The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-05-20
GOVERNORS ME- ssAGE.

The Constitution requires that shall
state TO you the purpose for which you hay
been convened in Extraordinary Session.
When little more than a year ago you
| regular session closed, the whole counsr,
was in the enjoyment of peace and prosper
ity. AT home, life, liberty, and prosperit,
were seeare. and abroad the titln Ut 4,
American citizen was claimed with pride
and futf Hssurancethat IT was sure guar
anty of respect and protection TO all wh1
could make good the claim. To-day civi
war 10 upon us, md wide spread conspira
| cy against the General Government, which
We now know has been maturing for years
has been developed, and the whole countr,
| 10 filled with the din of arms. On the on,
hand, and from one section Of the countr,
men who should be loyal citizens, If bcne
| eta conferred by a government should max,
men loyal to IT, are mastering 10 Armed
bands with the intention of disselving lht
Union, destroying our GnEernment, and or
the other hand, partially from the same SEQ
ton, and as one man from the other. oul
loyal people are rallying around our Union
and our Government; and pledging for their
maintenance, what our Fathers 30 fraely pers
illed to secure them, life, fortune and honor
In this emergency Iowa does not and must
not occupy doubtful position. For the
Union RS our Fathers formed il, and for tn q
Government they formed so wisely, and 80
we'll, the people Of Iowa are ready to pledge
every fighting man in the state and every dol.
lar Of her money and credit; and | have
called you together 10 extraordinary session,
for the purpose Of enabling them to make
that pledge formal and effective.
"a rrut,Fr Al J..
have brought upon tho country this great
evil, seek to Disguise their true intent, to
cover their true purpose. They say they
do not desire to destroy our Government,
but that it has become hostile TO them, and
they only wish to peacefully withdraw them
selves from it, which they claim the right TO
do whenever in their judgment their interest
or safety may require such action. Many
loyal men, deceived by their professions and
not perceiving that peaceable secession is
destructive alike Of the Constitution and
Union. were unwilling that any ooerciye
measures should be used to bring them back
to sense of their duty. How are the facts?
Our government Is based upon these grea.
central, controlling ideas. The people are
the only true source Ct power La the ex
ercise OF their power, they have created our
present Government, retaining in their own
hands its management and control. They
have honesty enough to desire, and ntelli.
gence enough to discern the right, and if at
any time they should, by reason of exotic
ment or passion, misdircct the action of
government and do wrong to any portion Of
themselves, their honesty and intelligence
can be surely relied upon to correct such
wrongs These are the Fundamental idea.
Of our form Of Government, and when any
section OF our country, or any portion or
our people, alleging that wrong has been
done them, declare they cannot and will not
rely upon the honesty aud 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 il not
arrested. will cramh!e tho fabric Of our
Government into ruins.
Has the Government been hostile to them?
Al the time this unnatural rebeliien.cam
q Gel there was Dot on the statute books
Of the United States single law that had
not been dictated, or assented to. by their
The recent election, of the
result OF which they so Loudly complain, had
placed in the Presidential Chair a person or
posed 10 their policy upon one important
but bad lett them in possession of
the other indeper dent and co. ordinate branch.
rs IL the Government, SD that il was utterly
impossible any injury could result to them
ii M the election Ut a President who was not
their choice. Uuder these cireum stances
wr-rrrr .r- WITH wIuTr re tue
disposition OF the newly elected President.
without trusting 10 Congress and the PRO
oeedings vet under their control, without
waiting for an al peal 70 the honesty and in
telligence OF tie people to right any wrongs
that might be attempted agans, them, thew
rebelled against the Governmens and sought
10 destroy IL by arms. They have seized by
force, the forts, arsenals, ships and treasure
and have set at defiance the laws and officers
OF the United States, and they have sought 10
set up within the Union another and indie
pendent Government. They have r or mon,bs
past been levying troops, building forts, and
gathering munitions Of war. with intent 10
make war uron our Government, il it should
attempt to perform it's lawful functions, and
after months OF preparation have attacked
with overwhelming numbers and captured
the troops Of the United States, holding a
Tort OF the United States, and have so far "a
In them lies dshonored that proud flag.
which throughout the world 10 the emblem
OF the power, the honor, and the glory OF
our nation.
What 10 the meantime has been the action
OF cur Government towards these misguided
men? The history Of the world cannot show
equal moderation and forbearaDce BY any
Government towards portion Of it's people.
IN rebellion against its laws. For months.
sone OF these men were allowed to hold hirh
positions in the Cabinet, and used this Off
c'al power only to be,ray the Government OF
which they were the sworn and trusted ser
wants. For month";, many Of them were al
lowed 10 retain their seats ia both branches
OF Congress, and their positions to defeat the
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 position TO dishonor and besray
the tag they had sworn TO protect and de-
Tend. For months the Government welded.
l.