The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-17


comes back from Richmond TO the peace
resolutions Of the gentleman from New
York, Fernando Wood, the kind words
Of his colleague, Herman, the imploring
tones of the gentleman from Ohio, Cox, ]
and to the fne-spun arguments in behalf
of the CONSTITUTIONAL rights of bloody
handed rebels submitted by the gentle
man from New jersey, { Air. Rogers, the
gentlemen from Ohio, Messrs. Hfnck and
Bliss, and Others, who have labored to
argue away the powers upon which the
government must depend for its safety
and its life. When these marvelousiy
kind hearted gentlemen uan stay the fury
of tornado by singing to il lullaby
they may expect to put down a rebellion
such as is now expressing this nation by
the course they are pursuing in this
House. Their chances Of success would
be just about equal in either case
Sir, until We can dispa rse the armies of
the rebellion, crush out It's military pow
CT, and thus destroy the hopes of its lead
ers, it is idle to talk Of sustaining from
the use Of any proper means which will
aid US in the Accomplished of the great
work we have in baud. We have enough
to do now without wasting any of our
precious time in trying to administer seoth-
ing sirups to men whose bloody hands
are feeling for the throat Of the Republic.
So long as the banner of armed revolt is
thrust IN the face of the nation we must
use power and exercise justice. Mercy
will have its proper work 10 perform in
due season. When justice has su bdued
these armed rebels it may introduce all Of
them but the leaders to mercy. But the
time for this ceremony has not yet arrived.
nor will it ever come for the leaders Of
this rebellion.
Mr.. Speaker, has it never occurred to
the minds OF the gentlemen who object to
the passage Of this joint resolution that it
will have no effect on the great mass Of
the people Of the Southern States? The
property in those States is owned BY CON-
paratisely few persons. Property is not
distributed among the people there as it
lis 10 the NorthsIn States. A sale and
division OF the Large Landed estates in the
South would he Of incaIeulsble benefit 10
the mass Of the people after the rebellion
passes into history. Tue people can then
become isbdhoicer-, and no longer be
subject TO the despotism with which a
privileged class has heretofore rnled that
whole country. Thus we sac that the
anguish witch some gentlemen have ex
rerienced has all resulted from the dan
ger in which the leaders Of the rebellion
are placed. The great mass of the people
viii not be affected BIZ the passage OF this
Joint resolution otherwise than iavorably.
The leaders, tie great i1rdiy lsadholder-
who have almost crushed humanity out
Of the poor people who are squatted on
their pTiucely estates. are tho men who
ara 10 be injurioasly ale ted b. the pas sage
Of the resolution.
| am amazed at the position which these
gentlemen have elected to occupy. Why
they should Join hands with an aristo-
cralie class whica has used The immense
slave aud land power in its hands for the
purpose Of crushing and grinding the com
mou people into an intellectual darkness
almost as dense as barbafism itself il
something which requifes so explanation
different IRON any we have yet received
With their strange position unexplained
and, may say, xplaiuabie, they
stand before the country rs the defender.
If tie leaders u the rebellion, and not al
the advocates Of the crushed aud bruised
aud MISGUIDED mass Of the Southern peo-
pie; Tor they stand here objecting to the
passage Ola law admitted by themselves
% be constitutional, which, II passed and
properly executed, will open up future
to the poor on.lsndholders % the South
ern States as bright as the sunbeain-
which lint the roses OF that sunny land
| This is their love for the people. This is
,heir idea Of mercy. With the Iordly
lew they stand opposed TO the poor, the
oppressed, the betrayed macs OF theSouih-
ern people. They seem to regard the
sristoeratlc few who ruled their presen,
defenders aud the people Of the South
with rod of iron which pierced and
scared every subject conscience before
the rebellion, and now rule it, a. embra.
cling all the human family to be found in
the eOutntfn Etates NOitHt u our tOnsfu-
Grafton and mercy. While such views
are sustained by gentlemen, who can
wonder at tae bitterness they have mani
tested toward this joint resolution? They
are hoping for the return OF power through
the bands of leading rebels now dripping
with loyal blood. They are hoping for
the establishment of the old order of things
when despotism ruled the Republic; when
the public conscience was imprisoned in
a slave pen; when plantation manners
were practiced in this halt, and slavery
was regarded as the most perfect result
springing from the revelation of divine
will to man. They we'll know that any
| legislation which will convert the mass Of
the Southern people into landhoders will
place the blight of eternity on these
hopes. Hence they oppose this resolu-
ton, and dencunce the doctrine OF the
| Constitution as ''cruei and remorseless."
1t is this sympathy with the slavehclding
and land-possessed aristocracy which
leads the rebellion, aud the hopes which
the passage of this resolution would
blight, which caused the gentleman from
New York, Mr.. Fernando Wood 10 tell
ia that we must treat for naaee and that