, 1863-09-01
SPEECH OF GOV. KIRK
WOOD.
Why Military Companies belp.
Organized In iowa, So.

/ At the late Union meeting,c Gov. Kirkwoot
delivered the following brief but sugrestiy,
speech:
t Fellow Citizens Of Dubuqc:
MY name Is not upon the programme Is ont
OF these announced to spcaS tlera on this oc
casien but being here, and beinr ca1lt d unon
VIII tay lev words-becauEe have few
Ttn Hofds to say that I want TO say right here ln
Perhaps yon know that have been fayor:
ing the organization Of volunteer companies.
| az aiming them, In various places through.
| ont the State. / find that there hare been
men base enough to say that these companies
Were being armed for the purpose of diving
democrats l3 from the polls on election day. /
also ind that there are men who arc fools
enough to believe it. And I want to tell Won
Thy hare done this.
bare the opportunity Of knowing that or
gantzatlons are being fofmed In various parts
OF the state for the purpose Of. opposing the
consc1lptfon act My observation OF the
course Of Nj. Buchanan showed to me that It
is Te1y unwise to wait till dapger is upon us
before making preparations to meet It. And
my object In forming and armfng these COM
Panies Is to show to those who propose to op-
pcse this law, that 1t will be dangerous 10
them to attempt any such thing.
The other day man In KeoEuk county rot
into row, md, very unfortunately for him
eea. got killed His friends in that YicinItv
chose to believe that the perpetrators wouId
net be called to M account and punished bY
the proper authorities, and accordingly at
tempted TO take the matter in their own
hands: The results have been such as to
show these men that their services in the case
were not needed.
fou remember draft was commenced tho
o. otnef a. aag IN New York, and mob was raised
70 stop IT; and thredts have been made that
the came thing would be done here In Iowa
would be done hero in Dubuque. Aud
wanted to talk here In DubuQue inst lonp
enough to tell you that 1t will be d very had
th1rg for you t. start mob here in opposi-
ucn to the draft: It is for your own interest
TINT no mob is started here; but If you do
not sec to 1t that no mob is started. / feli Won
that viii see to It that any mob which is
started shall be put down for you! You see
that am not only plAin- looking man. hut
apIain'fpeaking man; and intend to speak
= When this war began, Iowa lad no history.
People in the East knew there was such a
sta'e west of the Mississippi, but they eup.
posed It WIS inhabited by q few Bhfte ner-
sens, a good many Indians, and that the |
oalance OF the population was composed Of |
wolves. But Iowa's soldiers have been max |
Ing patriotic name for her. On every battle |
field since the commencement Of the var in |
the West, they have fought, and fought with |
bravery not surpassed By the troops Of auy |
other State In tle Union. Iona has name /
stosr. And 1t r Ill be- shame -aburning shame.
men and women of 1uwa-f the soldiers who
aye IN front Of the enemy. cannot be assured |
tiiat their ~iycs, ard children, aud loved ones
Of home, carrot be protected from traitors in
the rear. Why, down In keokuk county,
TIC county records were packed up, and
aboat to be carried to some more safs place
Of oenotit; and the wives and flmilies OF |
absent soldiers trembled, and fled in fear
from their homes What will the soldiers
think-what did the soldiers from Kcokuk
county thiAk, when they learned that their
homes had been in Jeopardy, and that their
mothers, and wives, and daughters, aud sis-
ters, were made to trenble for their lives. un-
protected. because they had given up those
no opce cared for them to the service of
tleir country. Such burning shame shall
not diegrace our State. and g1ieye the hearts
Of our noble soldiers, again, without punish
ment, dire, swift aud sure, reaches the1.raitor
that engages In 1t The homes, and families,
ami property, Of those who hare gone to fight
their couDtry's battles, must be protected-t
and may my God forget me In my hour Of
soIest need, # do not see to it that they are
z3rotttffd!
But the affair in. Keokuk county was soon
ended, aud those who engaged in 1t will
think twice. an Of the opinion, before they
enlist In such an enterprise again. Tt com.
on Monday. received word of the
Position Of affairs On Tuesday. and hy
Wednesday night had five companies and
DEG piece OF artillery on tho ground and By
lhnFsday night Ive more companies and au-
blank cartridge theret And I tell you that II
It becomes necessary for me to come to Du.
buque on the same errand, / shall not bring
4 blank cartridge heret .