Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-02-09
UNION CONyENT1N.

The call for convention Of the friends
of the Union in Iowa, was responded TO by
large number of Union men, who assem-
bled at Sherman's Hall, Des Moines, on
the 3lst ut j. Il. Williamson, of Warren
county, presided.
The committee on resolutions, consisting
Of P. Cad Bryan, B l.. Steel, d. Q. Finch,
J. A. Williamson, p. NJ. Cassidy, }. Calder,
0. ID. Russell, j. 4. Neal and j. NJ. Thrift,
reported the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
WnERsAs, The present perilous state Of
the country has been produced by section
al agitation in relation to the institution
Of slavery, thus creating discord and en-
nifty between the different sections, which
has been aggravated by the election of a
sectional President. Recognizing in the
existing state Of public affairs necessity
which imperatively demands at the hands
Of every loyal citizen the free, frank. and
unqualified declaration of his position,
and the renewed assurance Of his attach
| ment for, and devotion to, an inpsriIed
Union therefore
ResoIced, BY tho Democracy aud Union
Men Of Iowa, in Mass Convention assem-
bled-
lst That we cherish a deep and abd,
ing love for the Union of these States, laid
in wisdom and perpetnated by mutual for.
bearsnce and Cancellation that we deeply
deplore and earnestly dsprecate any and
every attempt at its disruption, in whatev-
| er quarter it may arise, or from whatever
cause originated-asd that we hold it to
be sacred duty devo!ved by its TRANSMITS
sion to hand it down to posterity unmuti-
lated and unimpared as we received it.
%. That it il the prompting Of patriot
ism, and the dictate of wisdom, TO make
an earnest effort to save the Union by con
Citation and concession; and, thel eiore,
III the spirit of compromise, we are willing
to accept the amendments to the Consti,
tuition, PROPOSED in the United States SEN
ate by Senator Doug la. or those proposed
by Senator Crittenden. or the Border
States Resolutions, -or any other plan OF
Cancellation and compromise which has
been, or may oe offered, by which harmony
may be restored between the people of the
dlfiersn; sections of the country, aud the
Union perpetuated
Sd. That We deny the constitutional
right of any State to secede from the
Union. and we are equally opposed to nul
LITIGATION at the North, ana secession at
the South, as violating the Constitution Of
The United States.
4th. That in the opinion If this Con,
vention, the employment of military force
by the Federal Government to coerce sub
mission OF the seeding States, will inev.
ltably plunge the country into civil var
We therefore earnestly entreat. as well the
Federal Government as the secsding States
to withhold and stay the arm ot military
power, aud on no preteXt whatever to
bring on the nat;en the horrors OF civil
war, until the people themselves can take
such action as cor troubles demand.
9Th. That We recognise the power and
duty Of the Federal Government to protect
the property @! the United States. And
We recognise, and declare the duty and
power Of the Federal Government through
the civil authorities within the jurisdiction
OF the States to enforce all laws passed 10
pursuance OF the Constitution; but We dis
tinctly deny that the Federal Government
has any constitutional power to call gu,
the military to execute these laws within
the limits and jurisdiction Of any State,
except In aid Of the civil authorizes.
9th. That no political organization de-
serves the confidence OF the American
people whose leaders and members, pre-.
terring party TO country. a,d the unty Of
their party organization to the Union Of
The States, will rush madls idto civil war
'ra.ernai strites anl dlSuuiJa, in pralar-
enee to q fair and honorable compromise.
founded upon such mutual concessions as
are consistent with the rights of ali the
States, and may be essent al t. the exist
ence Of the fedora onion.
'th. That We recognize in the cry Of no
concession, no ccmpromise,' heard in
many quarters, a stubborn aul su!en per-
sisteucc III that same course OF mad and
infatuated Ianaticism, ehtruGcd upon the
public, as the !neXoraD'e logic Of a fatal
political consistency, which has already
brought the country Oh tie verge Of rain,
and that We deneance it rs criminal
against human liberty everywhere, aud as
reasonable TO the hopes OF he world.
sth. That it is the duty Of the L"gisla.
ture of every State Of this Union, which
has passed laws to obstruct or embarrass
the surrender Of fugitive slaves, common
ly called personal liberty laws. TO imtnedi
ately repeal all such laws and we rejoice
to say hat no such laws have ever been
found among the statutes of Iowa
9th That we have an abiding faith and
sndiminshed confidence in the virtue in
teillgence, and patriotism of the people,
and that we denounce as cowardly and
untrue the assertion that they would prefer
the dissolution of the American Union to
the adoption of a Just compromise for its
preservation, and that we ask the suhmis-
sion Of the question to them, holding our
selves ready to abide their verdict at the
ballot box
10th. That in our opinion, concession
and compromise alone can save the eouu'
try IN this the greatest honr Of It's trial
and that we, IA good and loyal citizens,
recognizing no sacrifice as too great for
the object sought, will abide by aud carry
out in good faith such Just measures Of
Cancellation as may be adopted, looking to
the preservation Of the Union, and the
perpe,uation of its countless blessings.
ANINcIDENT AT FORT SUMTER.