The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-05-11
u Gerrit Smith has written q le,te

~ Gerrit Smith has written q le,te
to President johnson. This he had
perfect right to do. But Gerrett pub
fishes bis letter, and he spesks for other
as we'll as himself, and. doing so, he talkl
twaddlc and nonsense, which be shoult
not do. Sill it we're TO be expected Of .bs
impractical Gerrit. He assumes to teaef
the President, bat his dogmas will be repu
dated by the people whose ruler and ser.
want MIR. johnson is:
"Ouly ten days ago. and the country
felt sure Of an immediate peace. The
only apprehension vas that it's terms would
be easier than it was prudent to grant.
To-day there is q strong and vide spread
fear that peace il sfar IF. Whence this
great change? 1. comes from the sss,s-
sina,ion of Abrahsm Lincoln, aod from
your taking his place.
That is the opening paragraph of Ger
rit's letter. We dou't think il is true
We apprehend that there is no such
"slrong and widespread fear that peace
is afar OFF, to bo found 10 the country.-
The popular mind became convinced tie,
the end was nigh when Richmond fell
and that conviction has been CONSTANT,
strenlth ming since that time. 1t is now
nearly month since Mr.. Johnsoa became
President, and every day of that time ha.
made more apparent the irre;rievatle col
lapse of the Confederacy. The hope Of q
speedy and eOtire peace vas never 50
strong nor SO universally d fused as now
Mr.. Smith has, however, made .
different assumption. lis e,r,neous to
be sure, but be adheres to it just as con
6dently as though it we're not. Looking
about him for reasons for this 6c itious
fact, he lights upon III, following as the
first 10 order:
s'lst. For while the incessant demand
for Iigorou, and bloody policy toward
the conquered rebels met With no re-
sponse in the remarkable k,udness Of MIR.
Lincoln, it is apprehended that there may
b. qualities in yourself to which such q
policy, unless condemned By your judg.
ment. would be entirely welcome. Then,
by your contact with the rebellion-by
your observation of its cri mes, and espe.
caily By what your family and friends
had suffered from those cIimes-your
temper, unless marvelously controlled.
could not have fsilel to be excited, and
to call for the severest punishment on the
leaders of the rebellion"
Now, if Mr.. Smith would but bestir
himself from the study of his own benig.
nifty and use his optics TO see things ae
|. they exist, be would have discovered this,
the chief r, Election with which the mssse.
f the people of the country sosaced them.
elves when Mr.. Lincoln was stricken
pwn, Was the expectation that Mr.. John.
y would punish treason and traitors, ..
kason and traitors would not have beer
anished BY Mr.. Lincoln. And the Erm
bold that Mr. johnson has to-day upon
he confidence Of the people. Is due to hi.
repeated declarations since his entrance
upon his present Office that while he
would be magnanimous to the deluded
masses, the leaders Of the rebellion mus,
and should be punished aud so far frou
this policy having retarded the approach
Of peaee and created sppreh ensions amon,
the people. johnston has surrenderet
since Mr.. Johnson's inaugurasioa. Oa,
armies are being dis,anded, commere,
and peacea.e resumiug their swsy 10 il,
South, and While there is reward upo,
the head Of their pseudo presileni, Il,
rebel armies in Alabama and Mississippi
are surrendered to oar ssisnphsnt forces
Mr.. Smith holds up bis bugbear Of Va
renewed too late. Events hate roste,
his logic and made his argamsats H.
sheerest sophistry.
Sill another pisnkin his platform b.
0srris
'ssd. While NJ. Lioeola ~ yse alivs
i 0overnnens no issesssasly old . B
presses and public msrtines, 81 pesS6on
satssassd With IN visAjeslvs sid blood
thieay spisit u ~ Jssish sAsslsgy, =,
*ssgsaS