The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-05-29

/.
y cuIcAGo, May 10, 1861.
My DEAR Sir: Being deprived Of the use
of my arms for the present by severe at
tack of rheumatism, am compelled to avail
myself Of the services of an amanuensis in
reply to your two letters. a
It seems that some Of my friends are un.
able to comprehend the difference between
arguments used in favor of an equitable CON-
promise, with the hope of averting the hor-
rors of war, and those urged in support Of
tic Government and flag of our country.
when war is being waged against the United
States, With the avowed purpose Of produ-
cling permanent disruption of the Union
and total destruction of its Government.
All hope of compromise with the Cotton
States was abandoned when they assumed
the position that the separation of the Union
was complete and final, and that they would
never consent to reconstruction in any con-
tinsency-not even if we would furnish them
with blank sheet of paper and.penmit them
to inscribe their'own terms. -
Still the hope was cherished that reason.
able and satisfactory terms of adjustment
could be agreed upon with Tennessee, North
Carolina, and the Border States, and that
whatever terms would prove satisfactory to
these loyal States would create Union par
ty in the Cotton States which Would be pow
erful enough at the ballot box to destroy the
revolutionary Government, and bring those
States back into the Union by the voice Of
their own people. This hope was cherished
by Union men North and South, and was
never abandoned until actual war was levied
at atCharleston, and the authoritative announc-
ment made by the revolutionary Govern
ment at Montgomery, that the secession flag
should be planted upon the walls Of the Cap
itol at Washington, and proclamation is
sued inviting the pirates of the world to prey
upon the commerce Of the United States.
These startling facts taken in connexion
with the boastful announcement that the
ravages ofwar and carnage should be quick
ly transferred from the cotton fields of the
South to the wheat fields and corn fields of
the North, furnish conclusive evidence that
it was the fixed purpose of the secessionists
utterly to destroy the Governuent of our
fathers and obliterate the United States from
the map Of the world
In view of this state of facts there was but
one path of duty left to patriotic men. 1t
was not party question, nor a question in
volving partisan policy; it was question of
Government or no Government, country or
no country; and hence it became the impe-
rative duty of every Union man, every
friend of constitutional liberty, to rally to
the support of our common country, its
Government and flag, as the only means of
checking,the progress of revolution and of
preserving the Union of the States.
! am unable to answer your question in
respect TO the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln and his
Cabinet. am not in their confidence, as
You and the whole country ought to be
aware. I am neither the supporter of the
partisan policy nor the apologist for the err
rors of the Administration. My previous re-
lations to them remain unchanged; but I
trust that the time will never come when
shall not Le willing to make any nee lf,I
sacrifice ofpersonal feeling and party policy
for the honor and intcgrity'of my country.
/ know ofno mode by which loyal cit-
zen may so well demonstrate his devotion to
his country as by sustaining the Flag the
Constituton, and the Union, under all. cir
cumstances, ,and under every Administration,
(regardless of party politics. against all as
sailants, at home and abroad The course
of Clay and Webster towards the Admins
tration of Gen. jackson, in the days of Null
| LITIGATION, presents noble and worthy ex-
ample for air true patriots. At the very
moment when that fearful crisis was precipi-
tated upon the country, partisan strife be-
tween Wings and Democrats was quite as
bitter and relentless as now between Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. The gulf which
separated party leaders in those days was
quite as broad and deep as that which nov
separates the Democracy from the Republi,
cans. But the moment an enemy rose in
our midst, plotting the dismemberment Of
the Union and the destruction Of Government
the voice Of partisan strife was hushed in
patriotic silence. One of the brightest chap
tiers in the history Of our country will record
the fact that during this eyentful period the
great leaders ofthe Opposition, sinking the
partisan in tho patriot, rushed to the support
Of the Government, and became its ablest
and bravest defenders against all assailants
until the conspiracy was crushed and aban-
doned, when they resumed their former po-
sitions as party leaders upon political issues.
These acts of patriotic devotion have never
been deemed evidences of infidelity or polti.
cal tgeachery, on the part of Clay and Web
ster, to the principles and organization Of
the old Whig party. Nor have any appre.
hension that the firm and unanimous supper.
which the Democratic leaders and masses
are now giving to the Constitution and the
Union will ever be deemed evidences Of in,
fidelity to Democratic principles, or want
Of loyalty to the organization and creed o.
the Democratic party. If we hope to regain
and perpetuate the ascendancy of our party
we should never forget that man cannot be
true Democrat unless he is loyal Patriot