The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-14
ADDRESS OF JAS. F. WILSON.
To the Electors OF tho First Compression
NJ District Of Iowa.

j Gen. S. r. Curtis having resigned his
seat in Congress, the duty Of eleeting his
successor at the coming October election,
is dcvolycd upon The electors of this Dis
trict Ny name has been presented to
YOU for your consideration and it is but
just that should fairly state my position
touching the great issue now pressing up
on the country for decision. A personal
canvass Of the entire district is impossible
in the time which will elapse between this
date and the election. | therefore resort
to the press to place my views before you.
The body which placed me in nomina-
ton resolved
"That the first great and leading issue
now pressing upon us is the perpetuatlon
of the Government, the preservation OF the
| Constitution and the maintenance of the
Laws"
This declaration | regard as true, as
must oil citizens who have a just appreci-
alton of the present condition OF the coun-
try. To this issue, for the time being,
all others are subordinate: for without a
Government we can have no use for 9TH
er issues.
It is we'll to keep in mind the facts
which have forced the country into its
present position, and which go to make
up the great issue now presented to our
people,
On the 9th day Of November, 1860, the
people of the United States, in constitu-
tional manner, and of their own free will,
determined that Abraham Lincoln should
| be the chief executive officer of the Gov
eminent for the term of four years. This
determination of the people was seized
upon by certain wicked, ambitious, dissat-
tisfed men, as Iretext for carrying out
a scheme of revolution which they had
long been maturing The doctrine of Sc
cession-subyersiv Of all Government
was declared to be rightful; and State
after State proceeded to put it into prac.
tice. Acts of war, upon the part Of the
secessionists, succeeded each other rapid
". From the able speech Of Tennessee
patriotic Senator, ! quote the following
table of events:
"Dec. -. Fort Moultrie and Castle
Pickney at Charleston, seized.
dec -. The revenue cutter William
Aiken, surrendered by her commander
and taken possession of by South Carolina
dee. 30 The nited States Arsena
at Charleston, seized.
"Jan. 2. Forts Pulaski and Jackson
and the United Stat Arsenal at Savan
nah, seized by Georgia troops.
".Jan 2 Fort Macon, and the United
States Arsenal, at Fayetteville, seized b,
North Carolina.
",an 3. Fort Morgan, and the Unite,
States Arsenal at Mobile, seized by Ala
bama.
''Jan. s. Forts johnson and Casewell
at smithville, seized by North Carolina.
Jan. o. The Star of the West fired a
in Charleston Harbor.
Jan. 10 Fort McRea, at Pensacola
seized by Florida.
''Jan. % The steamer Marion seize
~ South Carolina.
, ''Jan. ID. The United States Arsena
r at Baton Rouge, and Forts Pike, Phillip
and jackson, seized by Louisiana.
'1Jan IL Fort Barrancas and the Ma
W Yard at Pensacola, seized by Florida
These forts cost 5,a41 600, and wer
: erected by and belonged to the Gener;
4 Government.
The traitors proceeded to establish
government Of their own, levied troops
issued letters OF mar4ue and reprlsal, an
J threatened to march on the capital of I'll
n nation.
q All these things were done befol
j Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated Pres
!, dent Of the United States. They were a
: acts Of war developing the determine
y tion of traitors to destroy our Government
y What these wicked men have done sin,
It the inauguration of President Lincoln
! what they are doing now, need not be r
counted.
In this way the issue now pressing upt
N the country was made up. This issue
< not triangular-two sides only it present
For or against the Government is Il
question. There is no middle ground
no neutral ground. .'Iie who is not (
a. us, is against US
u The people have no time now to 81
81 and enquire into the real cause origins
= ing the great calamity resting upon t
u country. When the smoke of the bait
shall have disappeared - when pea
i'll shall have returned, and our army sh
&c have resolved itself into its natural q
" ment of civil life, all causes and men &C
u neeted Herewith, will receive due attic
ton. The life of the nation i $ in dang
and its proper defense is work enough
the present.
OF The nature of the contest demands I'll
ee there shall be no occasion for the peol
IN to doubt the position Of any man who m
j, be presented as candidate for seat
- Congress, or for any other public Off
Plain words should be spoken to the p
or pic bycanlidatde for public positions.
n, This ID ~, ttInn fnr ihp use If aaahlp,,f