The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-24
GOV. KIRK WOODS SPEC G /,

COmmlLtce OF Republicans OF DeS
Moines waited on Hon. Chas. Mason,
Democratic candidate for Governor, and
invited him to joint discussion with
Gov. Kirkwood at Sherman Hall, Des
Moines, that evening. Judge Mason
urged as an objection to such joint dis.
cussion, that the public mind was too ex
cited but the Committee, nevertheless,
informed him that Gov. Kirkwood would
speak, and that the invitation to discuss
would be open for any action Judge Ma
son might see fit to take.
The same evening an immense crowd
convened in Sherman Hall. On motion
of Hon. J. w. Cattell, Hon. r. F. With :
row was appointed Chairman. The OBJ
ject of the meeting was specified, and an
opportunity was given to the friends of
Jud ge Mason to define the position Of
that gentleman with reference to the pro.
posed joint discussion. Mr. Todd, on
behalf Of the Democratic nominee, stated
that other arrangements rendered it i'm
possible for Judge Mason to take part in
the debate but that another man, Hon.
Jas. Baker, of Charlton, would be happy
to discuss the issues with Gov. Kirkwood
So strong an opposition was manifested
by the audience to this last arrangement,
that Mr. Baker, rising from his place,
begged TO be excused from taking any
part in the debate. He was excused
Gov. Kirkwood was then introduced to
the audience, and spoke as follows
Mp Dnr.rnr>,r I
MEN II hope you will do me the justice
to believe, that did not arrange this
meeting, had nothing to do with it.
was requested by some of my friends to
say whether would be willing to meet
Judge Mason, one of my competitors. TO
discuss with him the National and State
questions involved in this canvass. How
ever small my own confidence in my
ability may be, have never felt myself
at liberty to decline any invitation of the
kind, occupying the position do and
although II M ght be rash in me TO meet
Jud ge Mason in this contest, would not
aud did not decline. With the deter
minalon of the question, whether Mr..
Baker should occupy the time Of Judge
Mason, had nothing to do and. as you
have decided, | have nothing to do with
your action.
propose to discuss briefly some ques-
tlons, not all, OF those which are upper
most in the minds of the people of Iowa.
When speaker pretends TO address an
! audience, he ought 10 arrange his
thoughts beforehand, so that he may be
able to present the subject in discourse
which, even if ii be Indifferent, shall be
well arranged. | cannot promise you
that | shall be able so 10 do.-lor, until
this evening, have had no time for pre-
paralion and | hope You will pardon
what | know will be desultory speech.
lagain find myself, what once thought
| never again would be, a candidate for
the Office of Governor and | confess
find myself in peculiar and unpleasant
circumstances. The unpleasantness of
my position arises from two causes ::
First. the country is in a condition, such
as il was never before. We have had
war before, but never civil war. We
/ have had strife before, but never intes-
tine strife. And many of the good peo
pie who are in favor Of pressing this war
thoroughly, vigorously. and triumphant
y 10 AN end, believe that an error was
committed in making party nomination
at this time. They think that the gen
tlemen who have placed me in nomina
tion have erred. That is one thing. An,
other is. and | am very sorry to say it,
that some Of my own political household
think that l am not the man. that We
should have had some other person.
Now | intend to address few remarks
to each Of these points. | shall certain
ly make them as brief as possible
Did the Republican party err in nom
inalinga Republican ticket at this time
under the surroundings What was the
condition of the country in May last.
when your Legislature, convened in ex-
ira session, adjourned ? What was the
condition of the State at that time The
large mass of the people Of this State
were in favor Of sustaining the Admins
trallon, of prosecuting vigorously, thor
oughly and TO successful termination,
tie war inaugurated by the South. This
was true of the entire body of the Re.
publican party. And yet il was true, and
am sorry to say il was true, that por'
ton Of the Democratic party was not in
favor Of that course. Now you know,
and | know, that political nominations
are necessary in Government like ours.
Without political organization, you can
not concentrate public opinion. We have
always had political organizations, OF
parties since the foundation Of our Gov
ernmeni. The common sense Of the coun.
try has accepted this truth, and acted
upon it and from that period until this
day, political organizations have been the
means Of giving tone to the popular will
and they always must be. They are a
necessity in Republican form Of gov.
ernment like ours. Here, then, is po,
litical party in this State, party which
is earnest, united in favor Of the prose
cution Of the war. Here was the only
other political party divided upon thi:
question. Now these parties act through
their party organizations, and when the
Republican Central Committee Of low,
called together the Convention, they ex
ercised the power which was delegated
TO them 10 exercise no more. no less