The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-11-15
Vhe Prohibition of slavery.

he TTOAkOAAhOM OA SAaNCIys
The Constitution of the United States pro-
vides for its own amendment upon the consent
thereto Of three-fourths of the States of the
Union.
But notwithstanding this express constitu-
tional provision, PENDLEros, the Copper
head candidate for Vice. President, contended
that slavery was older, and stronger and
higher than the Constitution of the United
States, and that the people had no right to
prohibit it. He asserted that neither three
fourths of the States nor all the States save
one, had a right to amend the Constitution
in that particular, and to compel that one
State, against its will, to comply with the
amendment. The Chicago Times sustained
the same position, and the Copperhead party
generally acquiesced in that view, and wher-
ever, in the loyal States, such as Kentucky,
Delaware and New Jersey, the party was in
power, the amendment was rejected. And
thus their rebel friends in the South we're en-
couraged to hold on to slavery and to refuse
to comply with President JOHNSON $ request
that they should adopt the amendment pro-
hbiting slavery. The Northern Democracy
virtually pledged the Southern rebels that the
party would back them up in their refusal to
adopt the amendment, Just rs the Northern
Democratic leaders, before the war, made
their Southern friends believe that they would
stand by them in resisting the government
under the administration of LINCOLN.
But the people would not sanction the po-
sition of the leaders of the Northern Democ-
racy in either case. The North rallied to the
support Of the flag of the Union and the au-
thority of President LINCOLN and crushed out
the rebellion with armed force and now
again at the autumn elections, the North in
solid column has demanded of the conquered
rebels, submission to the terms of the gov
ernment, and the extinction and perpetual
prohibition of slavery by constitutional enact,
ment.
And now the Chicago Times which was so
rampant against the Constitutional amend
ment. turns tail on its rebel friends, and
insists that they comply with the President S
demand and adopt the amendment without
further ado, lest worse thing befall them.
Hear the Times in its new role:
When the constitutional amendment was
proposed the Times took the same position
concerning it that was afterwards so ably
occupied and defended by our late nominee
for the vice presidency, Mr.. Pendeton of
Ohio. We do not believe that, should it be
ratified by all tie states save one, the federal
government would then have the power to
interfere with the institution of slavery in that
one state. II all the states can be induced to
accept il. OF course the question of authority
ceases to be practical one. All the states,
save Kentucky, will have probably, by con
stitutoual provision, abolished slavery before
the close OF the present year. Kentucky has
given so many and exalted proofs of patriot
ism that there can be little doubt that, fer the
purpose OF securing unanimity on question
where unanimous agreement of the states
IS so important, she will also accept the
amendment. The institution In fact has been
rendered worthless there by the perjury,
treachery and brigandage of United States
officers.
If, indeed, the southern states have acted
in entire good faith and sincerity in abolishing
slavery, we cannot see whsr objection they
can have to the acceptance of the proposed
amendment, inasmuch as its ratification by
lIcm Wpuiu secure It's unanimous approval,
and thus remove all questions concerning the
exercise of doubtful powers by the general
government III its enforcement While there
was a question that any considerable number
of states would refuse to abolish slavery, the
attempt to constrain them to do SO through
the amendment was of more than doubtful
propriety. There no longer exists any such
question, and we trust the southern states will
frankly and cheerfully confirm their action IN
their late conventions by the acceptance which
the President requests. Let them come be-
fore congress with the evidence that they have
fully and in good faith conformed to his sug
gestions, and if they are then refused admis-
sion, he could not if he would, and would moi
if he could, decline sustaining them to the
most extreme limit of his authority.
Had il not been for the course of the Times
and the Northern Democracy. the Southern
rebels would have adopted the constitutions
amendment long ago. They wanted to con
form their action to the principles of the
Northern Democracy, with view to the re
union of the party on a common platform
Hence. they opposed the amendment prohib
iting slavery because they found PESDLEToN
the Times, the Democracy of New jersey
and kentucky, leading off in that direction
and insisting that opposition to the amend
ment WAS cardinal position of the Democ
facy.