The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
Letter II Osal Hon. R. Noble.


Letter 4, onn Hon. II. Noble.
Hon. And,eU j. !Steuens, Des Holmes, Io,oa:
-Sir:-I have yours of the 9th inst. l
am gratificd to learn that your views accord
with my own in reference to the duty of
all citizens in this hour of National peril.
I was previously disappointed, like your
self, by the action of our great Republican
party in this State upon the Union ques-
ton. Ten days after the fall of Sumpter,
the Republican who would have recommen-
dcd partyism under old names or issues,
would have been deemed mailman. The
patriotic sentiment arose too high in the
hearts Of the people for the leaven of party
to work; partisan strife died. and patriot
ism arose from its ashes. The effects were
glorious; not the least of which were the
offers of at least one hundred thousand
volunteers, and one hundred millions of
money, which otherwise would not have
been ctf.red Then we rejoiced in the con-
viction that the loyal masses Of the coun-
try were united that they were to be shorn
of their strength no longer by divisions and
dissensions among them elves that the cx
ample Of the people Of the Confederate
States of burying all distinctions not foun-
ded upon the great question Of union or
disunion would be followed in the North,
but in this it seems we are to be disappoint-
ed, and cannot persuade myself that the
result will be less than disastrous to tn,
country. ...... ...-.s..
What would have been the effect in the
Confederate States If the policy now recon-
mended for us had been adopted by them |?
If when their pretended Government was
formed, the jeff Davis section of the dom.
inaDt party had prescribed thu Douglas and
Bell men, the people of those States would
not to-day have been unit in rebell on
against the authority of the general gov
ernment If the claims of Alex. Ii. Ste
phens to the second place in the Confederate
government had been rejected on the ground
of his Douglas Democracy, and all the
places in that government had been filled
solely with reference to souadness upon
jeff Davis old standard Of politics; the
people of some of those States, in my opin-
ion, would have been to-day as vigorously
fighting each other as the general govern
ment.
The same whirlwind Of patriotic dcvo
ton to a great common cause which swept
away party distinctions in the North after
the fall Of Sumpter, did the same thing in
the South. And the difference between the
two sections now is, that in the North, party
is being revived, while in the South, it is
buried forever, and as the exact measure of
Of differences between the two sections in
this respect iS-so will be the measure of
strength or weakness in the great struggle
1t is proposition too plain for argument
that in proportion as. partisan bitterness
arises, patriotism sinks and dies.
1t is much to be regretted that the Re,
publican party Of Iowa has arraved itself
against the sentiment of the National ad-
ministration and the party generally. The
opinions of the administration are undoubt.
eddy found in the following remarks of Sec
rotary Chase before the Chamber of Com
merce Of New York on the 18th inst:
"Bc assured, Mr.. President and gentle.
men, that the gratitude which feel on this
occasion bears no proportion to that which
l feel in view Of the assurance which YOU
have given, that in the present crisis of the
country we know, and are to know, no par
ties [applause that the whole energies of
the country are to be put forth in thu main
tenancc of the cause of Union, of Nation
atty, and of the permanent interests and
honor Of the entire people"
The Republic ms Of New York, Ohio
and elsewhere, invite aunion of all citiz ms
in favor of the maintenance of the Union,
and the prosecution Of the war, and altho'
po' ton of the Democratic party refuse to
cooperate with them, nevertheless their
policy will draw thousands of loyal men of
all old party organizations into their Union
movement, to that extent Strengthening the
hands of the government. But, if in this
opinion am mistaken, if the statement of
some Republicans is true that all or nearly
all Of those who have heretofore fought the
Republicans, will ultimately oppose any
reasonable basis of union with them, then
have only to say, despair of my country.
If such is to be the result, have no hopes
that | shall live to see the stars and stripes
again float over all the States of the Union.
Strong as my confidence is in the patriotism
of the Republican party, still cannot be-
lieve it can fight the united South, aided as
it will be by the sympathy of one half of
the North, tog ather with the sympathy Of
England and France sure to follow such
state Of things here.
They can believe who will that the North
can he divided into two great an:agonistic
parties, and the war be prosecuted,-I can
not
But it is said the Republican party has
invited cooperation of those who agree to
their platform true, but it is like an invita-
ton to men who were not invited to feast,
to pay the expenses of the invited guests
after the feast is over The Republicans as
a party, hold a convention, nominate tick
ct, and then ask those they did not invite