The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-16


desire to invoke the earnest attention
Of the General Assembly, to the necessity
of providing additional means 10. support
ing the families of the deserving men who
arc absent, in the public service. Many OF
these men, in limited circumstances when
they volunteered, have no means OF sup
porting their families, except the scanty
wages received from the Government; OBJ
viously inadeGuate, under the present high
rates Of living, to properly maintain sol
ldier, and meet the legitimate wants Of his
family.
am aware that, at the special Session
Of the General Assembly, in 1861, an Act
was passed empowering the Boards Of Su-
lpervisorS 10 appropriate money out Of the
County Treasures, for the support Of SOL
diers' families within their respective
counties. But, regret necessity compels
me TO say, that this highly commendable
and patriotic enactment has signally failed
to accomplish the object intended. In
Counties where majority of the Supervi-
sors are friendly to the Union, and the
prosecution of the war, this relief has been
furnished to liberal extent; but in many
others, where that ma jori.y is with the OPP
posi:e party, they have persistcntly refused
to Appropriate single dollar TO this humane
and Christian purpose.
in considering the question We should
not eontlne ourselves IT, the theory adopted
by some, that This is a mere county matter
and therefore, not the appropriate subject
of State acton. From whatever county
the man enters the service. he becomes q
soldier Of the State, fighting for one county
rs we'll As another, and haas mn equal claim
upon the generosity and gratitude OF all
gu: people. IN the absence OF an adequate
law, providing reiiet tor these meritorious
| families out Of the public revenue. these
burthens, necessarily fail upon 4 iew hDer-
al and patriotic individuals IN each COM
inunity. This is clearly wrong, ana should
not he permitted. None should he allow
ed IT, escape tbs imperative public and
/, patriotic duty. Every individual IN The
State should he required 10 contribute for
this purpose his full share, in proportion
10 the amoant Of his taxable property.
therefore earnestly recommend that lib
eral appropriation be made for this pur-
, pose. out Of the state revenue; TO be dis
bursed through the agencies oil the State
Sanitary Commission, ii st!ch manner as
you may deem il wise 10 direct. This Com
mission, recently organized. and incorpo-
rated, has acquired a responsible character
and enjoys. as ii should, q full degree OF
public confidence.
BY such an Act, ,se shall seal III perpet-
ual memory, the gratitude SO eninently
due 10 exalted patriotism AND unrlyGied
yalor.
The soldiers Of Iowa need 10 eu.ogy now
to secure for their deeds the admiration OIL
history. Their un>eltish devotion TO the
cause Of the country, their patient endur-
ance OF the untold hardships incident to
) service IN il distant and strange climate
and the sturdy heroisnl they have i!lustrs.-
ted on so many fields, have given to on,
young State record OF valor as imperisha-
BILE as the bloody annals Of the war; and
aided i'll securing for our common country
| a fame co-cxtensive with the civilized
world. On every battle-ground from W H.
, son Creek, whore, amid the deadly hail o.
an unequal contest they rallied round the
heroic LION, and freely mingled THEN
. blood with his, 10 the CORY mountain
: heights and passes in front u Chattanooga
and the n0iO glorious field OF Chickamauga
the Flag of Iowa has been borne BY brave
, hands 70 triumphant victory. Where all
have done SO well, to particulariZe would
t be .nvidiauS: and could not name all who
are entitled TO honorable mention for nobl,
and valorous deeds. without calling the ell.
tire muster rods ot Regiments, Eattalions
and Batteries. Impartial history viii attes
r the significant fact. that no great battle has
/ ye:ibeen LOST, in which Iowa troops We're en-
: gagged; and none gained on western fields
) IN which they have no. borne q conspicU
! Gus part. Among the first in the field, ant
ever TO The front, their graves are scattered
from the plains of Texas 10 the banks o
i the Cumberland, and from the shores o
Lake Michigan 10 the waters OF the Gull
t sad, yet truthful witnesses Of how bravely
they fought and molly died.
r Fathers and sons. husbands, brother,
) and friends, sleep in those narrow tene
ments, far from their beloved Iowa; bu
, enshrincd in the hearts of Il gratefu. PEG
, ple their memories. like the unfading lau
3 rel, will survive the drearv winters of com
f ing time.
Contemplating the condition and affair.
of our own State, let US not be unninufu
, that our common country is still in
volved in cruel and relentless war. The
god of ambition is yet unappeased, ant
, the demon of civil strife is making havo,
in the land. The great struggle for the in.
tegrity OF the Union and the preservation
of the National Government, is vet to bt
) decided. After a trial OF nearly eighty
years, embracing the most comprehensive
, experience. and affording ample proofs O
f its power. utility and beneiicence, the ex
: istence of this unrivaled Government il
, committed to a bloody conflict between IL
own citizens.
2 The constitutional right of a State, or any
number OF States, to withdraw from til.
Union, is no longer practical question fol
> discussion. If that right be conceded, til.
action Of the Federal Government, i'm com
polling obedience to its laws, is Hdei.ns
5 BILE, and the war, on our part, clear,
wrong. The determination OF that ques
ton was preliminary to war, and to any eff
fort by the Government to reduce the Sc
ceding States to submission.
3 In the absence of a constitutional RICH
I to dismember the Union, by secession, tn,
attempt was treason and instruction
. which the President or the United States
l under the solemn obligations of his oath
9 was as much bound to suppress, as h,
: would have been to repel an invasion 0
, our soil by foreign enemy. Existing
. laws, adopted in the early years Of the Re
public, clothed him with ample au;horit,
over the 81 beet, and made his duty impe
ra,ive. In promptly meeting the aggres
l sions of treason, and placing the Govern
ment in state of detence against this Ion.
projected aud wicked rebellion, he full
I filled the Just demands OF the Nation, anc
5 entitled himself to the lasting gratitude Q
: mankind.
. For nearly three years, this deplorablt
t war, inaugurated by the mad ambition
and treason Of Southern men, has pro
crossed with its varied results. Though
disasters have sometimes overtaken oul
advancing columns, the triumphs which
, have crowned their heroic efforts, in the
: glorious cause Of the country, have fan
: Outweighed ali the reverses they have sus-
tanned. We have penetrated the insurgent
r country from almost every point, by land