Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-02-05
, A.B.F. HILDRETH, Editor.
Charles City, Iowa, Feb. 5, 1868.
Restoration of the Union.

We suppose that all honest citizens
are by this time convinced that tho
Union cannot be restored by the poll
cy. of Cancellation and compromise
That policy has resulted in nearly
ruinous defeat, and has earned us the
contempt of the enemies it was de.
signed to divide. The rebels through
all their oagans repudiate it. They
repudiate it through their newspapers,
they repudiate it by their army now
confronting Hooker on the Rappahan-
mock. They distinctly give us to IN
derstand that they abhor the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States,
and will die rather than submit to
them.
As to their supposed rights /" I'M
der the Constitution, they receive the
idea with shouts of hooking laughter.
They tell US, in short, to look out for
ourselves, and not be troubled by any
considerations Of their Constitutional
privilege to be hanged by juries Of
their own selection.
More than this. While our North
crn sympathizers arc SO kind as to con-
cedc to them rights under the Con-
stitution Of the United States, they do
not return the courtesy, by allowing
US any +" rights = under the Constitu-
ton of Montgomery. There are a
class of Northern politicians who as
sert that the Union should be recon-
structed under the latter instrument,
with New England left ont; but the
rebels profess to hate all non-slave-
holding States so much, that they will
not allow us of the Middle and West
ernr States, even, the benefits Of their
own bogus Confederacy. The Savan-
nah Republican recently said: j
1--WE wish no union with them the
Northern peoplcl and would wage
war to prevent 1t even under orr own
Constitution. They have taken Old
Abe and his abolition scoundrcls de.
liberately, and will be made to hold
on to them, however anxious they may
be to swap off their opprcssors for
JEFF. Davis g. Co." a'"i - 80 =
In short, the rebels will have moth.
ing to do with us except as enemies,
and as enemies they count on destroy.
ing our cities and ravaging our ter
ritory. 1t is mere Bedlam madness to
talk of the " Constitutional rights " Of
persons who are now laundering at
the walls of the Capital. They are
simply deadly and desperate enemies.
As enemies, we must meet their as
saults with an energy and determine
tion equal to their own. We must
avail ourselves of every element of
weakness in their constitution of So
ciety. The struggle is one of life and
death. In life and death struggle
with imperial France, should we. not
desire to have the Bourbonists and
Orleanists on our side I? In a lifc-and-
death struggle with Great Britain
should we not do everything to raise
an Instruction among the Chartists
of England, and the people oflreland
On the same principle We should do
all in our power to reach and rouse
the slaves. 80 -
The President is pledged to save
the Union at the expense of slavery.
The power that grants the boon of free
dom to an oppressed race, is able to
prevent their liberty from becoming
license, and viii use them as an or
ganized force. At all events, it is
Northern lives, and the safety Of
Northern homes, the Administration
is bound now to care for first.