The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-28
THE CONSERVATIVE DEmoCRACY.

! form. Naiiandlgnam, OF Ohlo, was III
acknowledged national leader and organ
and it boasted of its opposition to thi'
"Abolition War;" and scoffed at "Lin.
coins hirelings," who were numbering
our Southern brethren and devastating
their country. In our own State Bying
ton, Dean G Co. were stimulating the or
ganizstion Of the "Golden Circles" and
preparing for resistance to the Govern
ment. The conservative Democratic press
abounded in peace editorials and pro-
claimed that "the last Army Of the Union
had been raised" Our own city OF
Keokuk was threatened with combined
raid from the Golden Circles of Illinois,
Missouri and Iowa, and the names OF
prominent loyal men here were reported
to sympathizers in the country, by citi-
zens OF our town, as proper victims upon
whom to wreak their vengeance. The
times then seemed perilous, at home and
abroad; despondency and gloomy FORE
bodings were fast settling down upon the
country; loyal people at home were be-
coming disheartened and the army was
threatened with decentralization. And as
loyal men became more and more dis
heartened and respondent, the Peace
Democracy became more jubilant and
rampant.
In the midst of this darkness there sud
denly shone out a bright light, beacon
of hope and cheer and safety to the coun-
try. Our patriotic and gallant soldiers,
realizing the state of things in the North,
and seeing its effects in encouraging the
enemy, halted for brief space before
their advance on Vicksburg and Port
Hudson. They assembled in council in
their camps and gave expression in un-
mistakable language to the sentiments of
horror and contempt with which they re-
garded the Copperheads who were "drine
on their rear and giving said and com
fort' to their enemies. These resolutions
OF the Iowa Regiments we're published in
the loyal papers of the State, but no Cop
perhead shee, did tie soldiers the honor
or the justice to publish their views.
On the contrary. they denounced the
resolutions as "auti-slayery fulminations'
from the "Abolitionized myrmidons Of
of Abe Lincoln in the army. Bussey,
Williamson, Croker, ard other loyal
officers, were denounced by name aud
stlgmatized as venal renegades and Abo-
iItionists for their participation in these
proceedings. But the patriotism of the
country was aroused by these appeals
from the army, and loyal Democrats in
large numbers repudiated the Copper
head leaders and arrayed themselves in
the ranks OF the Union party and in sup
port of the Government. There was a
great reaction Of public sentiment in the
North, and the capture of Vicksburp
sealed the fate OF the Copperhead party
of the North as well as that OF the traitor
Confederacy. Blu, still that party exists
in the North and maintains the battle
against the Government, while protesting
admiration for the soldiers who have
achieved such brilliant victories over its
enemies and saved it from destruction.
And the leader of their party in Congress
now, since the defeat and banishment of
Nallandigham, is Fernando Wood, whose
record Is blacker even than Vallandip.
ham 8; and under bis leadership their
Representatives recently voted to send
Peace Commissioners to Richmond. there
by acknowledging the authority of the
rebel leaders, who assume the govern
ment of the Southern States and have
conspired to wage war against the Gov
ernment established by our fathers. The
Copperhead- Conservstive leaders propose
to sue for and negotiate terms OF peace
with the leaders of the rebellion, and in.
stall these chief traitors in their old posi-
tions of power, and re-establish slavery
on broader and more permanent founda.
tions than ever; while the loyal people of
the country insist on subduing the re-
bcllion, hanging or banishing the traitor
chiefs, and removing the cause of the re-
bellion by policy of universal emancipa.
ton.
The course Of the Conservative. Copper
heads in Congress, and throughout the
country, in their opposition to the meas
ures of our Government for the SUM-
preston of the rebellion, still gives "aid
and comfort and ministers encourage
ment to the rebel leaders and the rebels
in arms. Our soldiers in the field all
know this fact and recognize it as one of
the chief elements in prolonging the war
and increasing the hardships and the sac