The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-28
THE GA TEE F'FY.
KEOKUK. IOWA
SATURDAY MORNING, ApR1t q.


tvrcm the Baltimors American. (cbnsssvativs)
Ne want peacs. With security. wsNeps
compelled to take up arms in defense of the
Constitution andthe Union, and We found that
there existed an institution which nerved the
hearts and strengthened the hands Of our fbee,
and we abolished that institution. We want
to sweep out the debris, and get the house in
order for free occupancy. We have fought
for freedom and Union. and we must see that
both are guaranteed. How is this to be done?
Can it be done by an immediate and uncon-
ditional restoration Of the Southern States to
their ancient status under the Constitution I
Can It De done by rewarding them for treason
with an increase Of representatives on basis
OF nom voting population, and an increased
vote IN the Electoral College as consequence,
which will enable them. with the aid of North
ern copperheads. to secure the Executive
branch of the Government, with its vast pa
tronage ard power? Must we emasculate
Pennsylvania for her loyalty, and reward
South Carolina for her treason, in order that
we may have peace? No. a thousand times.
We have had war for five years, at their will,
to prevent their taking the territory of the
South from our dominion; we do not mean
at this late day to give them instead the do
minion of the whole country. We have had
to await their subjugation for peace-they
mus. await centuries for power.
We wish not to exclude the people of the
South from any of the privileges of repre-
sentative government We shall be glad to
restore to them all the rights they have SO
wickedy forfeited by their treason, but we
must do this with due regard to our own
safety. We cannot afford to again warm the
viper into life that it may sting US. We must
adopt the constitutional amendment reducing
the sectional power of the South by reducing
the basis of representation 1t is all impor~
tant to the liberties of the people and the
perpituitr Of the Republic that this constant
scbemino on the part of Executives for re-
election should cease. With it would cease
nil those great abuses Of patronage, which
have grown out Of the theory of rotation, and
the doctrine 'sto the victors belong. the
spois.' Who are the yictors? is the Pres
ident, who owes his election to great party,
the victor, or is the party who elected hiin the
victor? May he disregard the tact that his
triumph was the joint triumph OF Gil his lei.
low-partisans. that he owes to the men of
Mace under him his election, as much as they
owe to him their appointment? The country
belongs to the peop1e, not TO any othce.holder
or set of Office holders. The Government be-
longs To the people. and the Executive head
of the Government is but the temporary resi-
,lnarv of power He stands merely to carry
out the will of the people. Let US deprive
him. then. of all temptation to do wrong, by
deriving him Of all chance for the success
sion. If he knows that when once he has
attained that highest round of political am
bition. he must work for the good of the
country and posthumous fame. instead of the
succession, it will relieve him from all asper-
sion Of motives, give him Independence of
action, and add essential dignity to the office.
lf the basis of representation is changed
from that which now exists. so as to presenta
non voting population from being represented
in Congress. why then the sectional power of
the Sonth, ms political body, will he gone
and even without nbolishing the Electoral
College we might hereafter reasonably hope
for n perpetual Union triumph.
We must pass such laws as are essential TO !
tha protection of the freed people in their civil
rights Having called upon them for help in
our hour Of danger, to desert them in our
hour of triumph would be dastardly and IN (
grateful. and deservedly consign our good
name to infamy and disgrace. We must keep
faith or we shall 20 down in contempt. A
nation can no more afford to sacrihee its
nlirhted word or It's honor than a man can.
Now. what the Union people want. ard
mean to have, are just these things. They
must see that we not only have peace. but
peace that will last-tnat secures the freedom
bestowed upon the slave-that secures the
perpetuitv of the Union-that secures the
National debt--that protects labor and guar.
antees freedom by righteous laws.