The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-10-09

GEs. BExTus spoke Aese Saturday evening.
A good crowd was in attendance. The Union
men wanted to hear the chief and leader Of
the "what is it'' party, and . large numbes
were out. There were also many democrats.
These latter were they, that cheered for Gen,
Thomas and evidently took stock in him q
their man. They cheered somewhat for Gen.
Benton. He is not speaker to elicit much
applause, Those cheering for the most part
would have been more enthusiastic at cop.
perhead indignation meeting during the war,
when the stock in trade was denunciation Of
Mr.. Lincoln and the prosecution of the war.
Daniel F. Miller was particularly active and
Jealous. He had doubtless forgotten the
overwhelming manner in which the soldiers
did not elect him elector last Fall, or remem'
bering itfelt under particular obligations to la
borlargely forthe success of the soldier ticket
therefor d. F. madeloud responses in meeting
He seems to be greatly concerned lest his old
pet plan succeed and the word swhite" be
stricken from the constitution of the State.
He only favored that when he was an Adolf
zionist, it may be because he has since pro-
crossed backward, like freedom in France,
and is afraid of becoming the equal of the
negro that he is stubbornly opposed to it now.
Gen. Benton spoke some two hours or
more. He took sometime to show that the
soldier convention at Des Moines, was main
ly composed of soldiers. Also that Capt.
Sennett and few others supporting him
throughout the State, had good records as
soldiers, also that he was q republican, that
he had been democrat, that he did not think
it advisable to let the negro vote in the South
lest he vote with his master, that the negro
had been praised too much for fighting, that
he would probably have fought for his South
ern master If the latter had held out sufficient
inducements, that the States never seeded,
that he wanted copperhead votes because he
did not think Stone would refuse them, and
that he had declined to meet Stone on the
stump In joint discussion and didn't care il
he had. That WAS about all, only that his
of election was dark and gloomy.
That he entered the contest with majority
of forty thousand against him, the amount by
which Stone was elected over his late CON-
petitor. As this was the copperhead mino-
rity, Gen. Benton evidently considers himself
the candidate of the copperheads, and the
leader of forlorn hope, to retrieve their
fallen fortunes. He didn t show why, if re-
publican, he should lend his name and his
efforts to aid party that was the champion
of slavery and the ally of Southern traitors.
After Gen. Benton was done. Capt. BALM
ger spoke his speech which he had spoken
here on previous occasion, adding by way
OF new matter, in sort of appendix that he
didn't want any niggerheads to insult that
meeting by cheering for anybody else but his
and that Judge Claggett was just
as loyal As any man or any other. The way
Vas thus opened for Judge Claggett. He was
called for long and loudly and responded at
some length. Dan Miller was also loudly
called for, but he didn't get chance to make
a speech. This junto of political teachers,
would mark out for the gallant soldiers of
Lee county, and of Iowa,wh set, long ago,
the seal of political damnation upon copper
headism in State and Nation, the way where
in they must go and the men for whom they
must vote upon Tuesday! They would have them
endorse the Jones, Pendleton and Vallandig.
ham democracy and reward the adherents Of
the Chicago Platform aud its candidates.
Benton, Ballinger 4 Co., may be content to
do 1t, but SO will not do the body of the Iowa
soldiery.