The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-29
COUNTY TICKET.


Hold Them to the Principle.
The South Carolina Constitutional Conven-
ton has taken one step forward or backward,
according to the standpoint from which it is
contemplated. Under the old constitution of
South Carolina the rich shareholders of that
State, under the old constitution, managed to
have their slaves included in the basis of ap-
portionment for representation in the Legis-
lature. And as consequence, those portions
of the State most thickly populated with
slaves, where rich planters owned large plan
tations and hundreds of negroes were enabled
to control those sections of the State where
there were fewer slaves and more white peo-
pie. And thus naughty and wealthy aris-
tocracy, by virtue of their numerous slaves,
;-uineered, in the laws as well as in politics
md COO al life, over the humber, but more
numerous c,a,- -ses of the white population.
Slavarv ia abolish, ID in South Carolina now.
and the recent Constitution al convention re-
fuse to count the negroes in the ..'asis Oh ap-
portionment and representation, and in con-
sequence, the region of large plantations anu
sparse population of wealthy landholders will
lose their preponderance over the poorer and
more thickly settled portions ofthe State. And
in thus far, this change in the Constitution
operates againstthe aristocracy and in favor of
the masses of the white people Of South Car
ohna. The rich planter will no longer, by
virtue of hundred slaves, have representa-
ton in the Legislature equal to a hundred
white men, but the rich and the poor whites
will, in that respect, stand on a level.
Now, if the doctrine is good for South Car
olina. why will it not work as well in the Uni
ted States at large. And since South Caro-
lima has set us the example of counting the
negroes out in fixing the basis of representa-
tion in that State, why shall we not apply the
principle to representation of the States in the
Congress of the United State.
South Carolina, Louisiana and Mississippi
will have twice the number of Representatives
in Congress and in the votes for President il
the negroes are counted, that they would have
if white persons only are counted as the basis
of representation; and in like proportion in
the other Southern States. And as a conse-
quence, the vote of one red handed traitor in
South Carolina, dripping with the blood o.
patriot soldiers slain in battle, or massacred
in prison, will be equal to the votes of two oi
our Union soldiers, who have fought, suffered
and bled through four years of war, waged
against these same accursed traitors and their
craven Copperhead friends.
We are opposed to any policy which makes
one traitor, whose bloody hand has struck
down the fathers and the husbands of oul
loyal women and children, equal to two Union
soldiers. in the matter of National legislation
and the choice of President and Vice Presi.
dent, which makes ten thousand white voter
in the South equal to twenty thousand white
voters in the North.
We are opposed to that kind of patriot In
equality to that kind of traitor superiority,
Copperheads may endorse that doctrine, fol
they may feel that it takes two Northern Cop
perheads to equal one Southern traitor bul
we do not believe that any true soldier who
has fought gallantly for the flag of his coun
try, will ever subscribe to any such dostrine
any more than he would to that other doc.
trine, that one Southern man can whip five
Northern men in fair fight.
But remember, soldiers, the unconditional
and immediate restoration of the traitors Of
the South to their old place and their old
power in the Union, involves, of necessity
this very result. Break off your league with
Copperhssds, if you are not ready to endorse
this priaciple, and unite with the Union par
ty, which insists upon that amendment of th<
Constitution as : condition precedent.
THr meeting q Pfnsose was not as largs
as we anticipated, owing % variety of res
sons which II would be usslsss, even if we had
the time to, specify. >
The Hon. J. +. WuAos,s however, wa,
present and addressed the meeting, and deliv.
cred one Of the very best spssShss We havs
listened to, during the campais2 A synop
sis Of his positions and line a. argument,
shorn Of its illustrations and ths eloquence of
voics and manner, wesh ~ bjustice to
the speaker and his effort, ard ainust there
Sore leave our feAden 70 rsgrst Z II they we're
not present to hear for thsnssls
We hope to hear GOD aeeo from Har-
rison so-nsl;e :. Z. eRR.s.s election.
Tn order Of ths ~ - y, an organiza-
ton ot he Army q ~ lhnessee, holds .
meeting q I'll it. nep, ct Chicago, on
the 18th Of Novsubogs
Tn v;rsisiss {. a. avsnsiOn| y ssa!.i jass; 3