The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-06-19

.rsrou.s;rsiIis7 81 IN IN UNION fzksT:
The real responsibility for political events
now rests upon the Union party, or, =
now prefer to call it. the Republican par
ty. Names arc mot very material, bat
sill We have our choice. That party
which, during the WAT, rssolutsly mains
tanned tho right and duty Of the National
Government to suppress the rebellion BY
force ofarms, i the party mean. This
party was founded mAinly upon the Re-
publican party, whose opposition p slave
~ was always avowed, and whose mem
bers have maintained that the end of the
war il the end Of slavery. Il matters lit
tie what motive unitea us when We are
agreed. It is certain that We do agree
upon certain fundamental dognas, and
these are:
/. That the Union must be preserved.
This is Jacksonian doctrine.
2. That slavery must be destroyed
This is Republican sentiment.
8. And this is Andy Johnson's decla-
ration: That traitors must be punished.
Great cheers
These we regard as no longer debatable.
The mode and manner of enforcing them
and all the complication growing out OF
the war, We may debate about, but these
are fundamental. No man can rightfully
be said to belong to the party in power,
who does not admit them, and who will
not act upon them.
REcoNsTRUCTroN- OF SLAVES.
A still more different class Of questions
grows out of the political relations OF the
rebel States and their present, unhappy
condition. Our brave soldiers-and l
am glad to see SO many of them here-can
tell you how desperate . resistance they
met and what fearful ravages they left be-
hind. The young men of the South are
in their graves. Those who had property
| are now impoverished, and new class Is
in possession. The slaves, upon whose
labor their whole industrial fabric rested,
are now free, and are working for them.
selves. Cbarred rims mark the whole
country cities and towns are in ashes
Though the armed rebellion is crushed,
the spirit of rebellion still lives. A popu
lation of old men and children, and
mothers and daughters mourning for dead
| husbands and sweethear,s, and also four
millions of freedmen, await the recon-
structing hand of the national Govern
meut. And upon the principles upon
which this reconstruction shall be found
ed depend not only the lives and property
of all these people, but also depend our
future national safety. Let no man who
has his part TO perform in settling these
questions, satisfy bis conscience by par
ty cry, but let him think for himself, un-
der tie light of the conscience implanted
10 him by Almighty God, and let him be
charitable to those whose judgment leads
them H. different conclusion.
/ cannot 10 the limit of short speech
enter upon an elaborate or even a brief
discussion of these questions, but will on
~ state certain conclusions as to different
classes of the Southern population.
And. first, as to the former slaves OF
the South, We promised them their free
dom, by every mode BY which one peo
pie might speak to another. We promised
1T by the proclamation Of Mr. Lincoln
Congress twice ratified this proclamation
and the people in two annual elections
have ratified it. These slaves have won
their freedom by their devotion to our
cause. They have, from the beginning,
been true friends. They have borne our
flag in battle. They have carried our
arms. They have boon slaughtered for
our cause. They have aided our sick and
wounded. They have fed our soldiers
when in prison, and have guided their
escape. They have performed the humble
Offices of the camp and the hospital
They never fought against us. They
have relied upon our promise, and have
performed their part. Without them, and
without their presence as weakness TO
the enemy,we might not have succeeded.
By their ample faith 10 US, following Gu
fleets and our armies, they have earned
their freedom. The enemy know and
confess that an inevitable incident of their
overthrow is the freedom of the slave /
therefore conclude that we must secure
them their freedom beyond all doubt OF
peradventure, and maintain it against
every danger in any form of reconstruction
that may be adopted.
| WHO SHALL VOTE IN THE SOUTH.
Will you in addition authorize them to
vote? Will you invest them with all the
rights and incidents Of citizenship? Have
you the power to do it nnder the Constitu.
ton of the United States? 1t is perfect
ly clear that unless the powers of the
rebel States are changed or affected by
their rebellion Congress cannot fix the
qualification of voter within State
The Constitution provides but for three
elections: of Presid N, of Senators and
of Representatives. The President is
chosen by electors appointed in the same
manner as the Legislatures of the States.
Senators are chosen by the Legislatures
Of the respective States. and the members
are chosen by the people of the several
States, and the electors of each Stage shall
have the qualifications requisite for elect.
ors of the moat numeraua hroroh If fho