The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-25
COUNTY TICKET.
The Meeting Saturday Night.


A large crowd collected Saturday evening
to hear Gov KrREwoop. He made q most
mastery address. In commencing he re-
minded his heare RS that six years ago he had
spoken in Keokuk in gubernatorial contest
in which Gen. DopGE was the opposing can
didate, and the speaker at that time was
fighting against the naturalization of slavery.
Those six years had been full of wondrous
changes. Slavery was now dead or if not
dead, was dying, slain by its friends and ad
vocates.
We had put down the rebellion. The gal
liant Union soldiery had broken its armed
strength. 1t remained for US to make sure
and enduring the victory we had won. The
question of securing the fruits of our victory
arose in considering the subject of reconstruc-
ton. What policy should govern in the reor-
ganization of the States. There was two
methods. One, and the only defensible one,
is to place the State administration in the
hands Of men who are, and have been loyal
to the country and the Government. None
would claim that the notorious leaders of the
rebellion in South Carolina should be reinstat-
sl in official place, and become its rulers and
State and National representatives, yet we
have gained nothing if other men, differing
only from these rebel leaders in not being SO
notorious, yet harboring the same feelings
and actuated by the same motives, shall be
permitted to acquire control of the State.
None would claim that JrFF. DAVIS should be
returned to the Senate from Mississippi, yet
if his successor is allied to him in sympathies
and views, we have gained nothing. The
South claimed the right of secession, the
right thus by the deliberate action of the
States to destroy the Union. That dogma is
still universal in the South. 1t exists in the
North There were those in our midst who
at the commencement of the late war for the
suppression of the rebellion, had cried "no
coercion" who had denied the right of the
Government to maintain its life, and prevent
the secession of States. They had denounced
as unconstitutional the secession measures Of
the administration to keep these States in the
Union. Here is the danger. We will divide
on minor issues. The Northern branch of
the Stvtes' Rights party will reach political
ascendency. The Southern branch are al
ready united. Then will come their Nation
al success, and another attempt to gain
Southern Independence. Proiiting by their
experience, they will make surer work at
their second attempt. They will have VAL
LAyDluHAN for President. One who thinks
T.. tbourht thot tho
ernment has no constitutional power to coerce
State. They will inaugurate their scheme
of secession, not rs before, at the close of
such Presidents administration, but during
it. The loyal people as four years ago may
show their love for an undivided country, may
clamor for the preservation of the Union, but
the President is commander chief of the
army and navy, and the loyal people are pow
erless. Suppose the late rebellion had been
inaugurated two years before the expiration
of Mr. BrCuANANs term OF Office, and he
believing as set forth in his last message,
that while the States had no right to secede,
the Federal Government had no power to
proven, secession-who shall say that there
would not now be a Southern Confederacy.
England and France did not recognize the
Confederacy. They thought the South would
win their independence without recognition.
The chivalry had so boasted, Northern De-
mocracy echoed the prophesy. They had in
Grand National council declared the war a
failure in the very last year of the contest.
Taught by the first result foreign recognition
wopld not be delayed at a second rebellion.
We value not Alright the lsbors of our living
or of our dead soldiery unless we make sure
their victory In Gods name, let us be
faithful to them and faithful to ourselves.
That is by organizing the States lately in re-
bellion upon loyal basis. How can this be
done? As Democrats see it, Mr.. JOHNSON
has policy, which is to pardon rebels and
then give the control of these States to them.
The speaker did not understand the Presi.
dents policy a. Democrats did, and he be.
Ieved that this party, who now have praises
for Mr.. JOHNSON because they deem it his
policy to reinstate the Southern rebel Democ.
racy in, power, will yet discover they are
mistaken, and have curses for him instead o,
present adulation. But if it we're SO would i,
be a just and proper policy.2 Can rebels be
trusted? He appealed to the soldiers. How
had it been in the State Of Missouri. Had
rebels there regarded their oath7 A captur-
ed rebel would be sworn and suffered to go,
and he would resume q once his nefarious
and bushwhacking courses. Rose water poll.
I'D iavsziahly failed. He meant b 4