The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-21

liz 10 INC teOPhc VI lMC ASs
Congressional District Of IOya
Circumstances connected with the misfor
tunes of our country seem to make it my
duty to resign my seat in Congress. In ia.
king this step feel it Incumbent on me to
present, briefly, the reasons that induce me
to relinquish this high and honorable position.
When last elected, our country was at
peace with the whole world, and although
political luminosity was excessive and scces-
sion boldly threatened, we all entertained
the hope, intermingled it is true with fearful
apprehensions, that fair expression OF
majority of our people at the ballot box would
be followed by patriotic return to the SUPP
port of our common country. But, alas
these hopes have been disappointed and all
our painful forebodings have been sadly re-
allied. During the interregnum, between
the Presidential election and the Inaugural
ton. treason lurked in Executive mansions
and in the ranks of our government officials.
Our nation was, in part, in the hands Of of.
ficers who. welded their power and used
your means to mature plans of National de-
struction.
Before Congress assembled, South Caro-
lima had called her Convention for the avow-
ed purpose Of secession, and in fifteen days
after we had assembled, before any terms Of
Cancellation were proposed by her OF could
be matured by us-on the Goth of December
last-she passed an ordinance of secession
and assumed an attitude Of separate nation
atty and even hostility toward our Govern
ment From that hour to the present no
plans of compromise or Cancellation have
been profered or listened to by South Caro-
lima or her allies, except such as contemplate
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Union ard de-
struct,on of our Government, formed by the
sages and heroes of the Revolution, acknowl
edged even by them to be the freest in the
world and the parent of their unexampled
prosperity.
It is needless to follow the political events
that ensued. Regarded secession as rebel
lion and revolution. On the 7th of Decem-
Der I drew up, and soon after urged their
passage, resolutions declaring it such and
rendering to the Executive all the men and
means necessary to suppress it. At the same
time I expressed my willingness to seek
terms of Cancellation and attended every
meeting called for such purpose, cordially
uniting with my colleagues in the Committee
of SO, and in the Peace Congress, in efforts
of honorable adjustment.
But the cotton States spurned every over.
ture and FASTENED to force even the border
States into passive silence or to join them
in their suicidal course. Reven1e vessels
were seized, arsenals were taken, armories
were appropriated, forts were occupied or be-
sieged, the public money was stolen, citizens
were ruthlessly mobbed, and finally Sumter,
with its handful Of famished men, was as
saulted ant taken by force of arms.
The design, incipient steps. and final in
duction of civil war have all been premedi-
| tated and consummated by the belligerents
opposed to us. So far as the leaders in the
cotton States are concerned, they can neither
show sufficient cause, a proffer of adjust
ment, or probable peaceful political result.
War has been forced upon us and is pros
ecuted on the part Of our enemies, with vigor
to be the most eauseless, unnatural. and ia
tai that humanity ever conceived, yet we
must accept the issue, and, while deploring
the rashness Of those who have wantonly
undertaken to destroy this truly great gov
eminent, there remains no alternative for us
but to defend ourselves and our civil and re-
| ligious liberty with all the means and power
that we can combine and exert. Liberty,
government, our prosperity, our homes, are
all imperiled, all involved in the issues of this
internecine struggle. All of us who revere
the founders of our nation, who exult in its
former glory and hope for its future pros
perity, should share in the dangers and vi
cissitudes surrounding it at this time. Edu-
Gated at the Military Academy, have always
felt it my duty to tender my military services
to my country whenever involved in war
Hence, on the breaking out of the war with
Mexico, entered the service, and immedi-
ately on the commencement of the present
hostilities my humble services have been en-
ployed to the best of my ability. On the
LIST of June I was honored, by unanimous
vote, with the Colonelcy of the I'd (the first
three year, Iowa Regiment of Volunteers,
and under orders Of Gen. Lyon, on the 18th
and 14th, conducted a column through North
Missouri, taking military possession of the
Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad, and in
different parts of that State our three Iowa
regiments have since been on constant and
severe duty.
My acceptance Of the office of Colonel of
the State Volunteers did not deprive me OF
my seat in Congress; and the opening of the
special session, on the 4th day of July, as
sumed my duties here in the 37th Congress.
The prosecution Of the war seemed to de-
mand the whole attention of Congress, and
we have devoted ourselves mainly to that
subject.
have not, however, forgotten our desire
for Pacific Railroad, and have presented
the bill which has heretofore matured for a
central route, and which has been referred
to special committee, of which am chair
man. The Southern mail route is now aban
doned, and all the California mail is now
concentrated on our central route. We have
recently secured daily service from Council
Bluffs to Fort Kearney, where we connect
with the overland mail route. We therefore
have daily service on the central route, start
ing from the Missouri and Iowa, running
through to the Pacific in less than fifteen
days. The pony express also secures early
transits oyer this line, and a telegraph is in
rapid progress Of construction. We have
thus concentrated the public transit and
travel on our central railroad route, where
settlements and increasing necessities will
stimulate constant exertions of future Con-
crosses, and secure the Anal consumation
which we have SO long and SO earnestly
desired. @
am now rendered military promotion
the Office of BIigadier General. That being
federal Office, its acceptance would deprive
me ola right to remain in Congress, and I
must therefore choose whether l will remain
Colonel and member of Congress as am,
or resign both and accept the position of
brigadier. My pleasures and profits will be
largely diminished, while my duties, dangers,
and responsibilities will be greatly increased