The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-22

l II.
| Treasurer and Recorder. Joseph Hayne.
C0uutu Jasdoe-Thomas Bingham.
Sheriff Derby.
Coroner.-E. Washburn.
Se1erintendeat of Schools.-Rev. j. NJ.
NcElroy. Yours, >. 3. M.
Letter faom Governor Kirkwood
to Judge Clagett.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Iowa.
Iowa CITY, June 23d, 1868.
fTHos. w. CLAGETT, ESQ.,, KEoKUK, Iowa:
Sir:-On my return from Vicksburg,
found your letter of the LIST inst. containing
copy Of your letter of the 10th May which
did not reach me. l have read the copy of
your letter of the 10th May with care and
proceed to reply. I had as YOU suppose
heard Of the destruction of your press, of
| the occurrences that took place on the night
after the receipt of the news of the fall of
Richmond and of the taking of Henry Clay
Dean from your house some time after
| ward, but you letter contained many de-
tails had not heard. very much regret
occurrences of this kind. They afford evil
regretted. And yet in times such as these
under the circumstances by which you in
Keokuk are surrounded, it is not surpris-
ing that such things occur. I haye just re-
turned, as have said, from visit to our
troops at Vicksburg, and ! found among
them deep seated conviction that this
wicked war is prolonged and themselves
exposed to the tolls and dangers of SOL
diers life, mainly because OF the hope en-
tertained by the rebels of divisions among
ourselves, and this hope they believe is
founded upon the course of a portion of our
own people. Is it strange that men endur-
ing what our soldiers are enduring, and
thus believing, should give such expression
Of their feelings, towards the men In the
North they believe are aiding the enemy
as are in conflict with that peace and good
order we all desire? But I am wandering
from your letter. You appeal to me for
protection and redress. Is not your appeal
directed to the wrong authority? The acts
complained of are completed and finished
and were completed and finished, before l
had any knowledge of them. The remedy
is not with me, but with the courts, and
need not tell you, once Judge, that have
no control over the courts, to compel to act
or not to act. There has been a riot in Keo-
kuk. Well, the laws provide how rioters
shall be punished, and do not give to me
but to the courts the power to punish
These men although o. s. soldiers, are as
understand amenable to the courts for vio-
lations Of the civil law, the same as civil-
ans. Icannot punish a soldier Of the Unit
ed States, either for a violation OF the artl-
cles of war or Of the laws of the State
This authority is elsewhere, but not with
me, and it seems to me you shouid make
your complaint to the authority that has
power to punish, and not to me, who have
no such power. The State of Iowa is now
a military district, under command of Gen.
Roberts, whose headquarters are at Daven-
port. A complaint made to him of an Of
fence punishable by military law, would
doubtless receive proper attention, and
need not say to you that the courts are as
open to you as to any other citizen for the
redress of offences against the civil law
My Aid, in Keekuk, Lieut. Col. Vial, is the
only one of the persons complained Of over
whom have any authority. have sent
to him copy ofso much Of your letter as
relates to him, asking him to explain his
conduct. If from the Information receive
rom him and from your statements, and
any other information you may send me
on the subject, l shall be satisfied he has
acted improperly, shall certainly censure
or remove him as shall seem to me just.
Very Respectfully,
(Signed.) SAMUEL j. KIRKWOOD.