Th Of January last, some
three weeks before the destruction of the
office, the Constitution published couple
ofisngthy editorials, from which We make
the following exsraets. showing the tone
and spirit Of the entire editorials.
The first Il intended to give the read
srs Of the Constitution the impressions
produced On the editors mind BY recent
visit to Washington City.
After an introduction, the editor saws !:
I'VE nov proceed to place before our
readers and the pubic the conclusions
which We have co'ae to, in relation TO our
national affairs. The future of this con-
test is 70 us most gloomy. We can zee
no hope OF success in putting down the
rebellion aud restoring the Union to its
original basis by carrying out the present
policy Of the Administration. We are
reluctantly and painfully impressed with
the idea that our once happy and pros
porous country is to be broken mp and
shattered into fragments. The Govern
ment at Washington is wholly inconpc-
tent TO the task il has undertaken. Rot
tenness and corruption seem to pervade
every department of the Administration
Waahington City is but den of thieves,
negroes and prostitutes. The city ,sis
crowded with this class OF people, snd the
opinion prevails that the Union is already
destroyed. and every one seems snxt6ns
to grab all they can for themselves while
the chances last Every thing seems to
be at loose ends. The great Army of the
Potomsc, which vas expected to reduce
Richmond. is but a demoralzed mob !;
the oihcers are constantly resigning, and
the men are running of At every opportu-
nifty they can get. 10 the southern part
of Maryland, 10 which We spent several
weeks, not day passed without our see-
ing squads Of deserters from the Army of
the Potomac, numbering from three to
thirty. making their way North. We
talked with many Of these men, and, upon
| inquiring the cause of their desertion, the
invariable reply was, the want OF pay,
and. /" We volunteered 10 defend the Un.
ion, and not to fight for the negro"
And again further along in his editorial
be says:
"In southern Maryland where, two
years ago, the Union sentiment largely
predominsted over secessionism, there can
scarcely b found q man. womsn or child
Who does not heartily dsspise the Nation.
al Government, and hope for ths success
of the Confederates. The Issuing of the
Presidents emancipation proclamation.
together with the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia. and the action
Of the military authorities there in pre-.
venting owners of slaves from recaptur.
ing their runawsys. has entirely rooted
out all the, Union sentiment which ones
prevailed there. Ia many cases, loya
slsve-owners, who had arrested theil
slaves under the Fugitive Slave Act, were
forcibly deprived of their property. and
themselves put in prison on the plea o.
kidnapping The natural consequence
Of such treatment was to make these mel
land eli other ioysl citizens more violen
in their opposition to the Administration
(which they chose to designate a. thu
Governmcnt) than the original secession
lists. They claimed, and had right Il
be protected in their person and property
and as thew did not receive it. they ration
} ally concluded that their only safety lie
pended an the success of the rebellion
and tho establishment over them OF an
other Government which was not hostiI
to their slave institutions. Tho effect o
all the measures II the Administration
relating to slavery, has been 10 unite tb'
South and divide the North until v
are forced to the painful conclusion thS
all is now nearly lost, for which the CIT
izons Of the free STATES have made sue
3 noble sacrifices in treasure and blood. -
t And all this calamity we do most solemn
| ly believe is owing to the imbecility an
unconstitutional acts Of the National Ad
ministration."
But not satisfied with the disaffectio
? and discouragement which he sought {
: produce on the public mind. by giving hi
. impressions obtained st headquarters, b
writes another editorial to impress hi
readers with the conviction that th
/ country Was already ruined. And to thi
r end be opens with the following ominou
o sentence
. 1.-THE conviction has become strong an
is growing stronger every day. that tn
last army of the Republic has been raj,
q cd. Tbs sentiments is not peculiar 10 III
: particular party. class or locality, but
vide spread, and fads utserance by me
J of all parties. To know that such OPT,
D ion exists, is proof tl.at the people of III
: loyal States are fast losing confidence j
Is the efficiency of the policy which Ia
been insugurased BY the Administering
at Washington for the suppression Of tn
rebellion When m-u are asked 10 sacr
. 6ce life and property, they must first b
. satis1ed that the cause in behalf of vhic
the sacrifioa in u be mada in = mat an