St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-05-16

Inc fCuefal government Dullt our
Capitol at Iowa City, now occupied by
the University of the State, and the
Penitcntiary at Madison. In early
times it opened roads and constructed
bridges to encourage the settlement
OF the country. For period of ten
years, from 1886 to 1916, it paid our
Executive, Legislative and judiciary
expenses. In 1856 Congress made Il
munficent appropriation of lands to
aid us in the Construction of Rail.
roads.
The uncxamplcd growth and pros
pcrity Of Iowa is but n commentary
upon the liberal policy and the bene-
ficent agency of the United States
Government. \ more important SER
vice, however, than any that has been
mentioned, remains to be noticed. In
1920, under the Presidency Of James
Monroe, slavery and involuntary scr
vitude, otherwise than in the punish
mcnt of crimes" was forever prohib-
tied upon our soil. In 1886, Andrew
Jackson President, this prohibition
was rc-cnacted in the organic law of
Wisconsin Territory, whose bounda-
ries originally extended to the Mis-
souri, River. In 1898, Martin Van
Buren, President, the same immunity
was re-cnacted in the act establishing
the territorial government of Iowa
And in the following year, Hon.
Charles Mason, then holding a com
mission from the President of the
United States as Chief Justice Of our
Territory, gave q colorcd man who
was claimed as a slave, named Ralph,
his liberty. We owe our exemption
from the curse of slavery and from
the scenes of outrage and strife that
prevail in certain parts of the land to
the Legislation of the United States.
And besides, it is the United States
that gives to our persons and to the
products Of our soil, free access to the
ports of the Atlantic coast, and that,
We undoubtedly trust, will soon rccov-
er for us access to the ports of the
Gulf of Mexico. 1t is to the Govern
mcnt of the United States that we must
look to build for us highway to the
treasures and commerce of the Pacific
coast. Lying as Iowa does, in the
heart Of the continent, it is essential
to her life and prosperity that we have
free access to either Ocean by the
most improved methods of communi-
cation.
1t is evident that Iowa is largely
indebted to the Union for the prosper
ity that she has enjoyed, and the dis
solution of the Union will be our
death-kncll. Ii then, any are hcsita-
ting as to their duty to rally to the
| defence of the nation--wc mean any
citizen of Iowa, any one who has
| property, or "a homo in our State-lct
him recall the history Of the past, and
in view Of every feeling of gratitude,
and so many considerations of inter-
est, let him raise his hand to put down
the treachcry and despotism that now
threatens our Institutions.
Every State in the Union has con-
tributed to the population of Iowa.
Our people have come from the North
and the South. We gratefully recog-
nize our obligations to, and we have
also claims upon, every other State.
By being admitted to the Union in
1916 we gained rights and assumed
duties. We desire to discharge the
latter, and we claim the former. We
hold Louisiana and Virginia and every
other State to the agreement they
have made with us. For citizen of
Iowa to be false to the Union cvinces
unaccountable blindness OF pervcrsity.
Surely no one who will exercise rca-
son and rctlcction-no one who has
anything at stake in the country or
respects himself, can be guilty of such
ingratitudc and bascness.-Buriingto,l
Haukrge.