St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-09-19

shoWH W haNc nyIninp 10 uo WIN
them and relying upon the business
of their cause, they threw their ban
ner abroad, and appealed TO the people
to rally around it, in maintenance of
the Federal Union and the honor of
the Federal Flag. The Republicans do
not ask you, my Democratic friends,
to give up any Of your preconceived
notions ON the subject of slavery.
They don't ask you to accept their pc.
litical faith or abandon yours, but as
the predominant party in this State,
ignoring for the time all past political
issues, they ask every man who is will
ling to rally around the flag to step
forward and aid them in this patriotic
cause. Is il wrong in them to do this?
Every Republican is Union man.
Where in the broad land can you find
one who is not? They are, and for
some years have been, the dominent
party in the State. They have placed
themselves, as an organization, in
a position to be consulted with by
any party or any men who might be
willing to consult and act with them
for the Union but had completely,
perhaps studiously, been ignored by
all. They then, for the sake of har-
mony and good will, laid aside all par
ty issues, and all party tests, and
simply asked that all men of all par
ties, who like themselves were devot-
ed to the Union, should step forward
and act with them, not for party but
for the Union. 1t seems to me that
more could not have been asked with
fairness, nor yielded with self-respcct.
The other organization is divided.
1t is torn asundcr. With the present
condition of the country, whoever is
not in favor of upholding the Govern
ment, is against it. And my friends,
it seems to me that if we could once
lay aside all discussions on this SUBJ
iect, and as united people rally
around the Administration, we could
soon carry the war to a successful is
sue and place the country in a position
such as it is entitled to occupy.
X *
My friends, the proudest day of my
life was during my recent visit 10
Washington City. / had called to
see the Adjutant General, Mr.. Thomas,
to ask favor of him for the benefit
of the Iowa volunteers. He had been
in the military service nearly all his
life, and of course had all the regard
for volunteers which officers Of the
regular army usually entertain. This
was before the battle at Springfield,
or at least before we had received
news of the result. asked of him an
order to have the companies compos-
ing the First Regiment of Iowa Vol
unteers paid off in the several coun-
ties of their residence. They had not
received any money since they left
Iowa. l knew the boys had had
hard campaign, and l was anxious
they should have the full comfort of
their earnings at home. He told me the
first thing | would know would be that
our Iowa volunteers in Missouri would
leave Gen. Lyon in the lurch as GER
tain Pennsylvania and New York vol
unteers left Mcdowell at Manassas. j
told him that the Iowa boys would not
do it +; that they would do their duty !;
if not, that not lady in Iowa would
kiss them on their return to their
State F! Laughter The Adjutant
General declined to issue the order as
| requested, and referred me to his as
sistant The latter issued it just as !
wanted it. In the meantime the news
of the battle of Springfield. and of the
gallant manner in which the LIST Iowa
regiment conducted themselves after
their term of enlistment had expired,
reached Washington. i then took oc-
casion to look again into the War De-
partment and every man who saw me
had to shake hands with me, and plac-
ing my hat at an angle of forty-five
degrees, stalkcd through the bull
ding as though / owned it-and they
let me ! / tell you, my friends, that
was proud day for Iowa in Wash
ington 1t was glory enough for
any man there to hail from this
State. And all this because our brave
Iowa boys down at Wilson's Greek did
their duty. [Applausc.] They gave
us name such as we never had be-
fore. Go where you will through the
length and breadth Of the land and
you hear nothing but praises of their
noble conduct. | went to Philadelphia
from Washington, and by mistake got
into the Continental Hotel-thc lar
gcst one there. At first nobody knew
me, nobody paid any attention to me !;
but when they heard that was from
Iowa, / could have had the whole
house to myself if had wanted it.
Laughter and cheers.
Now, my friends, | have but little
more to say. The eastern counties
Of this State had an advantage in
raising men under the first call for
volunteers. The men composing the
lst Iowa regiment were all from the
eastern portion of the State, and one
from the town in which |
i've was among them. The Iowa City
company went into the Springfield
battle with Ga men, and l6 of the
number came out bearing marks
IF the conflict upon them I! / have
talked with the members Of that reg
ment, and heard their recital of the
sufferings and perils they
endured, and l wish the men assem-
1led in the late Democratic Conven-
ion in your city who refused, as l am
Informed, to pass certain resolutions
approving Of the conduct of those
brave men, could hear what ! have
heard. If they could hear it they
would hide their heads in shame.
Voice-They did pass the resolu-
lions afterwards, Governor.
Gov. Kirkwood--I am sorry they
lad to think twice before they could
adopt them. have not seen report
IF the proceedings of that Convention,
,ut was informed that such was its
action.
Now SO far as / am concerned, it is
. matter Of very little consequence
l am reelected to the Office
If Governor or not. Don't give a
thought to me personally. was not