The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-31
Athens, o. , July 81, 1866

A1HEss, O !, July q, 1866.
T. G Field, Esq, Marietta. o.:
DEAR Sin: Yours Of the 18th instant is
received You inform me that an effort Is
being made at Marietta. TO form true
Union party within this district and to
send delegates 10 the Pniladel phia Conven-
ton OF The 18th Of August. You proceed
to say that from what you have seen and
heard you believe me tn be conservative
Onion man, aud you request me 70 write to
Jon my views, aud CO operate IN the move
ment.
| avail myself Of your proposal, in part.
AMI Will give you briefly the considerations
which operate to prevent me from taking
any part 10 relation to the Philadelphia Con
yetiion. or any other movement, having for
It's o',lecl the disruption OF the loyal Union
party. IN humble member OF which am,
and have been since the time when armed
rebellion ia the South, encour, ged by Cons
sefvatise irai1ors in the North. erred its
organization q necessity AS impt rative as the
raising Of armies to support the national
authority.
Hitherto have been careful to say nothing
t0 contribute to widen the breach between
the Legislative and Executive branches of the
Government. And was not without hope
that some satisfactory ad ustiuent could be
had of the differences of opinion existing, un-
til q deliberate attempt was m lie to destroy
the unity and efficiency of the Union organl-
zation by disgracefnl fusion and alliance,
70 be composed of Federal office holders, late
of the Union party, a I'd the Copperhead fac
ton of the Notth Attached TO which, as an
element OF ITS chief strength, is TO be added,
the anrepentaut rebels of the South, whose
frsltrcidal hands are still reeking with the
blood of our comrades in arms.
Upon the unity and supremacy of the party
which stood fearlessy for the nation when
open and latent danger combined TO assaIl it I,
in nv opinion, depends the future peace and
prosperity OF the country. The preservation,
of the party the controlling element IN the
Government has not, III and Of itself, any I'm
portant significance. But this powerful or
ganization, lime honored as il. Is becoming
weather beaten aud Scared BY the storms OF
war. and the shocks of internal commotion,
is the ark in which rs now deposited the gseat
and glorious principles OF human freedom
self government, equal rights and national
unity and Independence These priceless
Jewels, the treasures rendered SO valuable by
the blood they have cost, can never be seized
BY the ruthless hands of assassins and traa-
tors, while the guards of honor, the gallant
Union men of the country, maintain harmony
and vigilance. Hence devotion to party has
become the only means OF ,nsaring the safety
OF the principles we nave Saerlilceu SO muCn,
and struggled so long for.
fully approve of the reconstruction policy
Of the Union majority in Congress, and re-
joice that practical test 0. lis validity and
efficacy has resulted III tie OF Iennes-
see. The terms upon which the r'bel States
may secure representation upun the tloor of
Congress are generous and rrasons lie when
we consider that they voluntarily with rev
their members in 1851, and have only SAINT
them back when the, find it no longer poss,>
Bile TO wage war fos the overthrow OF the
Union. Two years ugo neither you, nor l.,
nor any soldier mlhe field. if mad been Left
to US. woaid have eitern,n-'t proposition
OF conn rufnise mud MS this e
Now II is said that for the purposes of this
new party, 10 be baptised at Philadelp hia,
these bloody handed rebels and traitors have
equal rights. without conditions annexed. TO
representation, and that. too, upon the basis
of the entire black population OF the South,
regardless OF pas character and without iu>
dennty tor the future. This is going tar be
yond negro equality. and yet To an endorse
men; Of this degrading Inequality 81 repre-
sehtation. YOU. al the birth OF this new party,
must come. Aud these obnoxious demands
do not come from the people lately in rebel
lion They were ready 10 accept any terms
by which the penalty of treason was removed
unu these conditions of their leaders were
adopted aud supported by the place seeking
political demagogncs of the North. These
champions OF the right to equal representa-
tion. regardless Of character. are the Nalian-
d.shams. Woods and Aiiligaps Of the North
ern traitor Democracy, aud if you go Il
Pmiadeiphia yoa must come down to the de
grading ieNel oil political association on equA
terms ~iih these and kindred men, Already
Nallaudi Cham is en- route 10 that Convention
and has taken the W hite House at Washing
ton in his way--doubtess to insure equita
bic division Of spoils, which are 10 ensue q
men who in the hoar of distress contributed
stem per cent per capita To his relief. And
in that Convention You must sit side by side
with ex rebel gueSEillas and Confederate
Generals, who two years ago were engaged
in starving and numbering your comrades anG
mine, in the Southern Copperhead hastiles oi
Andersonville aud Salisbury. You mus
meet and strike the hand Of political frater
nifty with the men of the North who, in 1868
when We asked of them more men TO turn
back the tde of war which was pressing III
down, stnf us instead yallandigham tcket
t. vote, aud rove to induce our comrades Z
desert; and when, in 1864, we asked them fo
more money and arms, sent us instead tht
Chicago platform, in which our heroic eff
forts 10 indicate the honor OF the Republic
and protect the homes of our wives and chill
dren from invasion, were denounced as "fouI
years of failure.
The siren song which calls ycu TO this gath
ering invites you to vast table, spread viii
the Injuries Of official patronage, to be dis
tributcd to loyal men only, but beware les
these choice vlands are devoured before you
arrival by the unclean harpies of Northern
treason and Southern rebellion.
The means being made use of to drive me,
TO the support Of the scheme, are not lea
reprehensibie, than the obiects soueht to b,
attained are dangerous and vicious. Tn,
public Offices within the gift ofthe Execu.
tive are to be-as they have already been
used AS a gigantic means OF corruption: an,
fiattery, intimidation. prescription and NOR,
bribery are TO be caliel ia 10 coerce publi
opinion, and procure M unwilling support
The freedom of the press and OF thought ar
10 be curiaiied it not substantially ignored
and the people are to be led mp to tn. balo
boxes under The pressure Of zach agencies q
these. and forced to vote against their cor
viclioas of honesty aud right. Congress, tn
aeeri II The ptopi. chosen BY IA. peepl,
ana cnss responsible % the people. is isut |
b. ailos-d to acf according To the win of
majority, wit on beng exposed u nerr
.es. per>ecr,son, ASH an ass,sart dictaiin
never before sstie,nsi.ei ~ Representative
GOVERN en-, Honesty a j capotiliiy ii
. cease to be the ory prerequisites