The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-12-24

Keokuk for Gtant.
Al Emphatic and Strong Letter
fko0 Hen. ]. +. WilSon.
ABLE SPEECHES.
M7HUHAsu FOR GRANT

Il
EN1UUHAM P0R GRAFT.
A large number Of the citizens OF keokuk
met ia Gibbons Opers House on Aosday
evening, December 2sd, 1867. J.B. Howell
called the meeting TO order and Mayor VIM.
Timberman was appointed TO the Char.
Sam. NJ. Clark, Of the GATE CIrY, and J. 9.
Wilson, Of the Haindealer, were made Sec
retaries.
On motion the following gentlemen were
appointed Vice Presidents Of. the meeting:
Gen. j. c. Parrot, VIM. Thompson, VIM.
Wappich, Smith Hsmill, Captain Thomas
Berry, Henry Wyand, VIM. Hoilingsworth'
DR.. Cresup, Felix GremmiDger, John Finni-
gan, 8. s. Vail, G. W. Taylor, R. Vogel,
Samuel " orley, II. C. Huiskamp, G. Il. Al
bers, w. F. Thompson, Lewis Hesse, Jno.
Van Valkenburg, II. W. Sample, Geo. Il.
Smith, Colonel J. W. Rankin, VIM. Leigh,
ton. j. M. Shelly, Captain James Lynch.
On motion of Hugh W. Sample, Com
mittee Of thirteen, with Geo. W. McCrary as
Chairman, was appointed on resolutions as
follows. Geo. W. McCrary, Hugh W. Sam
ple, A. j. Wilkinson, II. w. Rothert, D. B.
Hills, Jno. Van Valkenburg, Hiram Knowles,
Col. C. Il. Perry, Fred II. Holland, General
Bruce, ] b. Paul, General A. Bridgman,
W. 7. Lowrey.
While the Committee on Resolutions were
absent the following letter from Hon. James
F. Wilson was read by ]. B. Howell:
LETTER FROM HON. JAMES F. WILSON.
FAIRFIELD, Iowa, Dec. Il, 1867.
J. B. Hoveu, Esq, Keoknk, Iona:
DEAR Sin: am in receipt of your tele-
gram inviting me to speak at Grant meet.
ing on Monday night p" next, and regret to
say tina, canno, be present. My best wish
es, however, are with you, and with what |
understand, from your brief telegram, to be
The object OF the proposed meeting.
The Republican standard must not be low,
cred now, hor during the political contest
through which the next twelvemonth will
carry us. The history Of the Republican par
" is the greatest known among the annals Of
political organizations. The party has
achieved nobler triumphs, dos.e more to Sc
cure human rights, elevate the oppressed and
down-trodden, give depth and breadth to
Government policies, and make Government
what it should always be-the protector of
all men subject to its jurisdiction than any
and all of its predecessors. While conduct
inga gigantic war in defense of the life Of the
isepubic, il cared for and protected the rights
IL every true citizen, and found time in the
very midst Of the mad and surging tumults OF
the fiery conflict through which it triumph
antly conducted the nation, to stoop and strike
the shackles from the limbs Of the humbest
slave Much of its work has been compile
tel, but its mission IS not yet fulfilled. The
results of the recent past, the grand issues oil
the present, are TO be secured or lost by the
action Of that future already bearing down
upon US. No party but the one which carries
the Republican standard I" full high adj
varced,'i can properly discharge the high du
ties which mark the path of the nations pro-
| greSs, and lead us to that ultimate victory
which shall present to the world restored
Union, resting upon the enduring basis o.
the equality of oil men before the law.
fhe Republican party is about to enter upor
new contest with the enemies of rea. pro
gress, true liberty and equal rights. Il mus
! succeed, or the nation will be put upon re
| treat from its present advanced position
| Who shall lead the hosts of freedom IN thi
great struggl.? The day is already named
when leader will be chosen. Who shall b,
the man? Can any one doubt, even at this eur
not apparent that another from the ranks o
the pain Pc, ple," though he be the hero o
/ hundred battles, is the man who will plan
our standard on a weli-fonght field, all GOV
cred with the llories Of victory, in Novem
| Der, 1853? He must be a bundle of doubts VT,
cannot now sec the name Of Gen. Z. S. Gran
inscribed on the Republican banner. But ongh
| thist, be so? Why not. Is it safe te
l
Has he ever failed us? Is be an,i-savery
Was lie 10. among the first of our mlitar
leaders to pronounce that slavery must b
put out Of the way before our national diff
culues could be properly settled and safsl
adjusted? Is he in favor OF equal rights
3 as he not approved of both the constitr
tional amendment passed by the Sath Cor
gress and tie reconstruction policy Of tn
Legislative department Of the government III
der which all Of the rebel States will marc
TO their appropriate places in the Union
Why don't he talk? Is talk Of more walt
than action? and has he not been acting firm
ly. vigorously in the right direction ev,
since The issue was made up between Il
. Prcsd ant and Congress? and did be not tai
plain tnough to johnson in his letter on Il
cases ofSlanton and Sheridan? Has he n
talked plain enough in all his correspondent
with ID, commanders Of the FIVE milital
districts in the rebel States?
: do not fear Grant on any ofthe gre
$ issues 10 which The Republican party is cor
!
. my parpose 10 favor his nomination, and
: would urge every Republican to oppose
9 for We can better stand defeat than repe
ton OF Iohnsonan treachery. 1t is my fiji
. conviction that the loyal people-a ter
which tran. says ''meaas those who su
ported he Government during the great ]
bslliou can safely entrust the standard
liberty law, and equal rights, to the han
Of the NAN who so ,rumrhantly led the
: mies ot the Union.
In addition to the foregoing consideration
| may say, We reed a man at the head of t
Executive department of the governmel
:, who viii execute the law as it is framed
the Legislative department, who will be
the true meaning of the term an Execute
and who will also take care that the natiol