St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-04-25
do(sstbaro tbe Course Of empire tatts its 0llap.'
ST. CHARLES CITY, FLOYD COUNTY. IOWA. APR1

the people free and Independent citizen
have aided to arouse my countrymcn 10 ac-
tion. believed that the Constitution and
the laws would provide remedy, and there
fore was not ready for revolution.
The Legislature refused to submit the ques
tiOn of our relations with the United States
Government to direct vote of the people
but authorized the Convention TO do 50. The
Legislature having recognized this Convention
thus far, | was willing to sanction the act, be-
cause ] saw that in no other way would the
people get an opportunity to express tn ir will.
| did so, protesting against the assumption of
any other powers on the part of the Couven-
tion. | knew full we'll the designs ot tie lea
dcIs Of that movement. ! saw that, in their
hands, neither Constitution nor laws would be
sacred; and ! put on record my refusal to
sanction any attempt, on their part. to touch
the chatter of your liberties or infringe upon
the rights secured to you by the men who
framed the State Constitution
My worst anticipations as to the assumption
of power by this convention have been real
lied. To enumerate all its usurpations would
be impossible, as great portion Of its proceed
ings have been in secret. lhiS much has been
| revealed:
1t has elected delegates 10 the Provisional
Council of the Confederate States at Montgom-
cry before Texas had withdrawn from the
| Union, and who on the 2d day of March an
ncXed Texas to the Confederate States and
constituted themselves members Of Congress,
when it was not officially known by the Con
vention until the 4th OF March that a majority
of the people had voted in favor of secession.
While portion uf the delegates were rep
rcsenting Texas in the Congress of the Con
! federate States, two of them still claiming TO
| be United states Senators. have continued to
| rsp in, hn nj. i..1 n.
under the Administration Of Mr. Lincoln--an
Administration that the people Of Texas have
declared odious and not to be borne. Yet
Texas has been exposed to obloquy, and forced
| to occupy the ridiculous attitude before the
world of attempting to maintain her position
as one of the United States and mt the same
time claims to be one of the Confederate States.
This Convention has deprived the people OF
a right to know its doings by holding its scs-
sions in secret.
1t has appointed military officers and agents
under its assumed authority
| 1t has declared by ordinance that the people
Of Texas ratify the Constitution of the Provs-
ional Government of the Confederate States.
and has changed the State Constitution and
established IESr OATH of allegiance to the
| Confederate States, requiring all persons now
in office To take the same or suffer the penalty
of removal from office and actuatcd by a
spirit Of petty tyranny, has required the Exec.
utivc and a portion of the other officers at the
seat Of government, to appear at its bar ut a
certain hour and take the same.
Fellow citizens, | have refused to recognize
this Convention. | believe it has derived
none Of the powers which ii has assumed eth.
er from the people or the legislature. be.
lievc it guilty of an usurlation, which thc
people cannot suffer tamely and preserve their
liberties. | am ready to lay down my life tC
maintain the rights and liberties Of the people
Of Texas. alu ready to lay down Office rath
cr than yield to uSurpation and degradation
have declared nay determination to stanG
T by Texas, in whatever position she assumes
Her people have declared in favor Of a srpara
tion from the Union. | have followed he
banners before. when an exile from the lant
of my fathers. l went back into the Unior
with the people of Texas. ! go ont from th,
Union with them; and though | can see but
gloom before me | shall follow the "I.Ont
Star with the same devotion as Of yore.
| may not lie sustained now; but when mil
lions OF debt press upon you, when the Unitct
States Bonds forming your School Fund h.."r
been squandcred, and the money upon which
your present school system is based is gone
when your public domain is wasted, and take
are ground out of Won, some, at least, will re
member that | attempted to save you from
these consequences.
am ready to be ostracisetl sooner than sub
NIT to usUuation. Office has no charms fu
me, if it must he purchased at the sacrifice o
my conscience, and the loss of my sclfrcSpcct
f | love Texas too well to bring civil strif,
and bloudsAcd upon her. Toavcrt this c7llaIn
ity, | shall make no cnleayor to maintain IN,
authority as Chief Executive of this State. cX
= cept by the peaceful exercise of my functions
< When | can no longer do this. shall calml
withdraw from the scene, leaving the Goyeru
mcnt in the haals Of those who have usurpc,
its authority. hut stll claiming that | am il
' Chief Executive.
expect the consequences of refusing to talk
!, this oath. Ny office will be declared vacated
7 II those who ostracise me will bc but as tru
u to the interests of Texas as | have CnleavOre
, to he, my prayers viii attend them.
A Fellow citizens, think not that ! complain d
the lot which Providence has now assigned mt
y 1t is, perhaps, but meet that my career shonl
l. close thus. l have seen the patriots an
d statesmen of my youth, one 10y one 2athcre
to their fathers, and the Government whic
they had reared, rent in twain and none liz
y them are left to unite it once again. Al
J. stricken down now because | will not yiel
n those principles which have fought for an
struggled to maintain. The scv re>t paus
" that the blow comes in the name of rcX:ls.
deny the power of this Convention to spea
: for Texas. have received blows for her sax
and am willing To do So again.
Iyrolr,t in The name ofHe people Of r. as a7qia
all the orts and do0ags of ihs tan"raf, IN, and d
clare item null and roid, J soIennly prot,.
- against the act of its members WHO are boun
10y no oath themselves, in docl..riag my off,
vacant, because refuse to appear before it al
o. take the oath prescribed.
lt has accomplished its mission and its chi
N object has been fulfilled. II to drive me fro
i. Office and defeat the will of the people is g
honor, it may wear it. To prevent nay havir
C. an opportunity to send message to the Le
~ islatnre, which meets on Monday, March lSt
| am required to appear at its bur to-day, al
&c take the TEST OATH. Even ShyIock grant
;s the full three days ere he claimed his pouI
of flesh The Convention prescribed that tin
III as the limit, but its President has been Il
gracious than Shylock, and clamors for t
~ bond ere two days are gone. Ii | am thus 4
We prived of the poor privilege of pUtting ON r,
M ord my sentiments, through refusal on /
part OF the Legislature TO receive my meSSas
q, / will lay the same before the people and q
peal to them, rs | declared | would do in l
Inaugural. SAN HousroN,
[r. a Governor II the State Of 7erds.