Year: 1865




A friend said to us on the street, yesterday :
II admit that our fathers proclaimed in the
Declaration of Independence, the equality of
natural rights amongst mankind, and admit
that all men are by nature, equal, and that
all men are, by nature, free; but that has
nothing 10 do with their political and civil
rights in an organized Government"


That is precisely the position Of our friend
and. as nearly as We can remember, in his
own words and we believe it is the position
ofmany other persons.


Now. you admit that our fathers were right
in this declaration Of ihq natural rights Of
man. without limitation Or equivocation, as
we understand you. Wen. in this we are
perfectly agreed. But ohr fathers did not
stop with this declaration of natural rights,
but they go ON to declare that TO SECURE
THESE RIGHTS Governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed


We submit it to any man Of candor if the
one proposition Is not jhst as sound as the
other and do not the twb propositions cover
tile whole ground Of controversy, and do we
not stand impregnably on the immortal plat
form Of human rights. proclaimed by our
fathers IN the. Declaration of independence.
for the support Of which they pledged life,
fortune and sacred houof2


They declared the equality of men in natu-
raj rights, and then they proclaimed that
government was instituted to secure these
natural rights. and that government. IN order
to be Just. must have the consent of the gov
erned


Now. we insist that there be no lodging in
this matter for if, youI oppose universal suf
frare. vou thereby repudiate the fundamental
principles of tie Declaration OF ofIndependence,
a we'll as the fundamental principles of free
government. You ard ike hypoorite in the
Church and seek 10 enjoy the benefits of free
government. while ybu do not act out It's
principles In your conduct and conversation.
DO one thing or the other-deny your faith in
republican government, or else accept its
fundamental principles as TIE rule Of your
political action.


Egsg- In the matter Of the meeting tonight,
we have this further 10 add. The meeting Is
called 10y parties opposed to negro suffrage,
and the object is t9 have resolutions passed
against negro suffrage. in order TO send it
forth to the world, that the Union soldiers of
Keokuk stand side by side with rebels and
Copperheads on this issue


For four years past the rebels have fought
the Union soldiers iii front, while the Copper
heads have kept up brisk fire in their
rear, and now rebels and Copperheads are
trying to absorb and swallow them up in
their reunited ranks And they will find sol
,tlicrs. on those who call themselves soldiers,
ready to lead off the movement in favor of
such combination, for the sake Of nomi-
nation to some petty county office.
The Union soldiers have thus far put down
the rebels in the field and the Copperheads at
the polls and il should be sufficient for them
to know that rebels and Copperheads sympa-
thisc in this movement and unite in its sup
port to secure ther united condemnation of
it, The soldiers Of the Union may always
take il for granted that Il IS right to support
what traitors Of the South and Copperheads
of the North oppose, and to oppose what they
support.