Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-08-12
Fighting for the Negro.

Who? The Copperheads Of the North
seem to delight in asserting that the war
now being waged by the Government,
has for its only object the freedom and
equality of thenegro race. They charge,
unblushingly, that the war is now being
waged, not for the Union, but the ne
gro? In the light of history we ask the
intelligent portion of the Democratic
party to examine these allegations. The
passage of the Kansas and Nebraska bill
gave rise to party in the North pledg-
ed to resist at the ballot box, and by
every moral effort, the further extension
of slavery into the Territories. 1t was
upon this question that thousands ofold
line Democrats united with the reasona-
BILE anti-slavery men of the nation to
change the policy of the country, to the
interests of the white man and liberty.
When a Democratic Administration at
tempted to force upon the people of
Kansas the infamous LecOmptOn Con-
stitution, the breach in the Democratic
ranks was widened. The anti-slavery
element in that party arrayed them
selves under the leadership of Mr.. Doug
las as anti-Lecomptonites, while the fire
eaters of the South were as one man ar
rayed for the forcible extension of slay
cry. In 1856 the Republican party was
organized and committed to the non-ex-
tension of slavery, by means of Con-
gressional prohibition. The Democratic
party was hopelessly divided the
Northern wing insisting that the people
should be left to determine whether they
would or would not tolerate slavery,
while the Southern wing insisted that
slavery was protected by our flag, and
that wherever the latter went, slavery
could also go, regardless of the peoples
wishes. In 1860 the Republican party
renewed it's VOWS to liberty and nOmina-
ted Mr.. Lincoln, at the same time dis
claiming any intention to interfere with
the institutions of the several States.
The Democratic party assembled and
was rent in twain. The South de-
manded the nomination of a man who
recognized the right of slavery to go into
any part of the Union, and there enjoy
the protection of the Federal Constitu-
ton. The Northern Democrats, among
whom was the editor of the Muscatine
Courier, with Mr.. Douglas as their
standard bearer, revolted at the idea and
swore by all the gods, that rather than
yield to the South, they would see the
good old Democratic party disorganized
and destroyed. They were true to that
oath, and the Presidential canvass of
1850 was carried on by the Democratic
party, divided on the sole question of
slavery. The Republican party had four
wears earlier declared that it would not
submit to the dictates of the slave-hold-
ers. In 1860 the Northern Democracy
took the same high resolve. Wherein
was the Douglas Democracy less anti
slavery and inimical to the interests of
the South than the Republican party :?
Long before the Inauguration Of Mr..
- Lincoln, the Southern Democracy had
, prepared for and inaugurated war upon
the Constitution. In his inaugural adj
dress, Mr.. Lincoln was careful to assure
all people of all sections, that he had no
intention to interfere with the institu-
tons of the States. The Republican
party went so far as to say to the South,
" to give you full assurance that we have
no intention to disturb your established
institution of slavery, we will SO amend
the Constitution" But they paid no
heed to our voice. They assaulted the
nations forts, trampled under foot its
flag, and made open war upon the Con-
stitution they had sworn to support.
During all this time, did the Douglas
Democrats yield their cherished notions
of hostility to slavery? No. No soonei
had the South taken arms, for the main
tenance of their notions of slavery, than
their Vice President declared that slav-
cry was the. cornerstone of their new