The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-08
Gen. Cox ON the Union Of the
LOYAL Party.

We have contended from the start that
whatever our present views and opinions, and
how much soever Union men may differ upon
minor questions, it is the duty of the mem
bers of the great Union party, who have
stood together during the war, to stand by
each other still, till the great questions grow
ing out of the war shall be settled by them in
such manner as shall give the country security
for the future against all the Vaccinations of
disloyal men North and South. And in this
view we are glad to find general concur
renee on the part of the Union soldiers and
citizens of our entire State as general rule,
though there may be some few exceptions.
And this view of matters is taken else
where we are pleased to observe, and is earn
estly advocated by Gen. Cox, candidate for
Governor of Ohio, who, while personally OPP
posed to negro suffrage, is willing to abide by
the ultimate policy adopted by the Union
party through the President and Congress-
General Cox says:
"The importance to our country of determining
rightly the grave questions which must probably
y
make me willing to omit using whatever influence
| or information l may have in assisting at their
solution. Whether in public or private life, l
shall freely give the results Of my experience and
observation in the South during the war, and the
conclusions to which my study Of both races has
led me. shall expect the facts that have been
an anti-slayerv man from my youth up, that
assisted at the original organization Of the Repub
ican party, and acted with it, and the Union par
ty, ever since, and that / haze been Federal sol
der from the surrender of Sumter 30 the surren-
der of the last armed rebel, will secure can
did and even a friendly hearing from all who Have
loved the country, and earnestly taken its part in
the late terrible struggle. If other views than
mine prevail, i shall hold it my duty to act cheer
fully and promptly with the body of loyal men,
believing that the best solution which they can
give will be the best attainable and thn To divide
from them will be to deliver the Government into
the hands Of its enemies.
I believe that the President is, earnestly deter
mined to seek the good of the whole country, and
of all the in it that he has full claim to
that confidence which we declared that VIC reposed
in him; and that what We rs L MON men. can not
succeed in doing in harmony and cooperation
with him and his administration, We ahall fail Of
doing altogether. My export Of him, therefore,
,riH be NO halfheayted support, baf a jealous and
thoroughly hearty c2-cpsyataoa. rs'A no ulterior
parrsose N thought Of separation issues likely to
arise. 1t is by the cordial harmony of Mr. john
son and the Union members Of Congress that the
country is be carried safely through its present
perils, and division between them would place us
in imminent danger Of shipwreck. We may have
diverse opinions TO the true solution of this
knotty problem of reconstruction and during the
proper period for discussion NAV and ought 10
discuss them with candor, with fuiiness, and with
a tolerant spirit but vLen This is done and the
time for action arrives, il viii be the business Of
Congress and the Executive 10 agree upon the plan
to be adopted. and that which 10 in this manner
honestly determined by dcvotedly Onion men, |
shall believe, have before said, to be the best
attainabic result whether it agrees with my views
| or not. In short believe that under no circum-
| stances should wish the transfer Of the power
| of this Government to the hanss Vi tscse who
have bee, disioy val during the war, by any diyi-
siohs among ourseives. until all the questions
which grow out of the war permanently and
finally decided"
Most assuredy Gen. Cox is right in the
presumption that the loyal Union party, by
whose votes and oounsels. good swords, trusty
muskets and booming artillery, the war has
| been brought to successful close, is the par
| ty who should be entrusted with the measures
of reconstruction and that the Union party
is far more likely 10 agree upon terms alike
honorable and safe to the country than any
combination of Copperheads and rebels.
Let us. then, stand together. and whether
the solution of the negro problem be attained
through negro suffrage, or peaceahls sfpa-
ration of the races, and the erection of negro
States in Florida and South Carolina, or by
the combination of these and other measures,
| let us wait and see if the current of events
will not harmonize all conflicting views iand
above all, let us not leave the country in the
future to the control Of the rebels and north
| or, evp,nath;1are throuob our divisions