The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-02
ADDRESS ~ VIRGIL 4. orroo
Formerly Of Co. 4, 21th Iewa Vols
DELIVERED BEFORE THE CONVENTJOS
AT CHARLESTON.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE CONVENTJO 4
AT CHARLESTON.
Soldiers Of Iona You who have stood by
your country flag when it was assailed by
treason's bloody hand; you who have marched
through the swamps of the South and faced
the cannon's mouth on the bloody fields Of
Shiloh, Vicksburg and Nashville, and stood
in the death-kin skirmish line before the Glib
ralter-like works Of Atlanta you who have
followed the brave Sherman ssin his march
down to the sea = it is to you speak.
You are now at your homes, again enjoying
the privileges of citizenship. You have most
gloriously accomplished your undertakings,
in spite of rebel bayonets and rebel sympa.
thizers at the North, who in their notable
convention at Chicago saw four years of un-
successful war, and there, after sacrificing
every principle in opposition to the policy of
our Government, did, in the last clause of
that most splendid stracture extend to us
their pitiable sympathies. 1t is these men tha,
supported that platform that we have come to
oppose. They are growing warm to us, but
we had best beware of them. 1t was in their
school that we learned we were Lincoln hire
lings. II was in their school that we learned
that our armies were but mobs to desolate
southern homes and hunt down defenceless
women and children. The South, in their
attempt to destroy the Government, always
looked to them for aid /; and copperhead, like,
but far better in principle, Jef. Davis, wh4n
III the last ditch, donned in his female dress
caught up the echo Of the copperhead wall
and ironically said he thought our Govern
ment too magnanimous to hunt down defence
less women and children. These men ere
growing warm upon the subject of negro suf-
frage. They call upon us soldiers and ask rs
to accept their subtle policy, but it is as weak
as subtle. They talk to us of negro equality.
They tell us that with them our interests are
at stake. They ask us what the poorer, more
ignorant portion of our people are to do when
opposed In their avecations by the negro
And they are not so sly but they drop tie
hint that we are of this class. Soldiers. let
us let them know that we are Of the best
blood of the nation. And what we have
proven by our valor in the field, let us prove
by our ballots at home. The ballot-box is
the speaking trumpet of the nation. Let US
in it gather our whispered opinions and send
them in dsafenng peals upon the world.
Let us let them know that we value the pure
ly republican opinions of our martyred Presi-
dent. Soldiers, there are those that tell us
they want to reform our republican princi-
pies, and the reform they offer us is what they
call an anti-negro suffrage policy. They put
me in mind of u onehorse preacher | once
heard of, that was in favor of reforming his
church, and after two years preaching found
that the easiest way for him to reform it was
to leave it himself And think his decision
will apply to them, and if they do leave our
party it will be splendid reform.
Those men that supported the Chicago plat
form are now offering US their coincidence
and offer to teach us the right. They tell Us
that those patriots that have guided the ship
of State over the storm-tossed pillows OF
treason are pending policy in direct oppo-
sition to our interests.
Soldiers, you have learned these men by
dear experience. when you were in the field,
away from your homes, and braveiy doing
your duty. In some States, where they had
the majority in the Legislature, they disfran-
chized you, and that too when you were un-
der the yoke of military authority and when
the ballot was the only way you could assert an
indepent right. They now talk to us of negro
equality; but when their eowardly skins were
in danger of the pending draft, they favored
the policy of filling our depleted ranks with
the negro. They were not afraid OF huulili-
ating you then; but now they come to you
with their watered milk But soldiers we
cannot forget our dear bought experience.
We nave stood shoulder to shoulder with the
negro; we have fought side by side with him.
and with his assistance we have achieved a
most glorious success. We have found HIM
brave in an hour of danger, aud we need not
fear to trust the brave; but vi had best be-
ware of those who have proven themselves
towards. These have always stood with the
drawn dagger of deception, ready to strike
nc Iuh fbur 4.~1
their present policy is but the renewal Of that
which, in the hands of the South, deluged
our country in war, and came near drowning
1t OF It's better principles.
Then If our leaders do adopt the policy of
negro suffrage, let us of the two evils choose
the least. Then let me plead to you il, the
cause of humanity. Yonder is the sable black
in mournful silence he stands over his bro
ken shackles and knows not where to look for
aid. With tense sinew and dauntless will, he
is ready to take his. place IN the ranks of
men. Shall we extend him this privilege, and
grant him those certain inalinable rights,
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness?" or shall we let him grope his way in
the darkness alone If so, our reeenerating
emancipation policy will be in vain. And
like the aged prisoner, who has grown blind
in his dungeon cell, when being released and
finding no friends, longed again for his prs-
on, where he might die in peace. And thus
with the negro. If we do not extend to him
this hand, he win be imposed upon on every
side, until he viii long again for his shackles,
which we, in our imperfect justice, released
him.
Now call upon you fathers you who have
lost son in our country's defence, can you
approve Of a policy whose leaders are those
who opposed the cause in which that son fell !?
call upon you, young man, you whose broth
er's bones now whiten on Southern soil, can
you approve Of policy whose leaders are
those who sympathized with the human
brutes, that starved that brother in Ander-
sonville prison pensf Justice compels me
to answer for you. No; by the eternal God,
no H. zx w 4a = aN 81
We web know that it was slavery that igni-
ted the mighty conaagration of war that came
near destroying our country, and, soldiers,
like sturdy fremen, let MS extinguish the last
smoking brand, by opposing kind of serf
dom over portion Of our people. For well
does history teach ns its dire effects. GO Wis
it the oblivion covered graves of the ancients,
and hold up their whitened bones and let
them speak. They viii tell you it was this
principle Of serf1om thAt destroyed their once
mighty nation. Then IL us destroy the last
vestige of the principle for I've do not,
ivy like, il viii spread unfil " again find our
selves in the midst Of another REBELLION, which