The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-04-05

Oeeu anu ~ now tue 9NtlyuQ6 % slavery
toward this primary object Of the Coneti-
tuition? When slavery, in the natursl4
and disturbing course Of ito
assumed the character and
form Of . political power, its 6rss ct was
. denial that the people had formed >
"more perfect Union," coupled With the
assertion that the Union was mere CONE
pact between the several States, which
might be dissolved at the pleasure Of ANY
party thereto. This position was select
ed a. nfbet likely to terrify tbe people
into submission, while their power was
being transferred to tho hands OF the
few, and az affording plaueible pretext
for the destruction of the Union, In the
event freedom should prove too strong
for slavery. and the people should refuse
to surrender their power into the hands
of those who would destroy their liberties.
Shrewd calculations we're the men who
selected and intrenched this position
For many years the terrors which they
exhibited to the people from this cum
ningly masked battery Of error held the
mass IN check. But, when it vas almost
too late, the people discovered their dan
ger, rcgained their power, resolved to
enforce the grand principles and 'radi.
tons of justice and liberty. aud stood up
in their majesty masters of the s'tuation.
Slavery few 20 its last resort, to enforce
by strife and battle its doctrine Of COM
pact of States, and the right to dissolve
the came at pleasure, and for three long
and bloody years has been by the dread
power and fearful engineries Of war seek
ing the destruction Of the Union OF the
people.
The second object Of the people Vas
"to establish Justice How could
slavery stand otherwise than opposed to
this Slavery is injustice. The essab-
lishment of Justice would destroy slavery.
Both canno. live together iaApesce- In
the very nature of things>a state Of strife,
contention, war, viii and must exist IN
cessingly between these two irreconclla.
BILE enemies until one shall succumb 10
the other. Justice is "the virtue which
consists in giving to every one what IL
his due; practical conformity to the laws
and to the principles OF reclitude in the
dealings Of men with each other. -
Slavery is the direct, perfect. opposite
Of this. Must not the house in which
these two sntagonisms exist be divided
against i,selfs Can such house stand :!
Is it possible to establish justice and
maintain slavery The long. dark, ter.
rble record written on the pages OF an
iucesssnt strife. first in unheskhy. fever
ish, exhaus,ine political excitements, and
finally in the best, truest. and 5rayess
blood Of the nation. and now eliminating
amid the awful scenes of a war unpfece-
dented ia proportions and unequalsd IN
the matchless glory OF its promised
results, furnishes to US and to the world
an unques'ionsble negative TO the queries
L have submitted Slavery challenged
the people in their endeavors to establish
justice, and resorted to the ordeal Of bat
tie against them in their efforts to main.
tain q Government founded upon this
divine attribute. The ordeal Of battle 10
not yet closed. The contest is in the
full tide of it's power. All around the
combatants the nations of the world as
spectators press with an eagerness and
intensity Of interest never before prepar-
ed for the pages Of history. while the
spirits Of the fathers Of our republican
system look down from their bright and
best abode hoping for the triumph Of
justice, and appeal to God who has gath
cred them to Himself to strengthen the
arms which strike for the right. We
know. the peoples Of the earth know,
the spirits Of the fathers know. that this
grand struggle for victory can be termi-
mated only by the triumph of justice and
the death Of slavery. or by the success OF
slavery and the death Of the Republic
No compromise can be made, no truce
can be adjusted, no silver tongued appeals
for peace can be heard amid the din Of
this fierce conflict. We must establish
justice upon ba,omb Of slavery, or have
1T not at all We must establish it OF
acknowledge the Republic failure. We
viii establish it by destroying, il the
manner and form prescribed BY our Con
stitution. that which stands in our way
slavery
Another object to be accomplished bv
the sdoptian. of the Constitution was to
ENSURE domestic tranquility" This va.
the voice Of the people. How stands tn,
account between the Republic and skvery
concerning this grand purpose * tn
people. WheSs since slavery assumed
political proportions, has it subserved th,
great end If dcmestic tranquility /
has been powerful, bat what are the fruit
ofi's powers The long line Of political
Legislative, Judicial history OF THIS natio,
presents not page which is not disfgur
ed by tomr blot placed upon il BY tn
aggressive, lntolersnt. exscting, and des
potio spirit Of slavery. From school
book 10 statute. book, from hearth.ston,
opinions 10 decisions Of the Hupre a.
Court of the United States, from politi
col hustines 70 the sacred dssk ZION
town meetings to Congrsss, no brirb
spot appears without blemish from Ii
hands Il the restless, msddlipg. disturb
ing geniu, u slavery. EveryNAefs il
footprints appear, always tendjag tovar
disturbance OF or doDestio tssn4 nillfy
We had no national repose, for constsn
pro.slavery agisasioa kept sonsisuu