The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-24
A Glorious Meeting,

regard TO party, met at tho Court House
on Tuesday, April 90, 1861, at one O'Clock
M, and on molten of j. NJ. Hedrick, or
ganizeb by appointing. c. w. Kittredgl
Chairman, and on motion Of j. w. Cald
well j. M. Hedrick was appointed Secretary
The Chairman upon taking the sta nd
in very happy manner stated the object Of
the meeting to be for giving an expression
ofopinion in favor Of sustaining the Gov.
ernmcnt in its efforts to na,nain the Su.
p.emacy of law and order, the preservation
cf the Union as our Fathers made il and
the protection Of cur glorious cid Banner
! from the vandal hands of rebels and trait.
ors who would trail it in the dirt
S. w. Summers thereupon arose and
moved the adoption Ct the foltoing resolu.
ton.
Resolved that we are in favor of sustain
ing the Government" Which was adopted
with deaFening applause.
Col: Gillaspy addressed the meeting in a
few b,ief and eloquent remarks. con-
Gliding by offering. a, resolution that the
business men of the City be requested to
hoist the American Flag at Their places of
business and that each one of us here to day
swear upon the altar Of our country to de
fend the same at all hazards, which was
adopted amid great cheering
In order that more perfect expression of
opinion might be given, it was moved that
Committee of five be appointed on resolu
tons, whereupcn the Chair named E. l..
joy, Col. GiIlaspy, J. G.. Hinsey, James
IIawley and NJ. NJ Lane said committee.
While The Committee were out, the meet
ing Was addressed Ivy Judge Hendershott
and Judge Farley, in telling speeches in "a.
vor of ignoring all party feeling and party
organizations and standing by the Govern
ment in Insists hour afper.
Z. L. Joy, Chairman Of the Committee
ON resolutions then appeared and presented
the following as the resolutions UNANIMOUSLY
agreed upon by the Committee, which were
adopted without a dissenting voice.
WHEREAS :, The Federal Government in
the exercise of its legitimate duties as con.
servator ofthe public peace, and as guardian
! ofthe public property, has been wantonlv
aSsaied by armed men openly organized for
the avowed purpose Throwing its au-
thority ana resisting the operation of, it's la VS.
in and orer certain portions of our country,
and .. .s.,.- ..e
! WHEREAS The President of the United
E.. States has by Proclamation appealed to the
several States, and to the citizens thereof.
to aid hun in an effort to maintain the honor,
the integrity and the existence of our Nation
al Union, and to redress the wrongs commit
ted, Therefore, be it
Resolcea, lst. That we. citizens IF Iowa.
and residents of WapelIo County, believing
! the action of miss guided men in resisting the
laws. and; in forcibly srizngthe public prop,
erty, to be not only unnecessary, but rebel
our support to the Government in its efforts
to enforce the laws and to preserve the honor
and integrity of this Union.
! I'd. That the institutions for which our
Fathers fought, through long and bloody
struggle, and for the guaranty of which our
| Constitution was made, and under which
our Country has become prosperous and
great, shall not be abandoned in this houy of
peril, but animated by the same spirit that
ineted the Patriots of old, we do pledge to
. Observation-Disclosures and support, cur lives,
our property and our sacred honor.
Sd. The Government nfthe United States,
having as the Supreme Eaw of the land, a
written Constitution, it IS the duty of every
citizen to support. with equal zeal and promp-
ness, that Constitution in all It's provisions.
! 4th. The leading and paramount prirc
pie of the Constitutio !, is the perpetuity of
| the Union, the liberty of speech and the
press, and the perfect equality of the States.
9Th. Recognizing the doctrine of freedom
Of speech and of the Press as cardinal doc
trine If American Liberty, we here unitedy
pledge ourselves to its support, and will in
no way abridge that right inestmable to
freemen and formidable to tyrants only, vet
we woutf earnestly recommend: all citizens
on all occasions, to rigidly abstain from all
ordinations and recriminqtions, that we
may, among ourselves. enjoy the greatest
possible degree Of social ard local peace.
| prosperity and harmony ....
! 9th. The doctrine of secession. having the
practical effect to destroy the Union of the
States, can not be'a doctrine of the consttu-
ton, neither in letter hog in spirit, and is
therefore totally inadmissiblc.
| 18th. The Government ofthe United States
being constitutional government, admins
tered by officers through forms of law, it is
cncumbent on every citizen, whether of the
dominant party or not, to support the illegally
constituted authorities, be they Legislative.
Executive or judicial, there being no safety
for the liberty Of the people, except in an
unreserved obedience to government in. all
its Departments.
Sth. We believe Abraham Lincoln to have
been duly and legally elected and inau sura-
rated President Of the United States, and
that he is now the constitutional Executive
of the Nation, and therefore the people, how
ever they may differ with him in policy, are
under the satne obligation to support and
defend him in a constitutional administration
of the affairs of the Government. that they
are to support, abide by, and defend the acts
and decisions Of the other departments of the
Government. Our Obligations as good citi-
zcns to the three Departments being the
same.
eth. When the Government is imperiled
| by threatened invasion from without or re
bellions within, it is the duty of the whole
people, to look alone to the good ofthe coun-
try, snd faithfully support all its legally con-
sti!uted authority, not thro Ugh mere blind
party zeal, but if need be, to fer up party
and party platforms on the altar Of patriot
ism, for the good of the whole.
10th. As domestic peace on the one hand
is productive OF invigorated domain--extend.
ed commerce--enhanced wealth--incrcased
| national and individual prosperity, happiness
and fraternity while on the other hand war