The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-01-28


the President Of the IJn;ted St.,as ,nae,
the solemn obligations Of III, oath v.s .s
much bound to supnress =. he von,d n. :.
been to repel an invasion Of our so;, bv .
foreign enemy. Existing laws, adopted in
the early years of the Republic, clothed him
with ample authority over the subject. and
made his duty imperative. In promnt,v
meeting the aggrcssions of treason. and
placing the Government in state Of defence
against this long projected and wicked rebel.
lion, he fulfilled the Just demands of the
Nation, and entitled himself to tho lasting
gratitude of mankind. r
For nearly three years. this deplora ble
war, inaugurated by the mad ambition and
treason Of Southern mon. has progress sed
with it's varied results. Though disasters
have sometimes overtaken our advancing
columns, the tr,umphs which hayc crowned
their heroic efforts, in the glorious Cause of
the country, have far outweighed all the re-
verses they have sustained. We have pen.
etrated the insurgant country from almost
every point by land and sea, and rescued
from their grasp the most productive and
populous States Of ihe South. To-day the
ancient Flag of the Union floats triumnh
antly over the soil Of every rebel State. and
waves from the battered walls OF Sumter
back as far as the serpent of rebellion can
be traced.
The rebel armies, defeated and tlomoral-
lied, are being rapidly driven to common
centre their currency worthless, and their
credit gone their pretended jurisdiction re-
duccd to nearly one-third of its original
limits. and surplus population crowded
within them to suhsist upon thoir msagrs
harvests impending death, or exile, to the
leaders, ruined fortunes >nd desolate homes
to the unwilling masses-this is the end Of
treason and the doom Of traitors
Supported and elected by the lovsl and
patriotic people Of Iowa, in q contest pre-.
senting the grave questions which here, a.
elsewhere through the loyal States, alone
pervaded the public mind and dete rmined
tho result Of the recent elections, I but dis
charge . plain duty to them, when express
the convictions ofln own mind npon the
portentous issues yet te DO decided by the
valor of our arms. While entertaining .
profound respect for the opinions Of all 10y
al mon, in whatever locality they may be
found, am aware Of no rule requiring def.
erence to tho opinions of their enemies, or
of any obligation am under to consult
thor visws, ar wishes. in the discharge of
my official duties. s..-
There is no longer any middle ground
where loyal rpen can stand aud find refuge
from the stern and positive obligations of
the hour. The times are fraught with
mighty events, involving tho welfare OF the
present and future generations, and impose
the most solemn dutiss upon every patriot
in the land. It is not the nero domination
ofa political party. nor territory. nor en-
pire; but liberty, and tho eternal principles
OF natural justice, born OF God and, under
Him, e'tahhshed ON thisoontinens by our
fathers, which are staked upon the issue Of
the struggle.
II needs no words IT mine to show that
the vigorous aud successful, prosecution Of
this warts life 10 the Rehublic, while TO
hesitate for = single hour, upon any pre-
text whatever, or stop short OF the uncondi-
tional recognition OF Federal authority by
all tho revolted States, would be but hol-
low truce, ana ieata to our unity and ns-
tionality.
Great and holy interests are involved in
the contest. There is no longer any hope
Of their preservation by the ordinary modes
Of adjustment. They are, therefore, to be
saved or lost by the arbitrament of battle.
In the terrible ordeal through which We are
passing, many old conditions arc likely tot
be rejected, and some things which hsve
been, may not be again but the patriotic
heart may find reasons for its faith, that all
such a. are good and substantial win be re-
tained and consecrated in the new life Of
tho Nation. Let US hope that enemies in
the disguise Of friends will never again oc-
cupy the high 'laces Of power; that tho
peoples Treasury will not again he robbed
by official hands, their arms, their arsenals
and Notifications turned against their own
Government that the blightins curse Of