The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-04
Keokak's Loyal People All Dat.

1t was an immense crowd that listened to
Grafton due to the eminent services of the
First District peerless Representative in the
greatest of American Congresses. 1t shows
the proud place he holds in the affections Of
our people. Owing to the lateness OF the
hour at which the meeting closed we find il
impossible to give now to this comprehensive
aud powerful summing up of the political stu
alton the extended notice we had first pur.
posed. We but notice in so scanty out~line
as must do the speech injustice rather than
justice few Of the prominent points IN it.
After an exordium, direct and uncircum-
locutory, Mr.. WILSON said that we have yet
before US the same issues involved in the strife
Of arms through which we have just passed
issues that should have been settled by the
war. The slavery question we had thought
settled, but it is not. So too the question OF
State Rights. Why are they not? Our peoI
pie have paid enough to have settledall these,
There were three hundred thousand green
mounds marking the resting places of the ma
tons patriot soldier dead. That was fear
ful price. But all over the land were widows
and orphans, desolate firesides and broken
home circles, that would never be filled, and
these were part of the price paid to adjust
these questions. Do we want to pay yet
more than this? But there was another ele>
ment in the price; three billion dollars of ma
tional debt were to be added Again then,
why were not these questions settled Was
it because our army was unequal to the task
No, it had done its work so
thoroughly that when the Con-
federacy went under the rebels we're
thoroughly subjugated; and were well con-
issues could have been settled they should
have been; but for one dark. unfathomable
event they would have been. In its last
armed act treason struck down Mr.. Lincoln.
The nation sorrowed, but i. did not lose
heart. 1t trusted Andrew johnson trusted
for his past devotion to the Union and his
hostility to traitors. Trusted him more from
his loyal declarations and his threats against
treason and traitors, following his inaugura>
ton. Under his administration all things
started well. He looked upon the South
and knew the character and condition Of that
people. In published address he declared
that the State Of North Carolina had been
deprived Of all civil government by rebel
lion he reiterated this in State documents
concerning eight other rebel States. He
sent Colonel Schurz through the
South TO examine its condition and
report; said all the time that "My Policy
was but an exponent which Congress could
review if it proved unsuccessful. In July
oath, 1866, Mr.. johnson sent dispatch to
the new government of Mississippi, in which
he stated that the government of the State
was provisional until restored with the ap-
prova of Congress Later; on the 18th Of
September, in dispatch to the provisional
Governor of Alabama he made substantially
the same statement Thus he left the matter
to the representatives of the loyal people,
it belongs. They did not think he would ar
rogate to himself the sole control of the sub
iect of reconstruction. But be did and from
the first its bad effects were visible in the in
ereasing arrogance of the rebels.
1t was claimed that Mr.. Johnson's policy
agreed with Mr.. Lincoln's. The speaker
showed that this was false by showing Mr.
Lincolns policy in Tennessee. When
Andrew johnson, then deuouncing
rebels, was appointed Provisional Governors;
L.
loyal Constitution was framed. He cited Ar
kansas where Gov. Murphy was Mr. Lincolns
appointment and South Carolina where he
appointed Federal officer finding no loyal
South Carokpians; SO in Louisiana. But
Mr. Johnson's policy led him to take the
rebel persons in Alabama where the last act
as rebel legislator was to pledge answering
support to Jefferson Davis When Gov.
Parsons issued orders for an election for n
Convention the rebels followed Mr.. johnson.
sxAmple and elected rebels, 10 did thew
msmben of the Legislature and Congress.
men and Senators. Did those present wan,
such men TO make laws for them? There
were loud cries of 'iNo.n 1t was aslad
would this Congress, under any cir.
cumstances, recede from its position 4
He said "xEvEz." This declaration
was greeted with rounds of
applause. We ere aaksd, said the speaker,
"why not let loyal men ins'' He wanted
hrss to find the loyal men. ssNy Policy
don't make them. A loyal nAa vas oss
true 70 the government and vho bod ~ ben
~ enemy. Nj. johnson in his addrsss toI
Nc Virginia delegation showed hat NJ deGs |
milton of loynltx and 6tne.