, 1863-08-30
SPEECH OF GOV. KIRK
WOOD.
Why Military Companies are beIn.
Organized in Iowa.

At the late Union meeting, Coz. Ksrkwood
delivered the following brief but suggestive
epysch
Tc How Citizens OF Dubuqe:7
by name is not npon the programme as one
of shose announced to speak hero on this &C.
casicn but being here, aud being called npop,
~ III eay few Words-becAuSe have q teW
words to say that wasn't to say right here in
Dubuque. -
Perhaps you know that have been hvor-
Ing the Organization Of volunteer companies,
III d arlDfrg them, in various places through.
out tho State I find that there have been
men base enough to say that these companies
D.moczats from, the polls on election day. i
alt find TINT there are men who are fools
enough to believe 1t. AndI want to tell you
Why hare done this. - = :>.-: =;
have the opportunity OF knowing that or
ga,i-ations are being formed in various parts
Of the State f;r the purpose OF opposing the
ccasc1iption act. My observation OF the
course Of MIR; Buchanan showed to me- thnt It
is very unwise TO- wait TIL danger Is upon US
before making preparations to meet 1t Aud
ny object in forming aud arming these com
! panies ia to show to those who propose to op-
pt:e this law, that 1t will be dangerous 10
them 10 attempt any such thing.
The other day man In Keokuk county got
mi - roT, , nnd' yesy unfortunately for bin
Ct osa to believe that the perpetrators would
M = be called to- IN account and punished By
tbe proper authorities, and accordingly at
tempted to take the matter In, their own
batlds. The results have been such as to
th1w these men that their services In the case
were not needed.
You remember draft was commenced the
otler day In New York, and mob was raised
to stop 1t; and threats have been made that
the same thing would be done here in Iowa
would be done here In Dubuque. And I
eLungh to tell Jou that It will be o very bad
| thing for you to start a mob hero In oppost-
| tit to the draft. It Is for your own interest
tbst no mob is started here; but Il you do
| that will eee to 1t that any mob which Is
sts1ted shall be put down for JOE! You see
| that am not only 2lain.looking man, but
aplatn- speaking man and I intead to speak
WLsn this war began, Iowa bad no history.
| 81 We vest Of the Mississippi, but they sup
pr sad It was Inhabited By c few white per
81 De, q good r1any Indians, and that the
| b:lsnce Of the population WAS composed Of
wolves. But IoWa's soldiers have been max
Ing patriotic name for her. On every battle
TIE West, they have fought, and fsnght with
bravery not surpassed BY the troops Of any
OF aer State iu the Union lora Aas a name
notc. And 1t will be O shame burning shame,
m.n and women Of Iowa-if the soldiers who
are In front Of the enemy. cannot be assured
that their wives, and children, aud loved ones
at home, cannot be protected from traitors In
4 tic rear. Why, down In keoknk county,
the county records were packed up, and
| about to be carried to some more safB place
Of deposit; and. the wives and families OF
from their homes. What will the aoldiara
tLinl-what did the soldiers from KeokuS
ct'unty think, when they learned thai their
bomeB had been In jeopardy, and that thei1
mothers, md wives, md daughters, and sis,
Il ars, we're made to tremble for their lives, uu.
protected, because they had given up those
Nlo once cared for them to tho service o1
tueir country Such a burning shame shall
not Disgrace our Btnte, and pieye the heart:
j. Of cur noble soldiers, again, without punish
II ant, dire, swift ncd sure, reaches the traito,
J that engages in it!sS The homes, and families
) and property, Of thoss who have gone to figh
! | tleir country's bastles, must be protected
a,d mag NY God forget me III my hour q
/ shrsst need, If do not see to il that they Or
Hut the sfair In Keokuk county WAS 500,
ended, and those who engaged In 1t viii
link tnice, / am Of the opinion, before the,
; eulist In s1ch IN enterprise again. It com
n enccd on Monday. received word Of tn
posftion Of affairs on Tuesday, aud b,
, | Tednesday night had five companies AMI
: ore piece Of artillery on the ground; and b,
| Thursday night five more companies and an
. | o1her niece Of artillery; aud there wns not
| | hank cartridge therei And I tell you that
| It becomes necessary for me to come to Du
buoue on the same erra1d, shall not brln:
blank cartridge here!