The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-09-17
Fro n the State Reg lister.
Mr. Coles LettaP.

Mr.. Coles Lettnr.
Below will be fou nd an interesting letter
from G. G Cole, ESQ. Of this city. on the
subject OF National Politics Until the com
mence,ncnt Of the War, he was an homo Ted
member Of the Dem ,cratic Party. He was
j candidate f,r Judg. of the Supreme
G ,urt in 1859. aud its candidate for Con
lress in this District in 1860. Like Mr.
Rippey, however, to whom the letter is ad.
dressed. he refuses tn be- led into the posi-
lio, Of semi tre eason which the Party now
occupies. and will stand calamity by the
Union Party and the Union nominees il,
this State:
Dss Moines, Iowa. Sept 5, 1863
II. G. RlppEr, ESQ. Dear Sir -
fouis OF the 2t inst. is received, in which
yeu make the inquiry As TO the duty Of 10y.
al Democrats in tho pending election for
Governor. &C.. IN thi. State. understand
the term loyal Democrats" to include oil
those who believed and acted with the Der
ocra ic Party up tot breaking out of the
Rebellion by the attack npon Sumter, and
who, upon the happening Of that event. still
adhered TO the principles Of tie party, a.
aso~ed and vindicatsd by Madison, Monroe,
jackson. Polk and Douglas; aud ia obedi-
ence IL those principles give = hearty and
cordial support to erery measure adopted by
the Government to suppress the rebellion.
without regard TO the fact whether those
measures are snch IS they would have ad
opted, IL they hld 'oen entrusted with the
Government themselves. Or, in other
words, all thoss Democratic who are not on
ly true TO the principles of the party, but
also fsilhful to the Scriptural injunction,
Let ,vcry soul be subject unto the higher
powers, for there 10 no power but of God,
aad who adhere 10 the same sentiment more
fascinatingly paraphrased, and so often and
loudly proclaimed by Democrats during the
war with Mexico in l846-6-"My country
may she ever be right; but, right or wrong
my country"
In order to correctly answer your inquiry
thero is but one fact to determine, and tha
is. what is our duty to our coantry!
There IS no party question involved, and
there can Be none it is purely question oi
duty to our country, not to party; and j
must therefore be entirely immater al As To
what haze been the former paItixsn associa
tons Of those who are now recognizsdly and
unreservedly for the country.
There arc but two candidates 70; Govern
or. and between these We must choose
Colonel Win. M. Stone, who was nomina.
ted OH the 18th Of June by "Union Con
ven,ion," so called. and Brig. General Jamei
N. Tuttle, who las become the candidate ol
the Democratic Convention, so-called, held
on the 9Th Of July. 1t has been my good
fortune to enjoy personal acquaintance
with both candidates for several years. Col.
Stone has not acted with the De mocratic
party since my acquaintance with HIM !;
while Gen. Tu,tle has uniformly acted with
thar party. Both volunteered early in the
war, one entering the Second. aud the other
the Third Regiment Of iowa Volunteers, and
both have alike faithfully served their coun-
try, and ccnfessedly, have qualifications
sufficient for the discharge the duties oi
the Office Col. Stone is the candidate Of q
party which adopted in Convention plat
form Of principles pledginga cordial and un
conditional support Of tho Government in
every effort for the suppression Of the Re-
bellion. Every delegate to the Convention.
who spoke 1t al, uttered sentiments consis-
tent with the platform, and fully avowed .
determination to stand by the Admnistra-
tion in its vigorous prosecution Of the War; ;
and Col Stone himself in his acceptance,
stands pledged to every principle and senti.
msnt thus adopted and avowce. Gen. Tut.
tie is tho candidate ofa party which adopt
cd in Convention platform Of principles,
avowing opposition to the means adopted
by the Governm int to suppress the Rebel
lion. and every resolution th,t speaks Of
any such measure, declares an unqualified
opposition to 1t, and there Is no word Of
eomnendation or approval Of any measure.
Every delegate to the Convention, who
spoke at al, uttered sentiments Of hostility
TO the Govsrnpsnt, and Of unqualified op-
- A.