Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-07-24
> .sTerrib,y in Earue.t. ,,

=" 'sTerribiy I'm Earnest.''
So said the immaculate Thayer after thu
Copperhead nominations at Des Moines, and
thereupon insists that the Supreme Court Of
Iowa declare the law permitting soldier,
in the field to vote, null and void
Alarmed at the rebuke in prospect for the bo.
gus Democracy, having deliberately and ma
liciously turned the cold shoulder to one oi
the bravest Democrats that has gone forth in
defense of the Constitution and the Union
they ask the Courts to intervene and save
their wavering columns from utter anxihila-
ton. Having in convention kicked the heroic
Tuttle (whom every Iowa soldier knows but
to love) out of their State Convention because
che has imbued his hands in the blood of hi
Southern brethren" they don't care about
the comrades Of Tuttle having any voice in
the election. Thayer, the immaculate, incor-
ruptible, who, from an unpleasant experience
last October, knows something of soldiers
opinions of Northern tories attired as Demo
Gratis, says" there are SO many admirable
reasons for this conclusion-[t THAT the soldiers
vote is unconstitutional that the day is not
far distant when people win be unwilling to
believe that the project was ever seriously
contemplated" Soldiers in the army of the
Union-who have sacrificed all the comforts
and endearments of home for the discomforts
and dangers of the camp and battlefield
who, though absent from your home for a
little season, that you might drive back an
invading foe and upon his own soil restore
that flag your enemies have so long insulted,
but who yet retain your just claim to all the
rights and privileges Of an American citizen
what think you, blood od-stained, battle SCARED
heroes, of $50 MANY ADMIRABLE REASONS" to
deprive you of voice IN selecting your rulers
at home-those who shall so govern the af-
fairs Of State and County as to result in
the Federal arm and maintain
ing Federal authority, in protecting your
properly and the lives and persons Of those
you have left behind you? So long as the
Couits have not set aside your right to the
elective franchise, what admirable reasons"
can there be for doing so, unless it is that by
VOTING as well as fighting to sustain the gov
you have rendered yourselves oh.
noxious to flock of political buzzards styl-
ing themselves Democrats? That's what's
the matter, boys-nothing else. Vote the
Democratic ticket this fall, and there isn't a
Copperhead in the State that won't insist that
you have constitutional right to do so.-
When the Courier repeats its silly twaddle
about the soldiers voting for Their command
srs, its editor shows himself consummate
knave or Ounce.
We have explained to our readers so often,
why officers of brigades and regiments are
appointed rather than elected, and the Courier
knows so well, It is unnecessary to repeat it
nere-but we will. The Cons tuition of Iowa
guarantees the ght of persons in the militia
service to elect their own commanders. But
the troops now in service are not militia men
not called out by the Governor to repel in.
Tasion, &C., but are called out under and by
virtue of a national law. They are not State,
but United States volunteers; they are not in
The State, but in the United States SERVICE
The regulations by which they are governed
are prescribed by the u tied States-their
clothing and arms prescribed and furnished
by the General Government 1t is true, the
Governor appoints regimental officers, but he
does so under the express authority and d.
rection of the President, through the War
Department. There are many good reasons
for this course-the chief one being that to
The President belongs the power of appoint
ing officers to national troops, but in selecting
officers for fifty regiments in Iowa, total
stranger to her population, and ignorant of
The qualifications Of men, he Deputies anoth-
er-the Governor-to appoint and commits
sion for him. ..rstr
This is the long and short of the matter,
md the Copperhead fraternity will be COM
PEELED to find more admirable reasons" than
they have yet given to cheat the brave defend
Frs cf our country out of participation in
the elective franchise. ...
Soldiers, you contributed very much to de-
eat Thayer, Duncombe & Co. last fall. Is it
% be wondered at, that they think your vote
..
Friends of soldiers, what think you Of that
party whose patriotic love of country and
devotion to her defenders labors
BY night and by day, pleading and imploring
The Courts to kick those gallant men away
rom the ballot-box? Oh, how contemptibly
mean a Copperhead may make himself, and
,ot be very "terribly in earnest about it,
either! .a
Strength of the Rebel Armies.
On the lst of May, 1862, the rebels had in
The field an army of about SOC, 900 men fit for
duty. This number, acting on the defensive,
IS equivalent to 100000 on the offensive
Since that time they have added nothing to
heir strength, and one army of 10000 men,
under Pemberton, has been compile ely de
stroyed or captured; and another of 10000
at Port Hudson, while Johnston
With 10000 and Price with 10000, are in
such position as to render them harmless.
Lee entered Pennsylvania with 5000 men,
md got away with only ahont &c. 600 Bragg