The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-24


ocrats, and looking rather to the good Of
the whole country, lavishing the higle.t
offices upon Democrats as well as R.pub-
licans. 1t has been made subject OF
complaint against me in Washington as
well AS here, that have given too many
places to members of the Democratic
party ; that | have filled important Offices
with political opponents. What reason,
then, have you for opposition TO the Re-
publican party? You know that it is
devoted, faithfully, and zealouoly, TO Il
supporter Of The National Administration,
TO the prosecution of the war, AMI the
perpetualion of the Union. Your Demo
cratic party is, in no essential respect, Il
Union party, and you know it. Why,
then. would you incur the hazard OF
throwing the State Administration of To-
wa into the hands of men whose party
platform aud whose utilization show that
they have little sympathy with the Union
cause.
My friends, the proudest day of my
life was during my recent trip to Wash
ington City. had called to see the Ad-
jutant General, Mr.. Thomas, to ask ia
vor of him for the benefit of the Iowa
volunteers. He had been in military
service nearly all his life. and of course
had all the regard for volunteers which
officers of the regular army usually en-
tcrtain.' This was before the battle OF
Spring field, or at least before we had re-
J 4 cal, I. I 1 l.
an order to have the companies compos
ing the First Regiment of Iowa VoIun
teers paid off in the several counties OF
their residence. They had not receiv-
ed any money since they lett Iowa. |
knew the boys had had a hard campaign,
and was anxious they should have the
full comfort of their earnings at hom".
He told me the first thing l would know
would be that our Iowa volunteers in
Missouri would leave Gen. Lyon in the
lurch as certain Pennsylvania aud New
York volunteers left Mcdowell at Man
assas. l told him the Iowa boys would
not do it that they would do their duty;
ii not, that not lady in Iowa would kiss
them on their return to their State
Laughter The Adjutant General de-
clined to issue the order as requested.
and referred me to his assistant. The lat.
ter issued it just as l wanted it. In the
meantime the news of the battle olSpring
field and of the gallant manner in which
the lst Iowa regiment conducted them
selves after their term of enlistment had
expired, reached Washington. l then
took occasion to walk again into the War
Department, and every man who saw me
had to shake hands with me, and placing
my hat at an ang lie of IS degrees, stalk :
ed through the building as though | own
ed it-and they let me ! tell you, my
friends, that WAS a proud day for Iowa
in Washington ! Ii was glory enough
for any man there 10 hail from this State.
And all this was because our brave Iowa
boys down at Wilson's Greek did their
duty: APPLAUSE They gave us a
name such as we never had before. 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-ihe largest one there. At first
nobody knew me, nobody paid any atten-
ton to ne; 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
| IN ha e
this State had an advantage in raising
men under the first call for volunteers.
The men composing the LIST Iowa regi-
ment were all from the Eastern portion
of the State, and one company from the
town in which live was among them.
The Iowa City company went into the
Springfield battle with "a men, and I6
Of the number came out bearing marks of
the conflict upon them have talked
with members of that regiment, and
heard their recital of the hardship, suffer
ngs and perils they endured, and | wish
the men assembled in the late Democrat
ic Convention in your city who refused,
AS am informed. to pass certain resolu-
tons 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 resolutions
afterwards, Governor
Gov. KIRKwooD i am sorry they had
to think twice before they could adopt
them Applause. have not seen
a report OF The proceedings OF that Con-
venlion, but was informed thai such vas
its action.
Now so far as | am conc .rned, it is a
matter Of very little consequence wheth-
er shall be reelected to the office of
Governor or not. Don't give thought
to me personally. | was not anxious that
my name should go before the Republ.
can Convention. wish | could have
declined without dishonor. But my
friends have placed me in nomination.
and | am prepared to abide the result.
This Government must be sustained, and
the question is how il is best to be done
Let no personal considerations stand be.
tween you and the discharge of your du-
ty. Keep fixed in your mind this idea,
that the value of our National Govern
ment is above all computation that the
Stars and Stripes must he sustained and