The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-10-11
To the Voters of the I'd Ju.
dicial District.
Read! Read !!
OrruMwA, Oct. 10, 1862.

| have just learned that MT. rimole Is
here for the purpose, as he says, OF refuting
some slanderous charges made against him
by citizens of this place, and which, it seems,
1 am somewhat concerned in, and as the
sickness of my family prohibited my having
home this evening, as would gladly do to
meet the matter in person, / will make q
simple authentic statement of all the person
al knowledge I ever had Of Mr.. Trimble.--
Not long since--I cannot now give the exact
date--I went to Boneparte on cars of X. q
Fl. ID. NJ. r. r., and as stepped on them
to return in the afternoon, two gentlemen
stepped of, one Samuel Egbert, whom l
knew, and one who did not know. 1 took
a seat in the back end Of the car, and just
before they started Mr.. Egbert and the
same gentleman stepped on and sat down in
the front end of car, on opposite sides of the
car. When we arrived at Bentonsport some
one stepped in and spoke to the stranger as
| Colonel, asked fhe was Just returning. and
then said, "what is the army doing down
there now?" The reply was, "not much
but stealing cotton and niggers," with some
further remarks which could not hear, as
the cars were just getting in motion, but af-
forwards when did catch parts, of the con
versation, I found it was in relation to the
coming election, and when the cars stopped
at the Summit this same strange gentleman
got off, when Mr.. Egbert came back and sat
by me- l asked who said gentleman was.
4 He said it was Col Trimble, and asked if /
heard his expression, and said he had used
4 it on the platform at Boneparte and at one or
4 two other stations--that the conclusion of
the expression which did not hear was,
"more cotton than niggers, because it paid
best" lam sorry cannot be present to
make the above statement in person, but
will do SO at any reasonable time, with the
addition of Mr.. Egberts affidavit.
Fea BENJAMIN LADD.
| Mr.. EDITOR In your paper Of last week
1 you refer to me as one who heard Col.
Trimble's speech at this place some weeks
ago, in which it is alleged that he apologies
ed for having entered the military service Of
our country. Col. Trimble's denial Of hav-
ing apologised, makes direct issue between
!, himself and those who claim that he did so
apologize.
1t is to be regretted that Col. Trimble did
not accede to your liberal proposition, and
furnish the speech for publication, that the
public might judge, each for himself, whether
twas an apology or something else so near.
ly akin to it that common minds can dis
Germ no difference.
The different standpoints from which men
of different opinions look at the sumo sub
ject often give slightly different meaning
to words, and different bearing to his arg
uments, from which opinions and references
may be drawn not intended by the speaker
The speech alluded to was mainly state.
ment of his reasons or motives for having
gone into the army. These cannot pre-.
tend to give in full, but they were all based
upon an anti war sentiment which was
known to exist. Among other things, Col
Trimbe said that he did not go into this wal
because he thought it aoas right, but thai
the army should not become abo)itionized by
being made up of such men as Generals
Banks, Fremont and Hunter; and that he
went into the war just as he would pay ar
unjust tao. - ags ans =.
RI Had Col. Trimble based his action upon
the simple fact that our country was in per.
il, our Government in danger Of being over.
thrown, no one could have misunderstood
him or failed to award to him the highest
and purest motives, but when he drops
down from the elevated sphere of acknowl-
edge patriotism to one of passions, prejudi-
ces and the most unworthy of reasons APP
parently to conciiate and obtain the votes
of anti-war men, he should not be surprised
if men regard his reasons as nothing else
than apologies.
/ do not say that Col. Trimble did, or in
tended to apologize in terms for having
gone into the army. but leave it to candid
minds whether the logical bearing of his re-
remarks was not apologize. gss lsc ~
j. WILLIAMSON. I.
! Ed. COURIER At your request I will
state the substance of the remarks Of Colonel
Trimble, made at the Judicial Convention
held in this place, in regard TO going to war.
He stated that he wished it distinctly under-
stood that he did not go into this war be-
cause he thought it was right, or because he
had turned Republican or Abolitionist, but
because it was the duty of every citizen to
obey the government, just like q man pays
his taxes tax law may be bad one,
but it must be obeyed, He made the state.
inent at least twice, shat he wished it dis
tinety understood, that he did not 60 into
this war because he thought it right" j
remember these remarks, First, because
had understood that Col. Trimble was a
strong war democrat Second, because
wrote down his remarks about the time the
speech was delivered, which I have now in
my possession, as written at the time.
Oct. IL, 1862. y M. j. WILLIAMS.
VOTE FOR TANNEHILL
for Judge. He is Internationally
for the Union, good lawyer and an
honest, upright man. es asaas 4,