St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-05-30

meet any emergency that may arise at
any point.
This will be the more effective plan
for home protection, but will not place
the State in position TO render such Of
fcctive aid to the General Government.
Which, if either of these plans or
whether a combination Of both, or
whether something wholly distinct
from either, shall be adopted, l leave
for your wisdom to decide.
1t will be necessary that you enact
a military law, authorizing among 9th.
things the formation of military staff
nnder which can have the assistance
and advice of such officers as COM
pose it, in raising, arming, equipping
and supporting such further troops as
you may direct to be raised for the
use Of the state or as may be requir-
cd by the United States.
1t will also be necessary to use the
credit Of the State to raise means to
meet the expenses incurred, and to be
incurred. You have the power to do
this under that provision of the Consti.
tuition which authorizes, without a
vote of the people, the contracting Of
a debt I" to repel INVASION" or ito de-
fend the State in war"
In most or all of the counties in
which companies have thus far been
accepted, the Board of Supervisors
or public spirited citizens have raised
means for the support Of the families
of volunteers who have left families
dependent on them for support. This
action is eminently praiseworthy, and
yet its operation is partial and one
rous. 1t is scarcely TO be presumed
that companies will be received, from
all the counties of the State, or equal
from those counties from which they
may be received, and it seems to inc
much more equitable and just that the
expense be borne by the State, and
the burden thus equally distributed
among our people.
The procuring of liberal supply
of arms for the use of the State, is a
matter that | earnestly recommend to
Your early and serious consideration.
The last four weeks have taught us a
lesson which trust we may never for
get, that peace is the proper time in
which to prepare for war.
feel assured the State can readily
raise the means necessary to place
her in position consistent alike with
her honor and her safety. Her terri
tory of great extent and unsurpassed
fertility, inviting and constantly re-
cciving a desirable emigration, her
population of near three quarters of a
million of intelligent, Industrious, en-
ergetic and liberty-loving people, her
very rapid past and prospective
growth, her present financial condi-
ton, having a debt of only about one
quarter of million of dollars, unite
to make her bonds among the desira-
BILE investments that our country af-
fords.
The people of Iowa, your constitu.
cnts and mine, remembering that mon
cy is the sinews of war, will consider
alike criminal mistaken parsimony
which stops short Of doing whatever
is necessary for the honor and safety |
of the State, and a wild extravaganza
which would unnecessarily squander
the public treasure.
Our revenue law is, in my Judgment
defective in some particulars, requir-
ing perhaps, some unnecessary ex-
pense, and not being sufficiently strin-
gent to compel the prompt payment
Of taxes. At all times, and more es-
pecially at a time like this, every
good citizen should cheerfully contrib
ute his share of the public burthens,
and those who are not disposed to do
so should feel the force Of stringent
laws insuring the performance Of that
duty A failure to pay taxes prompt
ly compels the State to use her war
rants instead of cash. to carry on the
Government, and adds to the expense
of the State, not only the increased
prices she is compelled to pay for ar
ticlcs purchased for her use over and
and above the prices at which she
could buy for cash, but also the inter-
est upon the warrants issued, until
the same are paid.
earnestly recommend q careful ex-
animation, and full use of your Con-
stitutional powers to punish the men
If any there be, in our State, who may
feel disposed to furnish aid in any
way to those who are or may he in
rebellion against the United States or
engaged in acts Of hostility to this
State.
The great haste in which, amidst
the pressure of other duties, have
been compelled to prepare this Mes
sage, renders it very probable that l
may have overlooked some subjects
that you may deem of Importance in
the present emergency. When con-
veDed in extra session your powers Of
legislation have the same scope and
limit as at your regular session, and
your wisdom and foresight will supply
all such omissions.
Permit me in conclusion to express
the hope that what you do may be done
promptly, calmly, and thoroughly
Let us take no counsel from passion,
nor give way to excitement. Let us
look our situation broadly, squarely
in the face, and address ourselves to
and do our duty like men who believe
that while we hold to our fathers faith
and tread in our fathers steps, the
God of our fathers will stand by us
in the time of our trial as He stood by
them in the time Of theirs.
SAMUEL j. KIRKwoop.
Ds INoines, May In, 1861.