The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-29

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
RSDrsse a frf;rss

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives. -
As this is the fest time in the history OF
our State that the same person has been twice
elected to the oflic,, the duties of which [
have for the second time just assumed, and
AS the transmission to you Of Message in
writing, communicating the condition of the
State and recommending such matters as
seemed to me expedent, was among the last
Of the official acts ofmy first term ofservice.
it was for some time question with me
whether it was proper for me in commencing
my second term to conform to the custom
heretofore acted on by incoming Governors
Of delivering an Inaugural Address. Upon
ref .ction, did not feel at liberty to disre-
gard what is well established, and what is
considered useful custom.
When two years ago first assumed the
duties of my present Office, saw, and in my
Inaugural Address alluded, to the bitter and
exasperated feelings existin, in certain por-
tons Of our country, which have since re.
suited in the present Rebellion, and pointed
ont what seem ID to me to be some of the
exciting causes ofti,at fe ling. The people
Of ou. country were then about entering up
on one Of those political contests by which
the policy of our General Government is for
tim ,'ictermincd-and expressed the be.
Ii ftEat this angry and excited feeling would
not result in an appeal to arms, but that q
people taught as OURS have been to yield al
most in stinctively to the fairly expressed will
ofthe majority, would, when the feeling en-.
gendered by its contest had passed away,
again permit the calm dictates of reason to
resume its sway, and that we would again
hecom, contented and happy nation
Time has shown that my belief was errone-
ois, and yet it seems to me it was reasona
ble and just belief. All men know well that
the Government against which Rebellion
would bc made. If raised Al all, was the Gov
crnment which male the least exactions and
conferred the most beniats upon its people
know w,l AMI none better than those now in
R.b,li:,,, that the lmiaistratlon whose ac
cc;sian 10 pwer III 'ir opponents declared
they wnnll consider cause for revolt. could
MT du ing their term Of office, even If so dis.
posed, ia!lict npon the defeated party any
wrong. Anil it seemed then, and seems yet
to me to bea reasonable and just belief that
no portion of a paople, so intelligent as ours
has claimed to be, col revolt against Gov
ernm.nt which had conferred upon them on.
ly benefits. and against an Administration
powerlass to iaiurc them. All men know,
ton, TINT Rebellion must bring upon those
engag, in it terrible ca!amities, if not sure
destruction, and it did seem reasonable and
just t, believe that sane men would not
bring upon themselves such results without
cause.
Yet there were other things bearing upon
this question which we did not know. We
did not know-even although we were so
told by some far sightei men it seemed too
mon ,trous for or honest and loyal hearted
people to believe; that men whom they had
deli GIFTED to honor, men upon whom they
had conferred the high places even the high
est place OF honor. and profit, and trust un-
der our Governmcnt-could,w whilst yet hold
ing those places and pledged in the sight of
Gad and before mon, faithfully to discharge
tn ir trusts, and with professions of love and
attachment to our Government yet warm
u ION their lips, deliberately conspirc to over
throw and destroy that Government which
they were so strongly bound to protect and
defend. repeat it, our honest and loyal
hearted people could not believe these things
10 be true they were to them too monstrous-
iy infamous for their belief. They had not
yet learned the bitter lesson that honesty.
truth, good faith and loyalty. were but mere
words used by these men as cover under
which to deal, as they hoped, a fatal stab to
that Government from which they had de-
rived all they ever had Of honor or import
ance. Had this not been so (and although
its truth has pro ,uced such terrible results, I
thank Con our people could not then believe
it possible am well convinced we would
to-day have no Rebellion. Had the occupant
of the Presidential chair for the year preced-
ing the 4th day Of Marth, 1861, and his ad-
visers, been true men, and had they done
their duty as such, and stricken Rebellion
one honest, downright blow when first it
reared its hateful head, we would have to day
o peaceful and united Nation. But this un-
fortunately was not SO. Treason and imbe.
cility sat in our high places, and surrendered
one after another the outposts Of the citadel
of our strength into the hands of Rebels, un-
til emboldened by success, they believed the
citadel itselfto be within their grasp. In this
way the Rebellion was encouraged and
strengthened, and thousands of men were IN
duced to array themselves upon its side from
the conviction that the government was pow
erlcss to protect its friends or punish its en-.
emies.
At last, but too late. came q change Of Ad'
ministration Our Government asserted its
rights, and gave evidences ofits will and pow
or to maintain them, and then came the civil
war that is now upon us.
need not undertake to point out to you