Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-09

tered out of veteran regiment, anG
of consideration. Now that the election
Is past, men, we hope, will look calmly
and dispassionately on the issues yet te
come before the people, and will make
up their minds to stand by the right.
F! The Grand Duty Of the Time.
FROM A DEMOCRAT, AND ESPECIALLY
TO DEMOCRATS.
A Democrat, who has always been
one and is so yet, and took an active
part in favor of our lamented Douglas
for the Presidency, wishes to address a
few earnest, patriotic words especially
tn his fellow Democrats. He wishes tO
do so, not only from the stand point OF
the citizen, but also of one who, belong
| ing to an old regiment recently muster
ed out, has been over large portion OF
the South, including the campaigns OF
Rosecranz and Sherman up to Atlanta,
conversed with Southern people and
soldiers, and had ample opportunity to
learn Wilot the rebellion is-its origin,
the people and rebel army in regard to
it. s- - o-..l., e. ...5.
This is period when every American
citizen, who is worthy of the title,
should rouse himself to a full realization
that the very life of his country and her
free institutions, and all that is therein
involved of greatness in the past and
promise in the future, his individual
liberties and prosperity, their inherit
ance by his children, and even liberty
for the world, are at stake. Then, with
what sense of responsibility and con-
cern and what earnest, fearful care
should he cast out every low motive and
prejudice, be only the noble patriot,
fully and deeply examine and BE SURE
HE Is RIGHT in the discharge of his
great and almost sacred duties of the
time.
In essaying to arrive at our true
course, it is essential to remember that
the condition of things before us is not
one involving only secondary political
principles and requiring only measures
OF present practical expediency. 1t is
one of unsettlement and upheaval Of
our whole political fabric, coming up
from the primary principles on which it
is founded. 1t shows there is something
wrong about its foundations as the cause
of the upheaval. Therefore we must go
back to first principles to find it out !;
and, at whatever temporary trouble Or
cost, or sacrifice, make the foundation
right and secure to build OH for all the
future.
All things are governed by law; and
causes put in operation must and will
produce their legitimate effects. This
applies to the development of nations,
as we'll as in all other respects. Any
active cause incorporated in a nations
,eing will ultimately develop its cores
bonding results.
In laying the foundations of our free
institutions the anomaly was presented
of the institution of human slavery be-
ing placed among them. Its whole
spirit was directly opposite and inimical
to them, and it was legitimate that,
gaining sufficient strength, it should
seek to overpower and destroy them
The following is part of the process by
which this has been actually brought
about. Negro slavery, by enabling the
concentration, III the hands of few, Of
land, of capital, of labor, of education,
of power, of influence, &C., necessarily
caused the Southern people (even be-
yond any will of their OWN to groa0 into
an aristocracy. Thoroughly so, in sys-
tenn of industry, customs, ideas, socially,
politically-every way and, from the
character of the negro and unrestrained
exercise of power over him, an aristoc-
racy with more of the pride and tyranny
approaching the despotic than any 9TH
er in the world.
Now, it is essential in the nature OF
things, that a government OF people,
in order to operate acceptably, must cor
respond with their genius, institutions
become dissatisfied with and indisposed
to tolerate it. And all history shows
that whenever a government became
thus unsuited to a people, or people to
government, they, even though COM
paratively ignorant and poweTless, and
however firmly seated the government,
have invariably endeayored TO throw
that government off, and continued to
again and again, until they succeeded,
or mutual conformity was attained
The people Of the South had come to a
condition far in the opposite from that
of simple republican people, one to
which our free democratic government
ceased to be adapted, and for which that
of England, or even of Russia, would be
more appropriate. They felt, instinc-
lively, that the "old government" had
ceased to suit them; and, corresponding
ly, the democratic society of the North,
with it's institutions and customs, whom
it continued to suit, they held in con-
tempt, and even the old association
with them became repugnant. They,
through negro slavery, had become
aristocratic aud despotic, and, after long
preparation, they have attempted to
throw off the republican government to
which they had become averse and in
imical, and establish all adapted aristo-
cratic and perhaps an ultimately tnonar-
chial one in its place. so negro slavery
has, necessarily, brought us disuniOn
and terrible war. 1t is, indubitably,
ut the bottom of all our national troubles,
sufferings and dangers.
And, furthermore, as point or the
most mOmentOus interest nOaU-if peace
should be made, and the South take her
place again in the Union with slavery,
and the old state of society continuing,
there would, as sure as the sun shines III
the heavens, as sure as the connection
| between cause and effect, be, sooner or
later, another secession and another ter
rible war. And be sure that next time
they would profit by the lessons of the
past attempt, and secretly organize, and
| bring IT on Wnen lar more sure OF sue
cess-perhaps intrigue with foreign pow
ers and procure Il war, or watching their
i chance when one should occur, say,
Guarantee our independence, and we
will help you, and combined, we will
overthrow the United States Govern
mant." If slavery were removed soon,
from the effects of the war and general
emigration, the people and their habits
and customs would become similar to
ours, ,ourwhole people homogeneous, and
there would be Il true national unity,
with our government equally adapted to
and equally priced by all.