The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-25
PES msanes Co.ve.e,...

II
"Wednesday, the 18th inst, having 70
turned, would beg leave to present to h,
public statement Of the result Of thei
ielibsration. We do this il order |.
satisfy the people that the motives sne
purposes which acctnatsd NJ we're no,
sueh - vsrs asesibed TO those Who we're
impressed With it, necessity and whe
urged the call.
There vas large snd . very rsspeeta.
be eenvsstioo, composed Of ~ iatslaEsu,
and patriotic ladies and gentlemen - /.
within the State, the former largely pre-.
dominating, and among the latter, some
Of it, most distinguished citisens.
A large majority we're convinced Of II.
necessity Of . reforn-that The TWO organ.
isations which had previously existed,
had not altogether faI6lled the expec.a-
tions Of the people. and consequently
they had cossed, 10 . measure, to feel the
interest they Otherwise would-simply
because they we're not informed Of the
extent or the efficiency Of the schemes
for the amelioration Of the condition OF
the suffering soldiery in the Geld. These
facts heretofore withheld, they had an
undoubted right to know, and they were
determined 70 know. They had costribu-
ted of their means, and they felt tha.
common justice demands that they
should be duly informed Of their appIica-
tion to the purposes andobjsct. for which
they we're donated.
The facts developed during the deiibe-
ration Of the convention, showed very
eonclusively that there was . crying ne
cessity for reform. for it appeared from
reports made, that very large amount
Of contributions had been made, and there
was not voucher presented To account
for the larger share of this vast sun.
which amounted in the aggre gate to
sum over one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars since this war began, al OF which
was from the citizens Of this State, thro,
the several Societies. Here, then, was
one substantial reascs for some new system
which would provide for from dooa-
tlons that the people would be Inspired with
confidence in the prompt and proper sp-
plscation Of their bestow ments, and press
forward with renewed Efforts. /, was
maintained that il was impossible 10 OBJ
tain and preserve vouchers. because Of
the complication and maltip!iei Of the
duties. This Was another argument in
favor of reform, so that the labor and
responsibilities would be divided by put
ting the duties in the hands cf larger
number Of competent and responsible
persons, aud not con6ning the duties -
heretofore to few. Testimony was pre-
sented to that body proving that il was
not only not impossible to keep vouchers,
but that in much larger Organizations il
had been, and is now being done By
Them.
Besides this. it was maintained that
agents should give bonds for the faithful
Performance of these irusts--evcn more
sacred snd therefore requiring more
guards than is execissd in less responsible
trusts in civil life. Few agents i offices
Of the State have charge Of . larger
swount Of property and means, and -,
oil these sslasied sgepts are required to
give the most ample securities, and there
fore it was thought best to place all upon
the same footing.
The convention adopted constitution
which provided for President, six Vice
Presidents. one from each Congressional
District, Treasurer, Recording Sec,e-
tary. Corresponding Secretary. and sir
persons to compose Board Of Consroi-
one from each Congressional District.
and not less than two agents, the last
named and the Treasurer TO give ample
security.
This, then, is an organization Of "peo-
ple," and no one will doubt its success.
unless they entertain doubt of their Wis.
aom, intelligence and integrity. None
others will dispute their right to convene.
deliberate apoo, and adopt any measures
which looks to tine public good and the
best interests of our brave aud suffering
soldiery in the field.
Con-. OF DELEGATES.
H In view Of the Report Of the pro-
seedlings Of tho Conventioa At Des Moines,