New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1862-09-19
he subject to your careful consideration.

u5so VI w CilUS -OIC tHu lOIlN- HpN
repaired to preform such labor Yet our
highways must be kept in repair, and we can
only supply the deficiency of labor created
by enlistments by requiring labor from those
gov xcmpt. therefore recommend that
the law be so amended that all able bodied
male residents of the State between the ages
Of eighteen and sixty be made liable to per-
form labor on our highways.
tits Of the highest Importance that the nu-
moricel strength of the regiments from this
State be maintained in the field. Many Of
our old regiments have been much reduced in
numbers, and thus the expense Of maintain
ing them in proportion to their number, is
much Increased, while their efficiency smuch
diminished. Our new regiments will go out
| full, and the old ones will soon be filed, but
in short time their numbers will be again
reduced To remedy this evil recommend
that, with the approval Of the proper Federal
authorities, camp Of instructions be estab
lishcd at some suitable 'peint in this State,
sufficient to accommodate one thousand men
that the several counties be required to
furnish their equitable proportion of that mum
Der Of men to place in camp under instruction
that when men men are needed to fill the
ranks of any of our regiments requisltiOns be
made for the proper number-which shall
be filed as nearly as may be from the men in
camp, from the counties in which the compa-
nies composing the regiments were organized
and their places in camp be supplied by new
men from the same counties This is entirely
Just to all counties-will send the men into
the companies composed of thefr neighbors
and friends, and will keep ap our regiments
to their effective strength.
On the l7th day of August last issued
proclamation urging upon our people the
strong necessity Of filling up the ranks of our
old ogiments and as inducement to enllst-
noats for that purpose declared NY intention
| ssf~ ~naaaianending to you tha- payment OF
bounties By the State, to al that should en-
list for the old regiments, between the date
Of proclamation and the first day of the pres
ent month, have uot yet learned the num-
Der of men who have thus enlisted between
the dates named but recommend to you
that an appropriation be made for the pur
pose ofpaying to each of them such bounty
as you may deem advisable.
The theory ofour governments is that the
people rule. This theory can be carried into
practical effect only through the ballot box.
Thereby the people mould and direct the
operations Of the Government, and settle all
questions affecting the public welfare. The
rights Of suffrage is therefore highly priced
by all good citizens, and should be exercised
by them at all times, and especially at times
when questions Of grave Importance are pre-
sented for solution There never has been,
perhaps there will never again be n time
when questions so important, interests so vital,
as those now demanding action at the hands
of our people, were, or will be submitted to
them.
The very life of the nation is at stake and
may be as fatally lost at the ballot box as on
the battle -f2ld. Under such circumstances
it is not only the right but the duty of all
good citizens to exercise the right of suffrage,
and to see to it that the principles for the
preservation of which our people are so freely
offering treasures and life, are not leopard
lied or lost in the halls of legislation State or
national. A very large number Of the cleo
tors Of the State are in the army. We say but
little when we say that these men are as good
citizens, as intelligent as patriotic, as devoted
| to their country, Us those who remain at
home. Under existing laws these citizens
can not vote, and unless these laws can be
changed, it may be that the cause they arc
perling life in the field to maintain may be
lost at home through supincness or trcache-
ry.
| therefore recommend that the laws be so
modified that all members of Iowa regiments
who would be entitled to vote if at home ON
the day of election, be allowed to vote where
ever they may be stationed in tho United
States and that provision be made for rcceiy-
ing and canvassing their vote.
There are in this State some religious
bodies who entertain peculiar views upon the
subject OF bearing arms, and whose religious
opiaions conscientiously entertained preclude
their so doing. Their members are general
ly among or most quiet, orderly, industrious
and peaceful citizens, and their sympathies
are wholly with the Government in this strug
gle now going On for its preservation, yet
they cannot conscientiously bear arms in its
support 1t appears to me it would be un-
just and wholly useless to force snah men in
to the army as soldiers, and yet it would not
be Just to the government or to other citizens
that they should bo wholly relieved from the
burdens that others have to bear. | suggest,