New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1863-05-22
HYPOC RiSY.

! HYPOCRISY.
It would seem to he the earnest de-
sire Of Gov. Kirkwooh and his political
admirers that the soldiers Of Iowa, in
whatever place duty may require them
to be, should should exercise as though
at home the right of suffrage at least
these are his professions. Now what
show of sincerity can he give US FIR this
pretended desire. He would make the
soldiers believe, though distant from
their homes, that they are deeply in
terested in who shall fiji the offices of
Treasurer and Recorder and Of Sheriff
in the various counties of the State
To ai| this we would not for one mo-
ment object, could they be free from
the dictation of those who would use
them to perpetuate their own tenure Of
Office, whether or not in accordance
with the wishes and feelings of those
whose votes they seek, and lift could be
done IN accordance with the provisions
of the constitution.
But let US loci. at the matter little
and see with what show Of candor this
claim to consult their wishes is put
forth. That the soldiers are interested
in who should be the commissioned Of
6cers in their Regiments none will de-
ny. 1t is equally true that the State
constitution provides that "all commits.
stoned officers Of the militia (staff Of
isers exceptedJ shall be elected by the
persons liable to perform military duty,
and shall be commissioned bv the Gov
ernor." 1t is also an undeniable fact
that with the exception Of few of the
first regiments, the Governor has
1surped from the soldiers their rights
in this respect, and exercised them
himself. But the reason fer this I'm
warranted usurpation Of power denied
HIM Try the constitution is obvious. In
this manner he has been enabled to
serve his relatives and his pers nal and
political friends Ivy giving them ap-
pc:ntments in the army, to which the
votes Of the soldiers would never have
elected one of them. And now after
having done this he would not only
make the soldiers nd lE electing men
in the varions counties for the Offices
Of County Judge, Sheriff, Treasurer and
Recorder, politically concurring with
him but he would even have then,
elect Legislature that would make
him United States Senator, after he
has wantonly usurped and exercised
privileges sacredly guaranteed to them
by constitutional compact.
But to US it seems that if the soldiers
should tell by ballot who they would
have Ell these several cio;l Offices, they
are certainly competent to express a
preference for and elect their oun cnn,
naissioned officers. We have but little
faith in the sincerity or honesty of a
man who usurps from the soldiers the
exercise of constitutional rights where
they are vitality interested, though he
afterwards comes in and proposes to
confer upon them the exercise of doubt
full rights, in the exercise Of which they
can in no manner be directly benefited
The hypocrisy is too transparent. 1t
first robs the soldier Of all his rights
in the selection Of his own regimental
officers plainly given him by the cor
stitution, and then by falshood and de
ccption, and the fear Of the displeasure
Of regimenssl officers that owe thei,
position entirely to the magnanimity Of
this same Kirkwooa, would force then
to support the minions Of republicans
at the polls, thus doing violence anG
perhaps injustice to their wishes ir
in each instance.
! We have been again honored and en-