The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-05-25

americas contains An uiustIssiVn sA~
cripsion OF the famous steam battery about
which 80 much has been said within Few
weeks, as being in process Of construceon
BY the Messrs WINASs Of Baltimore.
Vas invented BY CHARLES s. Dickinson OF
Cleveland, Ohio, and patented August 9'h'
1859. Its capabilities and advantages are
set forth in the following terms BY the in
yentor!
Gas triumph of inventive genius, in the
application and practical demonstrates OF
centrifugal force that power which governs
and controls the universe, and regulates and
impsls the motion of planetary bodies
around the SUM-, this most efficient engine
stands without parallel, commanding won
der and admiration at the simplicity of its
construction and the destructiyeness Of its
efforts, and is eventually destined to inau.
gurate new era in the science of WAR;
Rendered ball proof, and protected by an
iron cone, and mounted on four wheeled
carriage, it can be readily moved from place
to place, or kept on march with an army.
1t can be constructed to discharge missiles
of any capacity from an ounce ball to
s5-pound shot, with force and range equal
to the most approved gunpowder projecties,
and can discharge from one hundred to i've
hundred balls per minute. For city or har-
Dor defense it would prove moro efficient
than the largest battery; for use on the bat.
tie field, the musket caliber engine would
NOW down opposing troops as the scythe
mows standing grain and in sea tights,
mounted on low. decked steamers, 1t would
be capable of sinking any ordinary vessels.
In addition to the advantages OF power,
continuous action and velocity OF discharge,
NAV be added economy in cost OF construc-
ton, in space, in labor and transportation
all of which would be small in comparison
to the cost and working Of batteries OF can
non, and the equipment and management OF
proportonate force of infantry. The
possession of this engine-ball proof and
cased in iron-will give the powers using it
such decided advantages as will strike terror
to the hearts of opposing forces, and render
its possessors impregnable to arms provided
with ordinary offensive weapons. Its eth-
cheney will soon be practically demonstrated,
and the day is not far distant when, through
its fundamentally, the new era in the SCI
| ence Of war being inaugurated, it will be
generally adopted by the Powers of the
Old and New Worlds, and, from its very
destructiveness, prove the means and
medium Of peace"
This gun was captured, by Gen. BUTLER,
some two weeks since, and is now in the
service of the U. S. Government, and
guarding the viaduct of the Relay House,
A Baltimore paper stated that when the
seizure was made the agent was simply on
his way out of the city, to practice at long
range, but the agent himself testified on his
examination before Gen. BUTLER, that he
was on his way to Harper's Ferry, as origi-
nally reported.
THE WOMEN T1Ki0G Up THE ARGU-
MENT.
The first gun fred by the rebels at Fort
Sumpter closed up the argument, and left
nothing to tho men of the country but an
appeal to arms. The women, not being al
loyc.aa to fight, can amuse themselves with
arguing the questions at ISSUE and they will
do it well. A Virginia yicegerens '" '"'
Mount Vernon association lately sent "a cir
eular to her associates in the free States,
inviting a peace convention Of women to
settle the national difficulty. The Rhode
Island vicegerent sent back the following
reply, which demolishes the false assump.
tons of the Virginia women, and states the
whole case handsomely:
DEAR MADAM Il hasten to reply to the
communication which received frem you
on Saturday evening, and am glad of the
opportunity to correct some misapprehen-
sions into which you have fallen as to the
object and meaning of the present great
uprising of the North. The question at is.
sue is not that of slavery or no Slavery
No one proposes to interfere with slavery
in the states; and with regard to the terri
tories, that is question of physical
geography, and already decided by its
immutable laws. If there is fear of negro
instruction in any of the States, they have
only to remain firm in their allegiance; and
the whole power of the government is pledg-
ed for their protection. But should they
withdraw themselves from under the broad
Ggis of the constitution, | do not see how
it can be possible for the border states to
retain their slaves unless they are more
loyal to their masters than those masters to
their country.
The question which moves the heart OF
the North as the heart of one man, is that
OF government or no government, freedom
or anarchy, loyalty to the flag of our country
or rebellion against it. There is no middle
course. GA conditional patriot is an un.
conditional traitor" In presence of this
great question, all party lines, all social
distinctions are here obliterated. The
Breckenridge. democrat shoulders his mus
ket in ranks side by side with the Lincoln
republican, and their wives and daupbters
sews together on the same clothing for the
soldiers, and offer themselves with equal
readiness to serve as nurses 10 the hospitals;
the millionaire and the Irish laborer drill
together in the same company with equal
enthusiasm and devotion to their common
country. There is no bitterness towards the
South no desire to interfere with it's rights.
1t is not war Of passion, but of principle
an unfinching determination to support
not Mr.. Lincoln or any other man, BIZ; the
majesty of law, the authori.; Of overnmer.
For this all are ready to sEzd the last dron
oI tneir blood, to spend the last penny Of
'ne" fortunes. The fixed, resolute deter.
mination OF the North, to which there "a no
dissenting voice, is to have country. a
government, at whatever cost it NAV be
purchased. If it can be done only by war.
then war it must be, though ell men dspre.
cate its coming.
The time for peace convention, nv dear
Miss johnson, past. The time for cav.
eminent to use the voice Of authority hs.
come. For myself, the first Latin [ ever
learned IN my girlhood was, Dulce ct deco
rum est pro patria mort !" that 10 the In.
son which ! must teach to others now.
have brother and four nephews serving
day as volunteers. They 20 q patyiof.
not Is republicans, for bat one Of The &C.
voted Tor Mr.. Lincoln, but they are ready to
give their lives, if needed, to save the mat
benehcient government which the world ha.
ever seen, from falling before traitor hands
have worked heartily with you, nv dear