The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-14

National League Of New York.
The gentlemen above named are not
only prominent in their own Iand. Dut
have worldwide reputation. The Count
Gasparin, Minister of Public Instruction
under Louis Philippe. is in religion
Protestant, and in politics a moderate Or
leanist. He is the author OF the remark
able word, "The Uprising Of a Great
People, published in 1861. Augustin
Cochin is the author of The important
work entitled, The Abolition OF Slave
ry." Henri Martin, the historian Of
France, is a Catholic in religion and in
politics Republican, as is also the ver-
satile and witty Laboulaye. The letter
which they have written is in answer to
the letter addressed TO them BY the New
York LOYAL Publication Society, and
adopted with enthusiasm at the great
mass meeting OF the Union League OF
that city Oh the 18th of April, 1868.
SLAVERY THE ISSUE OF THE WAR.
The reply, which is quite lengthy,
opens with the admission that Europe has
misapprehended the nature of the Amer
lean rebellion, and that thus the South
has hoped for the aid which it needs from
Europe. while had the truth been realized
in tue Old World, the South would not
have long dared to affront the Indignation
oil Civilization.
The writers then proceed to consider
the reasons why this indignation has
been withheld This inquiry is answer
ed in the following manner: First, Eu-
rope donbted whether slavery WAS the
READ cause Of the conflict, and it was OBJ
iected that Dir. Lincoln and his friends
were not Abolilionists. Their programme
went no further than to stop the extern
sion Of slavery, and shut it out OF the
Territories But, ask the writer's: Was
this nothingg Was it not, in fact, every
thugy Who could have foreseen that,
on the appearance OF such a programme,
OF u progress so unexpected, Of an attack
SO bold upon the policy which was lover
ing aud running the United States, the
friends Of liberty would not all have has
tened to sppland Was not this the
time 10 cheer and strengthen those who
were thus entering on the good path p
Was it not due TO urge them on IN their
liberal tendencies 50 that, the first step
taken, they should take the second, and
70 on TO the end? Ought not tha. which
terrified and dismayed the champions Of
slavery to rejoice the hearts Of is adTer-
s8rios?
Your letter, gentlemen, puts in bold
relief the reasons winch hindered Mr..
Lincoln from adopting at the outset an
abolition policy. The President could
disregard neither his oath Of office nor
the Federal Constitution he had also to
keep in mind the opposition which plan
OF emancipation would encounter in the
loyal States. The head Of great Gov
eminent cannot act with the freedom Of
philosopher in his study. Ia simple
truth, Mr. Lincoln should be accused
neither Of timidity nor indifference.
Your lvttar recalls the measures Of his
Presidency; abolition OF slavery in the
capital and in tie District Of Columbia,
the proclamation If freedom 10 fugitive
slaves, The principle of compensated
emancipation submitted to all the loyal
States, the death penalty actually inflicted
on captains Of slavers, the treaty with
England admitting the right Of search,
the establishment of diplomatic relations
with The hack republics OF Liberia and
Hayti. the aiming OF free negroes, ard at
last, when the length and gravity of the
war sanctioned an extreme exercise of the
powers Of Commanderin-C Chief, the ab-
souie and final suppression Of slavery in
all the reyoiied States.
We, gentlemen. are abolitionsts; and
we declare that we have never hoped nor
wished Tor a more steady, rapid and reso-
lutte progress. We have understood the
difficulties which surrounded Mr. Lin
coin. We have honored his scruples OF
conscience with regard to the constitution
OF his country which stopped his path
We have admired the courageous good
sense with which he moved straight on
the instant be could do so without dan
ger TO his cause or violation of the law.
Wonder is expressed that slavery is
abolished in the revolted States and Yet
preserved in the loyal States. In other
words, there is wonder that lie who has
sworn . obey the Constitution should re-
speet it, Let 10 one take alarm at this.
There Is 90 danger that the domestic
institution" crushed in tie Carohnas and
Louisiana, will long survive in Kentucky
Or Maryland Already, as you have stated
to "a. a solemn proposition has been made
TO all The loyal States already one Of the
most important, Missouri, has set the ex-
ample Of acceptance. To be thus uneasy
about the maintenance of slavery in tile
North argues, to our minds, quite too
much tenderness for the Sonth. We
lok wilh suspicion upon the pretended
aoollionism whose nnfriendly exactions
were put forth on the very day illumined
IN America by The dawn of abolition
We frankly say, we could never have
foisecn that the election of Mr.. Lincoln
and the several acts which We have just
enumerated, would be IN endless cause OF
complaint and distrust, and unworthy de-
nunci1ion rom so many men who plume
themselves in Europe upon their hatred
Of slavery.
HAII0NAJITY.