The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-26
Address OF the Nafional Cnsen Csnnft-
tee 10 the Americas Ps0pae.

AQ0f&1o on tne NafhOnAl AAA06 SS@Ahk-
tee 10 the Amerlcas People.
FElIow ClrizExs: Very grave differences
having arisen between your immediate Re
sentatives IN Congress and the President who
owes his position to your votes, re are i'm
ne He'd to ask your attention thereto, and ~
suggest the duties TO youf country which they
render imperative.
We shall avoid the use of hard words or
these, there have already been too many
And, that the matters IN issue nay be brought
within the narTowest compass, let us hra
eliminate from the controversy all that has
already been settled or has never been IN dis
puie-
The Republic has beendespcrately assailed
from within, and its very existence seriously
imperilied Thirteen states were claimed ss
having Withdrawn from the Union. and we're
represented for years in hostile Congress,
meeting nj Richmond Ten of these States
we're. for time wholly in the power OF hos
ale confederacy. the other three partially SO.
The undoubtedly loyal States we're repeatedly
aud formidsbly invaded by Rebel armies,
which we're only expelled after obstinate and
bloody battles Through four years of ardu-
GUS. desperate evil strife, the hosts of the
Rebel Confederacy withstood those of the
Union. Agents Of that Confederacy traversed
the civilized world, seeking allies IN their
war against the Republic, and inciting the
rspaclous snd nnprincipiSd to fit ont srned
corsairs to prey upon her commerce. by
State athority, and in tho perverted names OF
patriotism and loyalty, hundreds OF thousands
OF our countrrmen were conscnpted into
Rebel armies and made 10 fight desperatei;
for our national disruption and ruin. And
though BY the blessing oil God and the valor
i - fka 4
lion was finally and utterly crushed, II did not
saccuub until it had caused the destruciisn
Of more than half a million Of precious human
lives, not TO speak OF property To ths value Of
at least Ave billions Of dollars
At length, the Rebel srmles surrendered,
and the Rebel power utterly collapsed and
vanished What then?
The claim OF the insurgents that they either
nov reaceuired or had n~ver forfeited their
Constitutional rights in the tnson, including
that OF representation in Congress, stands N
| pointed antaxonism alike TO the requirement.
| of Congress and a. those of the setting Presi
dent. 1t was the Executive alone who, ate,
| the Rebellion wse no more, appointed Provis
ionsi Governors for the nov submissive, nm
armed Southern States- an the assumption
chat the Rebellion had been revolutionary,
and had deprived the people under ats oval
of uA CIVIL government. and who required ths
assembling of "a Convehtion, composed o
delegates TO be chosen by that portion of III.
people of said Shte who are loyal to tn,
1 United States and no others, for the psrpos'
of altering and amending the Constitution o
| ssid State. Il waa prezdeut johnoes who
SO late a. Octuber last- vhen III shadow Q
overt resistance TO the Union had long sine
disappearsd-insissedt isst 1t was not enol}
| "A k,a ~n-..lsad
nixe her Ordinance of Secession - null IN,
void from the beginning, and ratify the Con
ssitutienal Amendmcnt prohibitag shaver
lepernore, bui she must also repndixte lever,
dollar OF ndebtedness created to lid IN carry
ing % tAe Rebellion IL was he Who OF
Idered the dispersion by military force of an
Legislature chosen under the kebelhon whsci
should assume power TO make laws after fhs
Rebellion had fallen. II Was he who feierre
Ito Congress ali inquiries as 10 the probabuit
OF Representatives, from the Stntas lA&siy q
resols being admitted to saata in eithe
House and suggested that thsy should pFssea
their credentials, nor II the orgauixafs0A &
iCunisfeWs bus ahefwArd. And faA1ly, i NJ
he. and not Congress, Who suggested to hi
Gov Sharksy q Aiaissippi, ~
.sIf Won ex.esd The siectivs f1ocliDe :
All persons Of color who can read the COpst
tatipn e. the United Etakse il Eagt1A, -
write tbeir names, and to 1T persons Of colo
Who ON ma sMaae suiuGd 4 nae - tia
$50 and Pig hxss thsrsoas yoa veald soG
| rleto3y dinrU TIE a2eossy, aDa - - q
~npie fhsE ssAsr 6tasss wiM follow. =
i II, ben, there be sny coutros1fU = to u
lnght az ~ lq1nl Stato 20 .axan cpadnis1
M - go - sf thoGsAu1no SAuaEs
madiy into sscsssion aad !ebeiiioa, the sur