Demoine courier., 1854-12-14

this Sta'e, and the laws OF The United
States as 10 The organization Of the mi.
lisia, and to which subjec.I would again
invite your special attention.
The object of the law Of Congress in
requiring the organization OF the military
force Of each State, and the a~ppropria.
lions for arms 10 be distributed 10 them
from year TO year, 10 for the purpose Of
enabling them TO defend themselves in
cases Of emergency, and at the same
time 10 be serviceable to the National
Government ia the defence of the coun
Try should their services be needed.
1t should be remembered that Iowa is
a froRtier State; portions of our North
ern and Western boundaries are subjec.
to the incursions Of Indians, who have
but recently disposed Of their righ, to
the soil, who return for the purpose OF
hunting. and no, unfrequently commi,
depredalions upon the white inhabitants
before the U. s. troops, or any effective
military force, can be obtained 10 repel
them. Ii is therefore pruden, and neces
sary that we should have such a military
organization as will enable Us. in a case
% emergency, to defend ourselves and
protect our citizens.
In July last | received Information
from the counties of Cerro Gordo, Bre
mer, Floyd, Chickasaw. Franklin and
others, that a large body of Indians, well
armed and equipped, had made demon.
STATIONS Of hos,ililies by fostifying them.
selves in various places, killing stock,
and plundering houses, and that many OF
the inhabitants haG entirely forsaken their
homes and left a large portion Of their
property at the mercy of the enemy;
praying that a military force might be
sent to protect them and their settle.
mems. Upon the reception of this in
formation, All order was Immediately :s-
sued to Gen. John G.. Shields, directing
him to call out the City Guards of Du.
buque, and such other force as nigh. be
necessary, not exceeding two companies,
to remove the Indians from the State
This order wal promptly obeyed. and
the company were ready for service.
when information was received that the
Indians had dispersed-,Lat the citizens
were returning to their homes. and quiet
had been restored. 1t therefore became
unnecessary for any further proceed
ings.
Authority was also given 10 Major
Williams, of Fort Dodge, in this State.
to raise a volunteer company, should j:
be necessary to remove any Indians who
should be found disturbing any of the
inhabitants of the county of Franklin or
adjoining counties. On the frs, day OF
September last he reported that he had
not found il necessary to raise any mill.
tarv force, as there did not then exist any
cause for alarm. or danger to the settlers.
In April last a communication was
received from the ordnance Office at the
city of Washington, stating that there
was due 10 this State arms to the value
Of two hundred and thirty-hve muskets,
with the desire that the kind and des.
cription should be designated. This re-
quest was complied with and the arms
have been received and distributed 10 or.
ganized military companies a, Dubuque,
Davenport, and Keokuk, with the excep-
ton Of one brass six. pound gun, which
remains 10 be drawn at the U. s. Arsen.
al in 81. Louis, Missouri.
My attention has been called 10 the
proceedings of a convention held in This
city on the 2Sth day of October last, by
the old soldiers Of the war of 1912, for
the purpose of asking relief from Con.
gress, for their services in that war. Ii
may be truly said of these soldiers. that
old age is now upon them-ihat they will
soon be called upon TO fight their last
battle with an enemy who is ever victo-
iious. Many of them are in INDECENT
circumstances, and unable 10 supper.
themseives. Their gallant defence OF
the country, in q Wal second only to the
American revolution, should enti,le them,
not only to the sympathy of Congress.
bu' the whole American people. 1 would,
therefore, respectfully recommend Ina,
you pass a memorial to Congress, setting
forth the justice of their claim, and urg-
ing, without regard to their term Of ser.
vice, that each be allowed a quarter sec.
ton Of land, and a pension for the few
remaining years allotted them to live.
At The last session OF the General As.
sembly a recommendation was made,
that such laws be passed az would au-
thorize the appointment of a Commis-
sioner OF emigration TO reside in the city
of New York, whose duty i, should be
to give immigrants the necessary infor.
malion as 10 soil. climate and the branch
es Of business 10 be pursued with adyan-
tage in this Stale, and TO protect, as far
as possible, such persons against the i'm
positions frequently prac,iced upon them.
This Recommendation, however. was
not carried out, and l again feel constrain-
ed TO call your attention 10 the subject
with the hope that one or more Of such
agencies may be established, which. in
my judgment, if properly conducted,
would be highly beneficial to the State.
and to those who nigh. feel disposed I o
become citizens among Us.
One of the objections which has been
urged against the establishment of such
agencies. is, that emigration of foreign
ers tn this country ought not to be en-
coursged or protected-even secret DO