The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-09

. OF the government and they relied upon
? divided north and united south, and thu.
} bring civil war to our own doors. Th,
scheme was only defeated by the defeat o
the disunion candidate in Kentucky, Mis-
souri, Tennessee and Virginia. Whenever
, the history of this country shall be written
it will record that grand conspiracy, and the
J present disunion movement as the result
: oft.
q But, this is not time to go into dis
cussion of the causes that have produced
these results. The conspiracy to break up
the Union is fact now known to all. Ar.
mics are being raised and war levied to &C.
complish it. There can be but two sides to
the controversy, EUery man must be on
the eide ofthe United States or against It.
There can be no neutrals in this war.
There can be none but patriots and trait
ors. Thank God Illinois will not be divi-
dcd on that question. know that they
have expected to present United South
against divided North. The conspirators
have been led to hope that, in the Northern
States, it would be made party question,
producing civil war between the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, and the South being
united, could step in with their legions and
help the ono destroy the other, and then
conquer the victor. Their scheme was blood
shed and all the horrors of civil war in every
Northern State There is one way to pre-
vent it united action on the part of Illinois;
closing up the ranks, renders it impossible
that war should rage on our soil.
repeat that so long as it was possible
to settle this question by peaceful means, L
vas willing to make any reasonable sacrifice
for that purpose, but when the question
comes whether the war shall be transferred
from the cotton fields of the south to the
corn fields Of Illinois, choose to say that
the further off that war the better.
War does exist. 1t is sad thought to
every patriot, War-civil war-must be
recognized as existing in the United States.
We may no longer close or eyes to that
solemn fact This government must be
maintained, the enemies of the country over
thrown, and the more stupendous and over
wheming our preparations, the less blood
shed and the shorter the struggle.
But my countrymen, we must remember
that there are certain restraints upon mems
actions in time of war. We must never for
rof that uyo oro a o;,, ;l;~oJ ii rl.:ot:..~ -.
pie, and that war must be prosecuted only
from purposes, and in the mode recognized
by christian nations. There must not be a
war waged against the constitutional rights
of any people on earth. nor must it be war
against women and children and innocent
persons. Savages must not be let loose, nor
the horrors of indiscriminate destruction en-.
couraged. say to you / will never sane
ton such acts of warfare upon the rights OF
others, but I will beseach and implore my
countrymen never to lay down their arms,
until they recognize our constitutional
rights.
We were born under the constitution ofI
the United States. It's provisions and its
guarantees are our birthright. I am then
prepared to demand and enforce that inal-
ienable right to the last extremity. We
have peculiar reasons, from our position In
the centre of this continent why we cannot
recognize the right of any number of States |
to secede at their pleasure and break up
our government. When you admit the
right of one State to secede, you admit the
right of every State to do the same thing
When you recognize the right of secession
you not only destroy the government, but
destroy social order. You have upturned
all the foundations Of society, and inaugura-
ted anarchy in its worst ferns, and will
soon experience all the horrors of the French
revolution. a @ 9i
Then, my friends, we have solemn duty
to perform. 1t is to use all the powers that
God has given us to maintain the constitu-
ton and government that our fathers estab-
lished for us. The more energy and una
nimity we display in the peyformance Of
this great duty, the less will = tho dsstruc-
ton Of life and property, and the sooner will
come the day Of peace. q p iaaf F-
am aware that we have had some diff |
Guilty and prejudice to encounter in produ- |
cling unanimity. Itis not surprising that
such should have been the case. We must
remember that it has been but a few short
months since we came out Of fierce politi- |
cal strife, which engendered much better
ness of feeling. 1t takes some little time to
Danish those passions from the human heart, |
and substitute unalloyed patriotism in their
place. Whoever is not prepared to sacrifice
party organizations and platforms on the
the altar of his country, does not deserve the |
support and couutsnanee of honest people |
How are to overcome partisan sntipathies in |
the minds of men Of all parties so as to pre- |
sent q united front in support of our country.
We must cease discussing party issues,
make no illusions to old party tests, have no
ordinations and recriminations, indulge in
no taunts one against the other as to who
has been the cause of these troubles.
When we shall have rescued the govern
ment and country from its perils, and seen
its flag floating in triumph over every inch |
of American soil, it will then be time enough |
to inquire as to who and what has brought