The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-10-01
The Plea Of Union Democrat
for the Reelection of Governor
Kirkwood-

for the Reelection of Governor
Kirkwood,
| WEST PolSr, Sept -, 1861.
| Td,,or Daliv Gate Ctu,.
DEAR sIR-Permii nm old Democrat who has voted,
all the up in unbrok en- chain, for the Pres
dental nominees from jackson Douglas inclusive,
TO say word through your paper to the Union men Of
This part of The Slate about the election which is close
at hand.
In my humble opinion the Gubernatora Election
OF October 9Th, 1861 is destined be the most impor
tani in the history Of lowa,important not only 10
this State, but UNNECESSARILY important to the
nation at large. On the Fesultof that elections far
the Governor concerned hang some Of the fondes
hopes OF sorrowing country; and should that re-
suit be nauspicious the aud disasters that would
follow would exceed the power Of sober calculation
When think OF the evident Indifference that rests
the hearts Of some Of our best men. with respect
to that result, my heart is ready to sink within mt
a. the drcful prospect that their Indifference sus
gests. In the name Of Heaven. what are the people
tbnkngof
Remember this solemn warning, Union men of
Iowa. without distinction OF party Remember that
old Democrat told YOU before the election ihatthe
reelection OF your present Governor is measure Of
the hrsi importance to our State and TO country
Claiborne +. Jackson, late Governor of Miss ouri
is fugitive from justice, guilty Of high treason
against the supreme government 81 the uuited States
and his high Office of Governor OF the State is held bs
another. who think is more worthy OF the exalted
trust His fate Is fitting consequence OF his base he
rayal Of the peoples confidence In biz and
his manhood. similar Fate assaredly awaits The dis
loyal Governors Of the other Slave States Of this
unionx while IL is u the highest i'm por that The
loyal Governors Of the various States. both aave and
free, should meet with The fullest approval and
ceye the most emphatic endorsement at the hands OF
their constituents
The defeat Of any one Of ahc present yanhfa Gov
errors. who shall be candidates for reelection, must
result disastrously 10 The cause or the Union eyon
though his place be filed 10y much better man. ]
venture to lay down proposition capable Of log
ical demonstration, that the defeat OF all OF them
though b, their equals in patriotism aud their
superiors in efciency,-wouidp produce moral efcei
the present rebellion equal the dsseion Of l0o 900
" our soldiers 10 the ranks Of the enemy The defeat
Of Governor kirkwood, by the best fora would
in my deliberate Judgment, than neutralize the
beneficial effects OF all the contributions Of men and
money We have yet made to the common cause,
Fancy, for a moment, The announcement made by
Beanregard, ut the head of his army, that Governor
kirkweodof Iowa has been defeated in popular eee
ton. Fancy the same announcement made BY Claib.
Jackson 10 the rebel hofdes in sister State Of Mis-
souri, What commentaries, as matter Of course,
would follow What courage would II intuse into
that internal rebellion, and how would the hearts Of
our brave men Imprisoned there receive the intelli
gence The facts % the case, however honorable to
people, would he distorted, until throughout all
the dark domain of Treason the dark tdngs would
spread that IA reaction In favor Of the rebellion had
been effected in Iowa. that the "dysion In North
efn sentiment" which one ofhe earliest calcutta
tons of Southern Treason, had been, last carried
to that extent that Gov kirkwond of Iowa the man
Who when The credit Of the State was inadequate
the supply OF the for her soldiers
raised the money his private credit for their
snstenanee.that that man, of the first 10 iy 10
the relief Of the Union, the Who when the Presi.
dent made his requsitieu upon the Tor her mill
tars quota, left has s,ek bad aad about phpsiea
reakaess, sitAout dollar, tao Aops Of oHr a
ms orR pirate and spite OF MI discourage
ments furnished. at the call of his country that
nous Iowa First Regiment, that foon after shed im
mortal honor ON the National arme and rejected i'm
perishahie glory on tile youthful state that from III
sorrrv tng circles 81 her domestic ctons thos
brave hearts to battle for the liberties Of the world
that that man who, when his State was depresse
in credit, and penniess hyPothecated his prisa
fortune enable the State that had homorrd him wit
her confidence TO respond 10 the call Of his bleeding
country,-that such Governor as that, had been de
feated in State largely Republican in the Preside iii
eiectiont
tell YOU my brave, true hearted countrymen, tina
so far as yonr noble Governors concerned bis defea
were matter OF the very slightest momsnt-hs ex
eelent fame will endure forever, and oticia
change can mar his glorious memory. but tell YOU
In the solemnity of m, hearts fore that low
- ~
mcnt would find !, difrcult from terrbl,
a shock Then avert The calamity while IL IL In YOU
power, aud trust nothing 10 experiment.
But there IL one class Of truly good men among u
who tAtsk they perceive that II s not In the power
the Republican party If the North TO command th
confidence of Southern Union men, and that ofeonse
quence, political change that will bring forward
party, under the name OF "Unon'', is imperative
| demanded. Believe me, friends Of the Union
never was there a specious and YET fatal error
know the Southern mind II Is "a spoiled child
and You cannot win II by concession All the argu
menls you address rs IL must be those trmaess
decision
''The will OF the majority must be respected bv ali
is political kim that must be held sacred he,
IL IN the Roman heart where il had its BIRTH
D The Republican party, after manful struggle
years, has gained the ascendene. in this Government
tr tHA,ttsa anu VA. heart as n"A mono
able would wish II 70 be .nJariv deprived % "A
power IL has legally acquired.
itts vain 10 argue INIT ~secrohar party TT
influence OF The Slave Power has controlled this Go
eminent from its earliest days " the hour when Abr
| ham Lincoln was elected its President. Never was
d party more completely sectional than the old VII
/ and Democratic parties were; anu the of eth
OF these IN the nation inevitably resulted fiom II
: daminatton ~ the Notwithstanding power " SLAYER
r The old Wing party, Disguised at lis iife-long
servicnes To the power Of slavery, made noble co
9 al political emancipation, but being unequal To II
task buried on the stage at the Bidding o,
4 National Masters This Ia no time to handy coar
sitheis, but il IL The best time Northern politician
had 10 tell the PLAIN, unsarnished truth, The
~ party 10 this nation that s worth thousand
VI III NJ the Amnricnn II nlnn Millrh I