Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-09-12

Thereby the people mould and direct the op-
erations of the Government, and settle all
questions affecting the public welfare. The
right 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-
scented Tor solution. There never has been,
perhaps there will never again be, time
when questions SO important, interests so
vital, as those now demanding action at the
hands of our people, were or will DC submit
ted 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 field. 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 princi-
pies for the preservation Of which our people
are so freely Offering treasure and life, are not
jeopardizcd or lost in the Halls of Legislation,
State or National. A very large number Of
the electors 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, as those
who remain at home. Under existing laws
these citizens cannot vote, and unless these
laws can be changed, it may be that the cause
u,
may be lost at home through supineness or
treachery.
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 the United
States and that provision be made for rcceiv-
ing and canvassng their votes.
There are in this State some religious bod
les who entertain peculiar views upon the
subject OF bearing arms, and whose religious
opinions conscientiously entertained, preclude
their so doing. Their members arc general
ly among our most quiet, orderly, industri-
Gus and peaceful citizens, and their sympa-
thies are wholly with the Government in this
struggle now going on for its preservation,
yet they cannot conscientiously bear arms in
its support. 1t appears to me it would be I'M
just and wholly useless to force such men in
to the army as soldiers, and yet it would not
be just TO the Government or to other citizens
that they should be wholly relieved from the
burdens that others have to bear l suggest,
therefore, that these persons who cannot con-
scientiously render military duty, be exempt
ed therefrom in case of draft, upon the pay
ment of fixed sum of money to be paid to
the State.
Startling rumors have recently reached me
of danger to our people on the Northwestern
Frontier, from hostile Indians. | immedl-
ately dispatched Schuyler r. Ingham, Esq,
Of Dcs Moines City, to the scene of danger,
with arms and ammunition, and full author
ity to act as circumstances might require.
l have not yet had a report from him, but
Will Immediately upon receipt of such report,
communicate with you by special message,
should the emergency require your attention.
The condition of the country is such as
justly to cause anxiety and distrust, but not
dependency to the patriot 1t is true the
rebellion against the Government has assum-
ed a magnitude and shown a strength we did
not anticipate, but it is also true the Govern
ment has exhibited degree of power for its
suppression that the most sanguins did not
dream Of Our rulers and our people have
at last realized the extent of the task before
them, and have girded themselves to the
work like men. We have all, rulers and
people, at last learned on page blotted with
tears and blood, that in this war, cancellation
and kindness are more than useless and that
the enemy, whose whole social fabric is bas-
ed upon force, respects only force, and can be
subdued by force alone. We are learning,
it we have not yet learned, that it is wise to
strike the enemy where he is weakest, and to
strike him there continually, and with all our
power, that God s blessing upon our cause
will most surely bring its triumph, and that
we cannot with confidence claim that blessing
until our cause being made in all things like
Him, pure and holy, fully deserves it. If we
have fully learned these lessons and shall
fairly act upon them, we will soon triumph.
If we have not learned them, we will yet do
so, and we will then triumph.
SAMUEL J. HARDWOOD.