The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-05-22
Governors Message.

Governors Message.
GENTLEMEN OF TIE SENATE AND House OIL
REPRESENTATIVES:
The Constitution requires that shall
state to you the purpose for which You have
been convened in Extraordinary Session.
When little more than year ago YOU,
regular session closed, the whole country
was in the enjoyment Of peace and prosper
ity. At home, life, liberty, and prosperity
were secure, and abroad the title of an
American citizen was claimed with pride
and full assurance that it was sure guar
anty of respect and protection to all who
could make good the claim. To-day civil
war is upon us, and wide spread conspi
racy against the General Government, which
we now know has been maturing for years
has been developed, and the whole country
is filed with the din Of arms. On the ono
han!, and from one section of the country
men who should be legal citizens, il 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 government, 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 pledging for their main
tenancc, what our Fathers so freely pcrilled
to secure 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
so we'll, the people Of Iowa are ready to
pledge every fighting man in the State and
every dollar Of her money and credit; and
l have called you together in extraordinary
session, for the purpose Of making 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 purpose. They say they do not
desire to destroy our Government, but that
it has become hostile to them, and they only
wish to peaccably withdraw themselves
from it, which they claim the right to do
whenever in their judgment their interest or
safety may require such action. Many 10y
al men, secured by their professions, and
not pcrceiving that peaceable secession is
destructive alike Of the Constitution and
Union were willing that any cocrcive
measures should be used to bring them back
to sense of their duty. How are the factse
Our Government is based upon these great
central, controlling ideas. The people are
the only true source of power. In the OK
ercise Of their power they have created our
present form Of Government retaining in
their own hands its management and con-
troll. y They have honesty to desire, and in
telligence enough to discern the right, and
if at any time they should by reason of OK.
element or passion, misdirect the action of
the government, and do wrong to any por-
ton of themselves, their honesty and intel
lig,ncc 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, alleging that wrong has been
done them, declare they cannot and will not
rely upon the honesty and intelligence of
our people to right such wrongs, but will
right their wrongs in their own way and by
their own hands, they strike blow which
II not arrested, will crumblc the fabric OF
our Government into ruins.
Has the Government been hostile to
thclny At the time this unnatural rebellion
commenced there was not on the statute
books of the United States single law had
not been dictated, or assentcd to, by th> re.
representatives.. The recent election, of the
result of which they so loudly complain,
had placed in the Presidential Chair per-
son opposed to their policy upon one impor.
tant question, but had left them in posses
ion of the other independent and co-ord-
nate branches of the Government, so that
it was utterly impossible any injury could
result to them from the election of Presi-
dent who was not their choice. Under
these circumstances, without waiting to see
what would be the disposition Of the newly
elected President, without trusting to Con
gress and the proceedings yet under their
control, without waiting for an appeal to the
honesty and intelligence of the people to
right and wrongs that might be attempted
against them, they rebelled against the Gov
eminent, and sought to destroy it by arms.
They have seized by force the forts arse
nails, ships and treasure, and have set at
defiance the laws and officers eff the United
States, and they have sought to set up
within the Union another and independent
Government. They have for months past
BEEN lcvying troops, building forts, and
gathering munitions Of war, with intent to
make war upon our government, if it should
attempt to perform its lawful functions, and
after months Of preparation have attacked
with overwhelming numbers and captured
the troops Of the United States, holding a
ort Of the United States, and have so far as
m them lies dishonored that proud flag,
which throughout the world is the emblem
IF the power, the honors, and the glory of
our nation.
What in the meantime has been the action
IT our Government towards these misguid-
ID men? The history of the world cannot
show equal moderation and fOrbearancr by
my Government towards portion of its
people, in rcbelling against its laws. For
months, some of thes G men were allowed to
lold high positions in the Cabinet, and us d
this official power only to betray the Gov
:rnment of which they were the sworn and
rustcd servants For months, many of
hem were allowed to retain their seats in
both branches Of Congress, and their posi-
ions to defeat the enactment OF wholesome
avs necessary for the protection of the
Government. For months, many Of them
we're permitted to hold high command in the
lrny and navy, and used their position to
,etray and dishonor the flag they had sworn
% protect and defend. For months the
Government yielded, step by step, and had
used only words Of kindness and good will |
But forbearance, moderation and Kindness
we're regarded only as indicative of weak
hess, imbecility and cowardicc, until at last
he browning outrage of TT. Sumter, con-
'inced all men that further forbearance had
indeed ceased to be virtue, and would in
Iced make those charged with the safety
If the Government as criminal as those who |
we're seeking to destroy it. At last the
Government has spoken, and has called the
oval men of the country to rally to its sup
port, and the answer has been such as to
show the world the strength of Govern
ncnt founded on tn: .ove Of free people
On the 10Th day Of April last the Presi-