The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-02-16
GOV. e. C. C!outman,s rressage.

allow this occasion to pass without making
my most profound acknowledgements for the
honor thus conferred; and to congratulate
you for possessing that enlightened and pen
etrating wisdom which has so happily ena
bIed you to discern 'the right man for the
right place"
Under our admirable system of govern
ment it is possible. and of fate has become
quite frequent, that citizens in the humber
and more common walks Of life, may be sud
denly called upon to fill the highest and most
responsible stations within the gift of free
people.
Under the monarchical forms of the old
world, this elevation to power and honor was
seldom known. Except in very rare in
stances, the scepter descended in regular sue
cession from father to son, through long lines
Of royal blood, rot always (it is confessed9
without faint! In our own free and hap
Ply land, we are fortunately freed from this
Ito ambitious and aspiring gen;us) provoking
and troublesome arrangement. Here, under
the 'glancing gorgeous wings" of our own
American Eagle, in the full blaze of the light
of his searching eye, .defying the presidents
of European old fogyism, even citizen of
the county Of Buncomhe may occupy the
Gubernatorial chair of the young and gallant
State of Iowa!
The attainment of this exalted position has
not been without the usual conflicts and
strifes incident to popular elections. 1t is a
matter for sincere congratulation that this
heat Of party feeling has in a great degree
subsidized, leaving your Executive to dis
charge the pleasing duty and privilege of
forwarding his friends and Furnishing his
enemies"
In accordance with tine-honored usage, it
will be expected that shall recommend for
your consideration such measures as in my
judgment are best calculated to promote the
welfare and subserve the interests of the
people of our State, and our beloved country
Ourjurisdiction, unfortunately, extends only
to the State otherwise, with our superior
wisdom, we might MORE READILY settle the
"vexed questions which consume so much
of the TIME of our national Congress and the
MONEY of the American people.
Your Executive is relieved from the neces-
sity of calling your attention to many impor-
tant subjects, by your utter neglect of the
communications of both his illustrious prede-
cessors; and he 10 fearful were he to spring
upon you again questions of snch appalling
magnitude as the Women's Rights question,
the Hoop question, the taking of Virginia by
seventeen men, the John Brown monument,
and others of similar character, that HIS
message would be consigned to the same
contempt and oblivion of those already refer
red to. Desiring to avert such dire calam.
ity, we address ourself to the consideration
of more grave matters.
The present aspect of our national affairs
is one certainly calculated to engage the at
tention Of every sincere lover of his country.
We are it is true, menaced by no foreign
powers. Our relations with all other gov
ernments are of the most amicable character.
What then, it may be asked, is there in all
our political horizon which in any degree
endangers the stability of our government?
We answer, THE RESOLVING OF oTR NATIONAL
POLITICS INTO THE AGITATION OF THE SLAVERY
QUESTION !!
If there is any sentiment more distinctly
manifest than any other in our day, it is
that of a portion of our press and people OF
both North and South, if they cannot control
the affairs Of the government that some
event may transpire which shall prove dis.
astrous to the Union, and thereby relieve
them from their connection with those, who
because of their relations to this institution
for or against, are become odious, and long
er partnership with them not worth support
ing.
The existence Of slavery in our country is
dark stain upon our institutions, and bit
ter satire upon our boasts of liberty and
freedom. But the evil is upon as-how shall
we dispose of it?
Beyond question it would be calamity
should this Union be dissolved We have no
doubt, indeed, that great deal of turgid
eloquence and pathos is expended without
reason upon it, and should be applied, not to
the Union, but to the free principles profess
eddy represented in it. Nevertheless, we
think we fully appreciate it's worth, and
;pG
throw. We are obliged to confess that we
have come TO regard the cry about "DrssoLu-
TOM as partaking more of farce than TRACE
dy, and that we hear it very much as the
shepherds in the fable come to hear the boy s
cry of 'wolf," and this, too, without any ap-
prehension that We shall fail, as they did, to
heed the alarm should it be given in earnest.
One Of the great parties of the country
have taken their position in relation to the
agitation Of the above mentioned question.
and we believe it to be one which commends
itself to the enlightened judgment of the
American peop!e-that which allows those
directly interested with the institution to
dispose of and regulate it as their best judg-
ment shall dictate, and believing in the ca
pacity of the people for self-government, they
propose no scheme of disunion or dissolution
as remedy. They are content with the
Union as it is, believing it the most perfect
form of government in the known world
Nor do they believe any thing would be
gained by dissolution, for the abolition of
the evil complained Of
How much would be done towards the de-