The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-12
A Republican I'm the Wrong

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In his letter of acceptance Gen. BESTo1
calls himself Republican, and proclaims
his adherence to the fundamental principles
of Republicanisn. If Gen. Benton were
honestly the friend of freedom, and we ques-
ton it not, he arrayed himself against the
Democratic party because that party was the
ally of slave propagandism. Slavery made
war upon American freedom and American
civilization it sought to carry its shackles
into the whole Of the nations domain it
subsidized the press, pnlpit, legislature, ju-
dietary, and executive of the country; it de-
manded that restrictions be placed upon lib.
erty; it banished Northern men from South
ern soil it breeded cruelty and ignorance,
and an ignoble aristocracy; it trained trait
ors and at last, raised its arm in bloody reg
bellion against the Government and the Free
dom of which the Government was represen-
tative. And the the party of slavery,
party of treason,-the party of rebellion to
nationalize slavery, was, in the South and
the North, the Democratic party. The spirit
of slavery is inimical to the perpetuity of the
Union. and of our free institutions. 1t made
the South socially despotism before the out
break of the rebellion. Freemen were to
stand with hushed lips in the presence OF
Wrong, or PROSTATE themselves before the
Black Divinity. OF this despotism the South
ern Democracy were the champions, and the
Northern Democracy their faithful and servile
allies. Southern Democracy suppressed free
dom Of speech and of press concerning slave
ry. and the Northern Democracy-even in
Massachusetts and New York-attempted 20
do the same thing The Southern Democracy,
not content with tyranny established i'll the
Slave States, undertook to carry it further,
and with the nsolence of a chivalry that lived
upon the unpaid labor of other men, sent
their arbitrary ediets into the Free States,
and demanded that even there the peculiar
institution should be sacred, and that slavery
should not be agitated in any form and the
Northern Democracy organized mobs to pre-
vent such agitation of the slavery question; -
and Democratic Legislative committees issued
their fnlminatons against those that dared
call human bondage q wrong. Southern
Democratic officials sent requisitions for the
arrest of Northern men on Northern soil, and
northern democratic officials with shameful
sycophancy returned compliant and obse-
quious answers. Southern democracy de
manded the right 10 send her blood hounds
into every nook and corner of the free states
and the northern democracy conceded the
right. Southern democracy demanded that
the area OF slavery be enlarged, by the repeal
of the Missouri Compromise, and the northern
democracy yielded to the demand northern
and southern democratic judiciary decreed
that slavery should be nationalized. and a
northern and southern democracy tried to car
~ that decree into effect. A southern democ-
racy at last attempted to disrupt the Union, il
assumed to take states from their allegiance,
and TO establish a southern confederacy. it
levied armies, and plundered government
possessions, and fired upon the nations flag
and slew thousands of northern men, and
mutated tue bodies of the loyal dead and
consigned the loyal living to such earthly
hells as Libby Prison and Andersonville, and
the northern democracy, faithful as ever to
their slave allegiance, shouted "no coercion, "
demanded that the South should be permitted
to depart in peace; they opposed the creation
of armies; threatened fire in the rear = or
ganized secret societies, and melted mobs in
the interest Of rebellion and reformed and
re-created their party to divest it of the loyal
element to oppose the efforts of the Admin
istrat.on 10 repress treason aud save the gov
ernment, aud the more efectually to aid as
an organization their "Southern brethren. y
The contest was between Freedom and Sla-
very. Slavery has been uniform and consist
ent in its demands and spirit North and South
The Democracy has been the pro-slavery
party. Its animus is the same whether north
or south of Mason 4 Dixons line. In the
lnte disloyal states the Democracy on behalf
of slavery attempted secession, and made war,
and was remorseless and barbarous and cruel,
In the loyal States, the Democracy because
of slavery and because of the party unity,
were the allies of the rebels, and opposed the
war and denounced the Administration and
its ndherents. gHe Is ~ 81
The spirit that animated the rebels during
the struggle just closed, was utterly hostile
TO the country and liberty. That spirit still
remains, and its ascendency in the govern.
ment would yet destroy the nations life.
The northern CopperheAd Dsnoer.cy were,
and are, the allies Of ths suathern Den,oc.
facy, md their asccndeuto Sunla be the a.
tendency Of the sosthsrn srsbels, and be
dangerous to the eovernmsnt- m
Is Gen. Benton honest il assuming to be a
Republican, to be friendly to freedom? He
lends bis induence ~ s1rsagsA; nhe has say,
TO build up and make aseesssfal in this State
this party that has been he champion. oi
slavery and the confedrats of Sebellion. The
ticket made in our own county shows who are
to be the supporters Of Rssrox, and The kind
Of men that tAe success Of the BExrox ticket
would place IN ofice il de various .ooupties.
1uros calls hinsak : nspsb isaals Whaa
Fs ~ = saast sEFsz Ssss aszelf ~