Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-05-24
1xnssAon OF GOV. K1RxwooD.
GIN4LDMEN or TEE SENATE.
Am HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES:

10 you the purpose for which you have been
convened in extraordinary Session.
When q little more than year ago your
regular session closed, the whole country
was in the enjoyment of peace and prosperi-
tv. At home, life, liberty, and prosperity
were secure, and abroad the title Of an Amer
lean citizen was claimed with pride, and q
full assurance that it was sure guaranty of
respect and protection to all who would make
rood the claim. To-day civil war is upon
us, and wide spread conspiracy against the
General Government, which we now know
has been maturing for years, has been devel-
oped, and the whole country is filled with
the din of arms. On the one hand and from
one section Of the country men who should
Be- loyal citizens, if benefits conferred by .
government should make men loyal to it, are
mastering in armed bands with the intent to
dissolve the Union, and destroy our Govern
ment, and on the other hand, partially from
the same section, and as one man from the
other, our loyal people are rallying around
our Union and our Government, and pledg-
inc for their maintenance, what our Father s
SO freely periled to seure them, life, fortune
and honor.
In this emergency, Iowa must not, and
does not, occupy doubtful position. For
the Union as our fathers formed it and for
the Government they formed so wisely, and
20 well, the people of Iowa are ready to pledge
every fighting man in the State and every
dollar Of her money and credit; and have
called you together in extraordinary session,
for the purpose Of enabling them to make
that pledge formal and effective.
Those who, to crafty their mad ambition,
have brought upon the country this great
evil, seek to disguise their true intent, to
cover their true purpose. They say they do
not desire to destroy the Government, but
that it has become hostile to them, and they
only wish to peacefully Withdraw themselves
from it, which they claim the right to do
whenever in their judgment their interest or
safety may require such action. Many loyal
men, secured by their professions and not
perceiving that 'peaceable secession" is des-
structive alike Of the Constitution and Union
were unwilling that any coercive measures
should be used to bring them back to sense
of their duty. How are the facts? The Gsv-
eminent is based upon these great central,
controlling ideas. The people are the only
true source Of power. In the exercise oftheir
power, they have created our present form of
Government, retaining in their own hands
its management and control. They have
honesty enough to desire, and intelligence
enough to discern the right, and if at any
time they should, by reason of excitement
or passion, misdirect the action of govern
ment and do wrong to any portion of them
selves, their honesty and intelligence can be
surely relied upon to correct such wrongs
These are the fundamental ideas Of our form
of Government, and when any section of our
country, or any portion of our people, alleg-
ing that wrong has been done them, declare
they cannot and will not rely upon the hon
esty and intelligence Of our people to right
such wrongs, but will right such wrongs in
their own way and by their own hands, they
strike blow which, if not arrested, will
crum5le the fabric Of our Government into
ruins
Has the Government been hostile to them.
At the time this unnatural rebellion common:
ced there was not on the statue books of the
United States single law that had not been
dictated, or assented to, by their Represen-
tatives. The recent election, of the result Of
which they SO loudly complain, had placed
in the Presidential Chair person opposed
to their policy upon one important question,
but had left them in possession of the other
independent aud coordinate branches Of the
Government, so that it was utterly impossi-
BILE any injury could result to them from the
election Of President who was not their
choice. Under these circumstances, without
waiting to see what would be the disposition
of the newly elected President, without trus-
ting to Congress and the proceedings yet un-
der their control, without waiting for an ap-
peal to the honesty and intelligence Of the
people to right any wrongs that might
be attempted against them, they rebellcd
against the Government, and sought to de-
stroy it by arms. They have seized by force
the forts, arsenals, ships and treasure, and
have set at defiance the laws and defiance of
the United States, and they have sought to
set up within the Union another independent
Government They have for months past
been levying troops, building forts, and gath
cring munitions Of war, with intent to make
war upon our Government if it should at
tempt to perform its lawful functions, and
after months Of preparations have attacked
with overwhelming numbers and captured
the troops Of the United States, holding
fort of the United States, and have as far as
in them lies dishonored that proud flag,
which throughout the world is the emblem
of the power, the honor, and the glory ofour
nation.
w nat IN Ule InedntIInc mas DecH Tie dCClOU
of our government towards these misguided
men! The history of the world cannot show
equal moderation and forbearance by any
Government towards portion of its people
in rebellion against its laws. For months
some Of these men were allowed high posi-
tons in the cabinet, and used this official
power only to betray the Government Of
which they were the sworn and trusted SER
wants. For months many of them were al
lowed to retain their seats in both branches
of Congress, and their positions to defeat the
enactment of wholesome laws necessary for
the protection of the Government. For
months many of them were permitted to hold
high command in the army and navy, and
used their positions to betray and dishonor
the flag they had sworn to protect and de-
fend. For months the Government yielded
step by step, and had used only words of
kindness and good will. But forbearance,
moderation and kindness were regarded only
Is indicative of weakness, imbecility and
cowardice, until at last the browning outrage
ut Fort Sumter, convinced all men that fur
Their forbearance had indeed ceased to be
virtue, and would indeed make those charged
with the safety Of the Government as crimi.
nal as those who were seeking to destroy it.
At last the Government has spoken, and has