The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-02
Letter froEn e. FL. Stiles, E>G.
Read Democrats /!

II. w AsHBURN, ID. III. MICHAEL, 5. PARKER,
and others.
Gentlemen - Having been re-
tsted to give you an expression Of my
views with regard to the present crisis of
Natio al affairs, proceed SO to do in a brief
and limited manner. Every onethat knows
anything of my policital antecedents, knows
that have always been thoroughly Demo
cratic. Every poi teal vote that have, in
my life, cast, has been cast for Democrats
and the Democrstic party. have pursued
this course because believed it to be the
one fraught with the greatest benefit to the
country, and because believed that the
great principles that have in times past char
acterIzed that party, were the true and cor
rect ones, and productive Of the greatest
good to the greatest number.
the Democratic party had been rent in twain
by the persistent efforts OF miserable dema-
go-ues and unfaithlul, unholy politicians,
most ofwhom have since turned against their
country, and arrayed themselves in opposi
ton to the Government, adhered to that
wing where its virture and honor resided
and refused to follow the lead of those men
who are now striving to break up the hest
Government on the face OF the earth. adj
vocated for the Presidency, with what feeble
efforts | possessed, that noble patriot STE
PnEN a. DOUGLAS. Mr.. Douglas was, as an
ticipated, defeated, in consequence of the
Breckenridge ticket being in the field, and
Mr. Lincoln elected ina constitutional man.
ner. Then began to exhibit themselves the
threatening evidences of the dissatisfied por-
ton of the South, spured on by those defeat
cd leaders who desired "to reign in He'll rath-
er than serve in Heaven" and very soon,
without first consulting her sister States of
the South, we find South Carolina declaring
herself out of the Union. Others soon fol.
lowed in her destructive wake. In this pos
ture of affairs, patriotic movement was
made to concilate the border Slave States,
who still remained in the Union, and by an
honorable adjustment or compromise of the
slavery question, strive to hold them from
the vortex of secession. was in favor of
this movement. earnestly, fervently hoped
for It's success, because | thought it would
avert many of the horrors and disasters that
are now upon US. thought then, and still
think, that those measures of concieation
should have been adopted. But they were
not. My policy or the polity Of the Demo,
cratic party was not the policy of majority
the representatives of the people, or the ad
ministration of the Government The border
States went out. The appeal to arms was
taken-and to day, that Sun that has so Of
ten rose upon our unexampled prosperity
shines down upon the greatest and best
Government ever reared by any portion of
mankind, struggling with gigantic efforts to
defend itself from the wicked assaults of an
armed rebellion, composed of deluded and
infatuated men, led on by black hearted
traitors and scoundrels.
In this crisis, you desire to know how I
stand. can conscientiously answer-"as
have always stood"-fo for my Government
and Country" AS to how stand politically,
can also say that am Democrat from
practice, instinct and principle, but like our
gallant and noble standard bearer, Douglas.
| am willing to act now, for the time being,
with those whom have, but recently in the
past, opposed politically, when the object OF
such action is to sustain my Government in
this dark hour of her peril, and resist those
who are seeking her overthrow.
In short, if arrive home il time to vote,
shall vote for the Union candidates, and
for that ticket that lays aside all issues but
the preservation of the Government, and the
suppression OF the Rebellion, by vigorous
prosecution of the war. Many may say that
| have been somewhat inconsistent in not
publicly avowing this position before.
will not shrink from the charge. | regret
myself, that did not long ago, express my
self more publicly, ard unmistakably. But
like many others, my political preferences
have always been strong, and | disked to
do anything that might injure the Regular
Ticket. But when am fully satisfied as |
now am, that cannot support the Mahoney
ticket, nor any of its supporters, without
violating my conscience and the respect that
| desire always to entertain for my own
honor and integrity, | do not hesitate to
avow my feelings and position, feeling that
had much rather be charged by the I'M
think ng with inconsistency, than of being
recreant to my country in the hou, of her
greatest, darkest peril. At all events, ! am
sure that none can charge my course to a
desire for office.
Yours respectfully,
In great haste, EDWARD II. STILES.