St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-08-15
I. Charles City, Iowa, Aug. Is, 1861.
Hon. Charles Mason.

We have looked through the some
what lengthy letter of Judge Mason,
accepting the nomination of the Dem
ocratic Convention for Governor, and
must say that many of its passages
surprise us. The letter shows that
Judge Mason, with all his generosity
of heart and kindness of character, is
too strong partisan and possesses too
many political prejudices for times
like these. He says:
have never had doubt, but that the
pcrfls and difficulties which now surround us,
might easily have been wholly avoided with
out the sacrifice of life or q principle the
expenditure of dollar or even the abandon
ment of any interest of the least substantial
value to the people of the Northern States.
But those uho had tie poacer, hare seen proper to
take d.ferem course and we now see ourselves
involved in a murderous conflict, which in its
fearful consequences on the welfare and des-
TIMES of the whole human race, has probably
never had its parallel since the deluge.
The italics are ours. The Lincoln
administration is undoubtedly meant !;
when every child knows that the
statement is only true as applicable
to the Buchanan dynasty.
Again, Judge Mason asks:
Have we used all the efforts demanded by
the occasion to secure the continuance of the
Union by peaceful measures before engaging
in an internecine strife which must end dis
nstrously to one of the bclligerent parties and
perhaps to both!
We answer, yes. Tho Lincoln ad-
ministration found the army and navy,
custom houses, arsenals, postofficcs,
Notifications and other government
property in the hands of rebels and
traitors, and yet no aggressive steps
were taken-only peaceful means were
rcsorted to-up to the time of the
uaprOroked bombardment of TT. Sump-
ter. Does learned jurist, like Judge
Mason, ask the Government to COM
promise with rebels in arms?
lie says:
At the last regular session of Congress
propositions were presented with this object
compromise in view, which had they been
adopted would beyond all doubt have preserv-
cd the country in peace But these efforts
met 'ciM no encouragement from Aeparty IN po,rer.
Does not Judge Mason know that
Mr.. Seward understood to speak for
the incoming administration advo-
Gated a convention for amending or
revising the Constitution The peo-
pie know this if he does not. To cap
the climax of eflirontery and assurance
Judge Mason says:
There seemed to be no disposition to avoid
bloody collision, now taking place.
1t would seem to be wholly a work
of supererogation to handy words
with any man (even Judge Mason)
who will make a declaration SO alb.
surd, nay, false, as this. He knows
and every man, woman and child in
the land knows, that SO anxious were
tHc picSclt duIiiuiSIIdIlUu W tSOiu u
bloody collision" that they allowed
Forts Sumpter and Pickens to be sur.
rounded with rebel batteries without
firing gun in defence-the govern
ment treasures, mints, navy yards,
ships, arsenals, forts, custom houses,
post-officcs, &C., &c, were either rob-
bed or destroyed--and that until
Sumpter fell, no violence was used
but peace and Cancellation were every
where and at all times practised.
Does the Hon. Charles Mason thus
presume upon the ignorance of the
people of Iowa? Is he a patriot, and
has he no words of condemnation for
an armed rebellion against the best
government on earth, and only words
of faultiinding against an administra
ton that is doing its utmost to pre-
serve and maintain that government
Out upon such hypocrisy! The sove
reign people of Iowa are not the fool
to place such a man in the Guberna
torial chair that he may rule over
them.