The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-21


fldencc on your part will steady their nerves
and encourage their energies and exertions.
also crave your patience, for the popular
idea of war too often enormously surposes
constant succession of battles, and the uni
tiated think that armies have nothing to per-
form but fight and butcher their adversaries
whenever and wherever they can be found.
On the contrary, the science and success of
arms teach nation and commanders the ad-
vantage of strategy, whereby an adversary
is circumvented or overwhelmed with the
least possible loss OF human life, and obtain
more complete and salutary victories without
display Of savage cruelty or british ferec-
ity. Time spent in garrison, in organization
or in drill, must not be considered as lost
time and troops held in reserve are often
the first to secure victory. Republics it is
said, have not the unity and secresy necessa-
ry to military success; but during this. trial
Of our country we may so far depart from the
rules of peace and republicanism as to yield
to the Executive the powers necessary to Sc.
cure all the silence, unity, perseverance, and
CELEBRITY to ensure the success Of our arms,
aud with returning peace we will assume all
our customary freedom.
War creates new and onorous duties on
every member of society. No one has right
to assume neutrality and seek exemption
from responsibilities and burdens. All wri;
tiers concede that each and all are bound to.
withhold all intercourse with the enemy, and
regard him only as a foe to be crushed out
by every means incident to civilized modern
warfare. In this contest we must regard
those to be our foes who enrol themselves
for the purpose of military hostility against
our common country, and also those VINO IN
any way give them aid and comfort or en-
enlargement. Against such this nation IS
now at war; and the more firmly and uni
versally loyal citizens unite against SUCH
foes the sooner VIC may hope for peace to
reign again within our borders, Laying
aside, therefore, all sectional and party bias;s
all feelings Of revenge, hatred, and malice,
we should unite as the people Of great ma
ton in the single lrpose Of sustaining tne
integrity of our country against the foes that
assail it. The inspiration and genius dis
played in our origin, the brilliancy and ra-
pidity of our progress and prosperity, the
magnitude Of our nationality, and our rank
among the great powers Of the earth, are
enough to animate the present generation,
though we may deplore the necessity, should
be proud OF the occasion to show our devo,-
ton to a cause so sacred and so great. To.
fight for such country, created by such he
roes the home Of so many millions, and
the hope of the whole world, who can re-
frain from enrolling their names in such q
cause?
Liberty, law, religion, and society; our
homes, our wives, and our little ones-all
that we hold dear and sacred are involved
in the issue before u.s. For such q country
and such cause cheerfully unite my hum
BILE exertions. Come what may, follow
the flag of our fathers, confident Of ultimate
success A nation like ours was never born
to die. It's strength, its glory, its posperity
its unity must continue to the end of time
The staunch old Ship of State, launched by
the hands of patriotic fathers, will yet out
ride the tempest and safely moor in peace
full waters. Well may we address her in the
noble words of one of our countrymen:
awe know what master laid thy keel,
What workmen wrought thy ribs Of steel,
Who made each mast and sail and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what forge and what q heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope,
In spite of rock and tempest roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore.
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea [tears,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our
Our faith triumphant DER our fears,
Are all with thee-are all with thee"
return my thanks to you, my constitu-
ents, for all your kindness. In leaving Con-
gress for the war do not feel that I leave
you or my State, for have left the brave
volunteers of Iowa-your neighbors and
sons-in the sanguinary fields Of Missouri.
where l expect soon to join them. Hoping
to meet you at no distant day again in pros
perity and peace, I remain, sincerely, your
friend and obedient servant,
SAMUEL r. CURTIS.
Washington, July %, 1861.