The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-05-25
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA. SATURDAY, MAY a5, 1861. !

!
State dated on the 18th, ealing for on
regiment Of troops. Having been befor
advised by telegraph that such requisitior
had been issued, felt well assured that
would only be carrying ont your will an,
the will Of the people Of the State, in re
spending to the eau as promptly As possible
| | therefore did not wait the receipt of tn,
formal requisition, but proceeded at oace I,
take such steps as seemed to me best adapted
TO speedily effect that object. was met Al
the outset by two dficul,ies. There wer,
not any funds under my control to meet ID.
necessary expenses, nor was there any Ell
eien. military law under which to operate
| Your action only could furnish these aid,
in legal way, and yet to await your action
would involve great, perhaps dangerous,
delay.
The frs: difficulty was ohviated by the
patriotic action Of the chartered Banks, and
/ Citizen OF the State, who promptly placed
ut nv disposal all the money might need
and determined. although withou. author.
ity of law, to accept their offer. trusting that
/ you would legaiize my acts. One difficulty
/ thus avoided, | trusted, and as the result
shows. safely, 10 the patriotism Of the pco
pie for the removal of the other, and on the
| 18th day of April issued my Proclamation on
calling for the requisite number of troops.
| The te.egraphic Dispatch of the Secretary
OF War informed me that it would be su!Ii-
eIent if the troops required Of this State
were in rendezvous at keokuk, BY the 2Osh
inst. The prompt and patriotic action Of
the People enabled me to place them there
in uniform on the Sth, twelve days in ad-
vance OF the time Fixed, and they would have
been there week sooner had not the action
Of the mob at Baltimore cut of all commu-
nication with the seat OF Government, and
left me without any instructions for two
weeks. recommend that yeu make suita-
bic appropriations, covering expenses thus
incurred.
Tenders of troops were made altogether
beyond the amount required, and learning
from the newspapers and other sources, that
another requisition would probably be made
on this State, | took the responsibility of
ordering into quarters, 10 the respective
counties where raised, enough companies to
form second regiment in anticipation of
such requisition, that they might acquire
the necessary discipline and drill. The Sec
ond rcquisition has no. yet reached me. but
am expecting it daily, and am prepared to
respond to it promptly when made.
The officers and men composing the first
regiment were 10 quarters for some time
before being mustered into the service Of
the United States, and those called out in
anticipation of a second requisition, will
have been in quarters n considerable time
before they will be called into service, il at
all. II is but just that provision be made
for payment OF the men who have thus
promptly and patriotically stepped forth in
defense of the country, for the time lost by
them before being actually received by the
United States, and ! recommend tina, you
make the necessary appropriations for that
purpose.
In addition to the two regiments thus nc
cepted by me, have already received ten
ders OF companies enough to make up five
regiments more, and have been strongly
urged by them, and by many other good
citizens, to accept the the whole, and place
them in quarters mt tho expense Of the State.
In view Of the facts that all had done was
without authority of law, and the further
fact that you, the lawmaking power Of the
State, was so soon to assemble, | did not
feel justified IN so doing, but have recon-
mended in all eases that all such companies
should if possible keep up their organiza-
ton, and should devote as much of their
time as possible to the drill without inter
fering materially with their ordinary busl-
ness, thus keeping in reserve large
organized and partially drilled force, to
meet emergencies.
In several localities patriotic citizens have
at their own expense furnished subsistence
for companies thus organized, and not ac-
cepted, and they have been in quarters
drilling daily. Whether any Of the expenses
thus incurred shall be paid by the State, or
whether any compensation shall be made to
the men for the time thus gent in quarters,
is peculiarly within your province 10 deter
mine.
In addition to the passage Of laws legal.
hing what has thus far been done, and
providing for expenses thus far incurred, i.
will be your duty carefully to examine what
further the State should do to nee. present
necessities, and future contingencies.
In my judgment there are two objects
which in your deiberation you should keep
steadily in view, and which recommend to
your serious consideration, viz: the pro,ec-
ton of our State against invasion and the
prompt supply to the General Government
Of any further aid it may require.
Our State is supposed by many to be ex-
posed to attack, on two sides-our South
ern and Western burders-on the South BY
reckless men from Missouri; on The Yves, BY
Indians. Missouri is unfortunately strong.
Iy infected with the hcresy Of Secession,
which is hurrying 80 many Of the Southern
States to ruin. What may be the ultimate
result in that State, we do not know
Should she unfortunately attempt to dissolve
her connection with the Union, serious
trouble may, and probably will, spring up
along our Southern border. Even in that
event can hardly anticipate an armed in
vasion BY regular military forces from tba.
State. Surrounded as she is By Kansas,
Illinois, and Iowa such Invasion By ber
would be sheer madness, and j; seems TO me
we are guarIed against such danger if no,
BIZ her calm judgmen. and her neighborly
good will, at least By her instinct Of self
preservation. Bat lawiess reckless men
within her limits may take advantage Of tba
unsettled condition Of public affairs to or.
ganize system Of border warfare, for the
purpose Of plunder; and it is your duty to
,-,.er,v guard against this danger.
1hs knos. facts that the troops have
~holly or in = great psf been Withdrawn
from the forts in the territories west Of usY
and the restraint Of their presence ihus re-
moved from the Indian tribes on our border,
that the Indians have received, probably
hsrhsy-c1lored statements 10 regard TO the
var now upon Us, and that since the mas
sacre a. Spirit Lake in our State, sems
years since. which went wholly unpunished,
they have sbowe sn aggressive disposition,
coupled with the probability that they may
be tanpered with by bad men, render u, 10
my Judgment, matter Of Imperative neces-
.isy thas proper measures be taken 20 guard
again 4 danger from that quarter.
hare already done What ! could, With
she limited means - my command, to fur
ns.h arms on both borders.
Two modes for the protection OF she State
and furnishing further aid, II needed. 70 the
General Gosesnmens, suggest themselves -
me-. One u the mSsssxins into The service