The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-05-25
MESSAGE OF Gov. KlRkWooD
GINfLEMEN OF THE SENATE
- AND HouRE OF REPREsInrArIYrs:

MESSAGE OF GOV. klRkN o.
/ GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE
Il 54 AND HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES:
/ a The Constitution requires that l shall state
you the purpose for which you have been CO.
T vened in Extraordinary Session.
When little more than year ago your rel
ular session closed, the whole country was In ii
enjoyment of peace and prosperity. Al hom
life, liberty, and prosperity we're secure, an
abroad the title of an American citizen va
claimed with pride, and full assurance that
was sure guaranty of respect and protection I
all who could make good the claim. To-day Ct
vii War is upon us, and . wide spread conspir,
cy against the General Government, which v
now know has been maturing for years. has bee
developed, and the whole country is filled Wit
the din Of arms. On the one hand, and fror
one section of the country men who should
I legal citizens, il benefits conferred by govern
ment should make men loyal to it, are muster
ing in armed bands with the intent to dissolv
4 the Union, and destroy our Government, and OF
the other hand, partially from the same section
and a. one man from the other, our loyal peopl
are railying around our Union ard our Govern
ment, and pledging for their maintenance, wha
our Fathers SO freely periiled to secure them
life, fortune and honor.
1
not occupy doubtful position. For the Uniol
as our fathers formed it, and for the Government
they formed SO wisely, and so well, the Peopl,
OF Iowa are ready to pledge every fighting maj
in tue State and every dollar of her money ant
credit; and have salled you together in extra
ordinary session, for the purpose OF enabling
| them to make that pledge formal and effective
Those who, to crafty their mad ambition
have brought upon the country this great evil
seek to disguise their true intent, to cover theil
true purpose. They say they do not desire to
destroy our Government, but that it has become
hostile to them, and they only wish to peaceful
iy withdraw themselves from it, which they
claim the right to do wheneverin in their judgmen,
their interest or safety may require such action.
Many loyal men, secured by their professions and
not perceiving thas t'psaceable accession" is
destructive alike of the Constitution and Union,
were unwilling that any coercive measures
should be used to bring them back to sense OF
their duty. How are the factss Our Govern.
ment is based upon these great central, control
ling ideas. The people are the only true source
OF power. In the exercise OF their power, they
have created our present form of Government,
retaining in their own hands its management
and control They have honesty enough to de-
sire, and intelligence enough to discern the right,
and if at any time they should, by reason of ex.
ci.ement or passion, misdirect the action of gov
elnment and do wrong to any portion of them
selves, their honesty and intelligence can be
surely relied upon to correct such wrongs-
These are the fundamental ideas of our form Of
Government, and when any section of our coun.
try, or any portion Of our people, alleging that
wrong has been done them, declare they cannot
and will rot rely upon the honesty and intell.
gence Of onr people to right such wrongs, but
will right their wrongs in their own way and by
their ewn hands, they strike blow which if not
arrested, will crumble the fabric of our Govern
mcnt into ruins.
Has the Government been hostile to them?-
At the time this unnatural rebellion commenced
there was not on the statute books of the United
States single law that had not been dictated,
or assented to, by. their Representatives.. The
recent election, of the result OF which they so
loudly complain, had placed in the Presidential
Chair person opposed to their policy upon one
important question, but had left them in posses
sion of the other independent and coordinate
branches OF the Government, 30 that it was ut.
terly impossible any injury could result to them
from the election Of President who was not
their choice. Under these circumstances, with
out waiting to see what would be the disposition
of the newly elected President, without trusting
to Congress and the proceedings yet under their
control, without waiting for an appeal to the
honesty and intelligence of the People to right
any wrongs that might be attempted against
them. They rebslled against the Government,
and sought to destroy il by arms. They have
sesed by force the forts, arsenals, Ships and
treasure, and have set at defiance the laws and
officers of the United States, and they have
sought to set up within the Union another and
independent Government. They have for months
past been levyinx troops, building forts, and
gathering munitions of war, with intent to make
war upon our Government, if it should attempt
to perform its lawful functions, and after
months of preparation have attacked with over
whelming numbers and captured the troops of
the United States, holding fort Of the United
States and have SO far as in them lies dishonor
ed that proud flag. which throughout the world
is the emblem of the power, the honors, and the
glory of our nation.
What in the meantime has been the action of
our Government towards these misguided men?
The history of the world cannot show equal
moderation and torbearance by any Govern
ment towards portion of its people, in rebel
ling against it's laws. For months, some of these
men were allowed to hold high positions in the
Cabinet, and used this official po xer only to be-
tray the Government of which they were the
sworn and trusted servants For months, many
of them were allowed to retain their seats in
both branches of Congress, and their positions
TO defeat the enactment of Who'll, some laws ne
cessary for the protection OF the Governments.
For months. many Of them we're permitted to
hold hign command in the army and navy, and
used their position to betray and dishonor the
flag they had swsrn to protect and defend. For
months the Government yielded step by step,
and had used only words of kindness and good
will. But furbeaIance, moderation and kind.
ness were regarded only as indicative of weak.
| ness, imbecity and cowardice, until at last the
crowning outrage at Fort Sumter, convinced all
men that further for rbearance had indeed ceased
to be virtue, and would indeed make those
charged with the safety of the Government as
criminal as those who were seeking TO destroy
it. At last the Government has spoken, and has
called the loyal men of the country to rally TO
its support, and the answer has been such as to
show the world the strength of Government,
founded on the love of free people.
On the 18th day of April last the President
issued his Proclamation, calling on the loya
States for aid to enforce the laws. On the 25tl
of the same month received from the Secretary
| of War a reqrisition OF this State dated on the
| 18th, calling for one regiment Of troops. Hav
! ing been before advised 10y telegraph that such
requistion had been issued, elt well assured
| that would only be carrying out your will and
the will of the people of the State, in respond
| ing to the call as promptly as possible. there
/ fo.e did not wait the receipt of the formal re
| QUESTION, but proceeded at once to take such
teps as seemed to me best adapted to speedily
effect that object | was met at the outset by
| two difficulties There were not any funds un
der my control to meet the necessary expenses
nor was there any efficient military law under
which to operate. Your action only could fur
nish these aids in legal way, and yet to await
your action would involve great, perhaps daa
gerous delay.
The first difficulty was obviated by the patri
otto action of the chartered Banks and citizen!
Of the State, who promptly placed at my dispo
sal all the money might need, and determin
ed, although without authority of law, to accep
their offer, trusting that you would legalize M,
acts One difficulty was thus avoided, ! trusted
as the result shows, safely, to the patriotism o
the people for the removal of the other, and OF
the 18th day of April issued my Proclamation
calling for the requisite number of troops
The telegraphic dispatch of the Secretary o
War informed me that it would be sufficient i
the troops required Of this State were in rendez
| yous at Keokak by the goth inst The promp
and patriotic action of the people enabled me Il
place them there in uniform on the Sth, twelv,
days in advance of the time fixed, and the.