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The Way to Reach Them.

The people of Hancock county have adopted the proper method of treatment in regard to those crazy abolitionists who act on the theory that copperheads have no rights under the constitution which they are bound to respect. At an immense mass meeting held in that county a few days since, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

5th. That although Hancock county has contributed largely to the retail trade of our neighboring city of Keokuk, and helped to make her what she is in wealth; yet in consequence of the insolence of her soldiery, through the instrumentality of abolition fanatics, and indorsement of mob violence by many of her citizens, and the repeated insults offered by said fanatics to residents of this county, it is a duty the citizens of Illinois owe to themselves to refrain from going to Keokuk, and we hereby pledge ourselves to quit trading with them; to stay away, until they return to law and order, and learn to treat their neighbors with decent respect; and then only, after they have made ample and complete restitution to those of her own citizens, whose properly they have wantonly, brutally and maliciously destroyed.

Such a course is the only one, short of stern, even-handed reprisal in kind, that will ever bring these cattle to their senses. Keokuk has rendered herself infamous amongst American cities by her conduct of late; and we confidently venture the assertion, that talk as we will about outrage and violence in Dixie, the worst of southern cities — even "Natchez under the hill" — has not exceeded the Iowa city of Keokuk in brutality and lawlessness since the outbreak of the rebellion. There, abolitionism holds high carnival, and bears its legitimate fruits. Were we to judge the entire party by the examples furnished us from Keokuk, we should be compelled to decide that an abolitionist, when associated in a community where abolitionists were largely in the ascendant, could not possibly be a law-abiding man or a good citizen.

Keokuk, which started out, a few years ago, with the most brilliant prospects and under the most favorable auspices, suddenly, in a manner then unaccountable, ceased growing, and has been in a state of stagnation ever since. While her up-river neighbors, on both shores, were thriving and prosperous, Keokuk has positively retrograded. The reason is now obvious. The baleful spirit of abolition is fatal to the material prosperity of cities and states, as well as to the moral and intellectual freedom of their people.