The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-24
WHAT DID HE MEAN.

WHAT DID HE MEAN!
In his recent speech at Auburn Eecre.
tary Seward used the following language
eff such thing could happen as thai
the Chicago candidate, nominated upor
such an agreement, should be elected
President of the United States on the frs
Tuesday in November next, who car
vouch for the safety of the country against
the rebels during the interval which mus,
elapse before the new Administration car
constitutionally come into power? I
seems to mo that such an election woulc
tend equally to demoralize the Union ase
to invite the insurgents to renew their eff
forts for its destruction"
The Democracy deem this "a porten
tious threat" They see 10 it some darl
and fearfully-impending evil, and the sig.
ni6cant but studiously cautious avowal Of
some fixed aud dread purpose on the part
OF the Administration to work the ruin
of the country in the event of the success
Of the Opposition in the ensuing election
Even the usual staid and sober National
In'elligencer loses it's equanimty and is
thrown into 6t of terrors at the ominous
threat Of Mr.. Seward. 1t says:
owe do not know that we have ever
read anything 10 the history Of politics
more calculated to startle and alarm thu
friends Of constitutional liberty than this
deliberate menace held 10 terror over the
heads Of the people to deter them from
the free exercise of their conscientious
opinions in the impending election"
Now what danger does it or the Oppo-
sition fear? What is there in this new
and startling menace of our Premier to
thus terrify the people? If the Democ-
racy insist upon tormenting themselves
with the discovery they have made of a
magazine of national woes to be opened
upon the country if Mr.. Lincoln should
be defeated, in what shape will the vista
ton of woes come?
There are but two dangers that these
excitable Democratic "irieuds of const;tu-
tional liberty ~ can apprehend. The
flrst is. that even if defeated by the peo-
pie. Mr.. lincoln should attempt to con-
tinue in his place by direct usurpation.
Yet, as they have no foundation for apy
fears of this kind. only IN the 10 them J
lily defined threat of Mr.. Seward. thew
will certainly do him the justice of iude.
ing him by himself, and constituting hi.
words by his words. If Mr.. Seward spoke
for himself or IS the exponent and mouth.
piece OF the Administration. he is to be
his own interpreter. And yet, in this
same Auburn speech, he says: "The
Constitution of our country commands
the Administration TO surrender its powers
to the people, and the people to designate
agents 10 assume and exercise them four
years. You receive the Executive Gov.
eminent in condition very different and
highly improved We cheerfully give the
Government back to you, with large and
conqueripg armies and triumphant ma.
w. with The hateful coufederacy falling
into pieces and the rebelIious States ono
al'er another returning to their alleai-
ance.'
The lntelligencer gives to Mr.. Seward
lot possessing candor, generosity
ana sagac'ty, and be having thu. fully
stated the purpose of the Administration
TO "cheerfully give the Government, h.o. .
% the people upon the termination Of =.
'fhc'.l tenure, and its readiness to do i, !
now Mr.. Seward certainly could not ,
nave foreshadowed usurpa.ion in his INV.
'srious threat
democratic optics might discover ope i
''ner danger premonitioned il thi. rem.,h !
u the Secretary of State. And thew do ,
The intelligeucer thus puts It:
at is indeed conceivable th.. n. "A 9
IN the event of ~ daf.s,
luog with rage and mortifestiou. m;ch, :
cnc'ude . hasty aid disgracefui 49, <
Il'0 the Insurgents. in the fear ths. ~ B
1ccessors IN Office might win for ~. .,
'lves me honor Of restoring peaoa .ad il
mon under the Constellation -' :
IN the Baltimore platform th, Rspub. !.
~ un'oa party pledge thsusslv,, 70 M Il