Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-15

passes in front Of Chattanooga, and the nox
glorious field Of Chickamauga, the flag of Iowa
has been borne by brave hands to triumph.
ant victory. Where al have done 50 well, to
part!cularize would be invidious; and could
not name all who are entitled to honorable
mention for noble and valorous deeds without
calling the entire muster rolls of regiments
battallons and batteries. Impartial history
will attest the significant fact that no great
battle has yet been lost, in which Iowa troops
were engaged; and none gained, on western
fields, in which they have not borne con
spicuous part. Among the first in the field,
and ever to the front, their numberless graves
are scattered from the plains of Texas to the
banks of the Cumberland, and from the
shores Of Lake Michigan to the waters of the
Gulf-sad, yet truthful witnesses of how
brsvely they fought and nobly died.
Fathers aud sons, husbands, brothers and
friends, slaep in those narrow tenements. far
from their beloved Iowa but enshrined ia
the hearts of q grateful people, their memo.
ries, like the unfading laurel, will survive the
dteary winters of coming time.
Contemplating the condition aud affairs Of
our own State, let US not be unmindful tina,
our common country is still involved in cruel
and relentless war. The god of ambition is
yet unappeased, and the demon of civil strife
is making sad havoc in the land. The grea,
struggle for the integrity of the Union and
the preservation Of the National Government
is yet to be decided. After trial of nearly
eighty years, embracing the most comprehen
sive experience, and affording ample proofs Of
its power, utility and benefcence, the exis
tance ofthis unrivaled Government is committed
to bloody conflict between its own citizens
The constitutional right of o State, or any
number OF States, to withdraw from the I'm
ion, Is no longer practical question for dis
cussion. Ii that right be conceded, the actor
Of the FEDERAL Government, in compelling
obedience to its laws, is indefensible, and thu
war, on our part, clearly wrong. The deter
mination OF that question was preliminary t.
war, and to any effort by the Government te
reduce the seeding States to submission.
In the absence of q constitutional right t
dismember the Union, by secession, the at
tempt was treason and instruction, which
the President Of the United States, under tn,
solemn obligations of his oath, was as mucf
bound to suppress as he would have been t.
repel an invasion Of our soil by a foreign enc
my. Existing laws, adopted in the early
years Of The Republic, clothed him with ampl,
authority over the subject, and made his duty
imperative. promptly meeting the aggres
sions of treason, and placing the Government
in state of defence against this long project
ed, and wicked rebellion, he fulfilled the JUS
demands of the Nation, and entitled himself t
the lasting gratitude of mankind.
For nearly thee years, this deplorable war
inaugurated by the mad ambition, and trea-
son, of Southern men, has progressed with
its varied results. Though disaster hav,
sometimes overtaken our advancing columns
the triumphs which have crowned their hero,,
efforts, in the glorious cause of the country
have far outwelghed all the reverses they hav,
sustained. We have penetrated the insurgen
country from almost every point, by land ant
sea, and rescued from their grasp the mos
productive and populous State of the South
To-day the ancient Flag Of the Union float.
triumphantay over the soil every rebel State
and waves from the battered walls of Sumter
back as far as the serpent of rebellion can b,
traced. a.
The rebel armies, defeated and demoralizat
are being rapidly driven to common centre
their currency worthless, and their credit
gone their pretended jurisdiction reduced t.
nearly one-third of its original limits, and
surplus population crowded within them t.
subSist upon their meagre harvests; impend
ing death, or exile, 10 the leaders, ruined for
tunes and desolated homes to the unwilling
massss-this is the end of treason, and til,
doom of traitors F.! ... .,-....-.
Supported and elected by the loyal ane
patriotic people of Iowa, in contest present
ing the grave questions which here, as else
where through the loyal States, alone pervad
ed the public mind and determined the resul
of the recent elections, but discharge plail
duty to them, when l express the conviction.
of my own mind, upon the portentous issue.
yet to be decided by the valor of our arms
While entertaining profound respect for thu
opinions Of all loyal men, in whatever local
ity they may be found, I am aware of no rul,
requiring Difference to the opinions of thei
enemies, or Of any obligation am under tt
consult their views or wishes in the discharge
of my official duties -...r.
There is no longer any middle grourt
where loyal men car stand, and find refug,
from the stern and positive obligations of thu
hour. The times are frausht with mighty
events, Involving the welfare of the 2resen
and future generations, and impose the mos
solemn duties upon every patriot in the land
Ii is not the mere domination Of poltica
party, nor territory, nor empire, but the eter
nal principles Of natural justice, born of Coo
and, under Him, established on this Continent
by our fathers, which are staked upon the
issue of the struggle. .
1t needs no words Of mine to show that thu
vigorous and successful prosecution of this
war is life to the Republic, while to hesitate
for single hour upon any pretext whatever
or stop short of the unconditional recognition
Of Federal authority by all the revoited States
would be but hollow truce, and death
to our unity and Nationality.
Great and holy interests are involved in the
contest. There is no longer any hope of thei1
preservation by the ordinary modes of adjust
ment. They are therefore, to be saved OF
lost, by the srbitrament of battle. In the
terrible ordeal through which we are passing
many old conditions are likely to be rejected
and some things which have been may moi
be again; but the patriotic heart may find
reason for its faith, that all such as are good
and substantial will be retained and conse.
OAdsCN ia ttiS lOW Auo VI tilc udLIOU. Leu us
hope that enemies in the disguise of friends
will never again occupy the high places Of
power; that the peoples Tres ury will not
again be robbed by official hands, their arms,
their arsenals and Notifications turned against
their own Government; that the blightine
curse of Human Slavery will no longer re-
ceive protection by the statutes of the land
nor exist in any form under the National
Flag; and that traitors may never again sit
in the Council Chambers of the Nation, For
plot their treason beneath the dome of its
Capitol. Let us pray to a righteous God that
sucl scenes may never stain the coming an
nails of the Republic, and if need be, that the
havoc of bloody, desolating war, may abate
not until the day of regeneration shall come.
The events of the hour, grand and irresist-
able in their course, are rapidly fastening to
their legitimate results. He who disposes
while man strnopes and nronoseS has nro