The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-20

4
try to prevent it and to preserve the peace
OF the government and TO save civilization
and the world from the great shock which
must follow war between the United
States and Great Britain, but If the ter
rible necessity through their neglect OF
smothefed hostility must come, let it
come. We will end the question when
j. does come BY perfect free trade between
the United States and Canada and put an
end to the jurisdiction Of Great Britrin in
any Of her provinces of North America
desire no war in this country. / would
do all that reasonable man can do preyen
H. ! believe it can be prevented, but the
wisest way to prevent it is to be prepar-
ed for any contingency that may arise
hope the resolution will be referred to
the Committee on Foreign relations.
Mr.. Sumner-Tbe question before the
Senate is simply in reference to the bill.
Il 10 question Of the order of business
now. Looking at its character it is plain
that 1t refers primarily aud essentially to
foreign relations. 1t is this circumstance
that gives to it peculiar interest. If
concerned merely an additional levy of
troops or the building Of now forts or
change in our commercial policy, there
| would have been little question with re-
gard to it; nor would the Senator from
Wisconsin have accompanied it with re-
marks and called attention to ths outrage
in St. Adams. assure them that it
| relates to our foreign relations, and there
fore, according to the usuage; should be
referred to the committee having charge
Of that subject.
A few weeks ago the village of st. AL
bans in Vermont was disturbed by band
Of murderers, highwaymen, house break
ers, horse thieves and robbers, coming
from Canada. After breaking open the
| back and obtaining considerable amount
of specie and numbering of citizens, they
succeeded in making their way to Canada
where they declared themselves to be
agents OF the rebel government Such
are the main facts.
Nov, Mr.. President, does any one sup
pose these agents of the rebel government
were moved TO their enterprise merely by
considerations of plunder, that they risked
everything merely to rob bank or steal
horse No such thing. Their object wa
much higher and more far reaching. In
one word it was to embrol the govern
ment Of the United States with the gov
ernment of Grea, Britain. | cannot doubt |
that this was their object. To my mind
i, is as plain as day that these agents, or
rather the men behind them who set them
on, knew the sensitiveness of our people, |
and how naturally they would be aroused
against the foreign country 10 which the
enterprise had its origin; they saw ex-
citement, anger and passion on our part
were inevitable, that out of the same
complications might eusue, tha. any such
complication or complications must ne.
cessarily help the rebellion more than
victory on the field of battle. All this
they saw, aud acted accordingly.
The whole proceeding was a trap in
which to catch the government of this
country. It was hoped that in this way
the rebellion would gain that po~erfal
British intervention which would help to
restore its fallen fortunes. For myself,
am determined not to be caught in any
such trap. | see many things which Grea,
Britain has done since the outbreak of
our rebellion which to my mind are mos.
unfriendly, but | am unwilling that any
thing should be done on our side to
furnish any seeming apology from that
foreign Intervention which has been so
constantly MANAGED, and which was for
i Nd bo
fable cession of ocean belligerent rights
70 rebel slave mongers who had not a
single port or prize court.
Nobody sees the wrong We have suf-
fered more clearly than l do, but / see
other things also. While never ceasing
to claim our just rights. and reminding
this power always of duties which it has
plainly neglected, cannot forget that We
are engaged at this moment in a war, for
the suppression Of a long continued ami
most violent rebellion, which has,
thus far. tasked our best energies. To
this work let US dedicate ourselves with
ovt arousing another through whose alli-
ance the rebellion may be encouraged and
strengthened. Let us put down the re-
beli;on. Do this, And We shall do every
thing. Meanwhile / hope the Ssnste
will not be moved by passion into any
hasty action on any of the measures now
before it, but that each will be considered
carefully ana calmly on its merits, accord
ing to the custom Of the body. This is
surely the dictate Of prudence, and l
cannot doubt that it is the diclase Of pa
\ triotism.
4 Rich MRH IN BosroN.-The Boston
Traveller publishes list of one hundred
aud three persons in that city whose an-