The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-10-20
u OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 90 1864

ts
7 fsavery. ] tell all such who want yslaver,
established again in the South, first to re.
pa'r~'he injaries they have done upon the
government and It's people. ask them tc
restore the lives that have been sacrificed BY
! their agency, not Of thosc only who have
fallen upon the battle field Of this wa,
against freedom, but OF those also who have
been victims Of their h ired assassins--to
bind and heal up the wounds which they
have inflicted upon so many hearts-to hush
I the groans and dry the tears of the widows
and orphans, whose cries have gone up to
God against the murderers of husbands and
fathers; to banish hate and distrust. and re-
store confidence and fraternal feeling among
our people and rebuild our wasted fortunes;
to blot from the pages Of history, and from
the memory Of man the crimes, cruelties and
disgrace OF the last three years and then and
not tfll then viii consider their appeal
The declaration has been constantly made
by the South that this is cruel war, forced
upon US by the government; but it seems
that every man knows that this is false
Who Of as is it does not know that the gov.
eminent never made preparation for war
until we had, in Texas, made prisoners Of
her soldiers sent here to protect our settle
q
ments on the Indian frontier, and seized her
military stores. property and arms to the
amount of over three million of dollars. by
rebel force organized for that purpose. A
thousand acts ofwar had been committed by
the South before the government called for
a soldier. or made any preparation for her |
own defence. Falsehood gains nothing by
its repetition. although endorsed by those
who pretend to minister in holy things
And here say for the benefit of the men Of
Iowa, that slavery did attack the govern
ment. it is seeking its life to day. and vat in
The minds Of some. it is a INDUSTRIOUS. thing
that the government is seeking the life ofthe
institution which has aimed deadly blow
It its own heart. accept the issue that is
offered to us. 1t seems to ms that yoa
'ught 10 accept it. Thsy tell as there is a
natura. sntAsoaisn between slavery and free
government. Tf that be true. can a free
government tolerate slavery. Every mani I
hat is honest will say no! Iltell you, that il .
cads to despotism and I say that des- !
'otism existed at the South long before the !.
ebellion compenced. I want the institu.
ion to chasc, not toniy because it is unjust to
he slave, but want it to cease, eyc,more. l
will say at the risk of being considered sci
sh, because I have felt il to be despolisu.
var me. and do not want it to be a des. a
artacKeu rrce government. | hate i be-
ause ie would not be at peace with free !
rhite men. hate it because i: was Jealous
f the great democratic body of this free peo- !.
le hate it because thoseiwho are in its
interest sneer at free labor; hate il because !,
| would not tolerate free speech on my part;
hate it because it would not leave me at
eace with my friends of life time; | dis n
Ike it Because it denied me the right to live \
t home; hate it more than all to-day be- !,
ause it exed' me from wife and children,
nd denies me the right to see my family for ),
lmost year. and bow. much longer know
ot; hate it because it reveled in the blood
{ my ne.ghbors; because it has butchered 5
atiiers and husbands on their thresholds IN d
undreds OF instances, and driven ont wives
nd children to the storms of winter, and ap-
lied the torch to their once peaceful homes. !.
nd because Of these things hate it. and
ught to hate it, and will fight against it
vhiie God grants me life;' 'Tnever would have
fitted my arm against slavery. if it had not I
flied its arm against me and against the !
government love. BY that act, it paced
ne ia new relation to- it. and I am bound
o use every effort to destroy it. You who
nay read my letter. do you love slavery more
han free governmentp If you do not you
ike me. are abolitionists, and ought to be no
onger ashamed 10 own il. Remember that
qualified adhesion to the government is qua
i treason. There is no middle ground. You
must be on the side Of The government for
he purpose Of sustaining It against every
hing that seeks to destroy it, or you must
yive aid to the foe that is seeking to crush it.
And here I say in conclusion Of my letter.
hat want to see Texas again in the Union,
,nder new constitution. recognizing the
freedom Of every human being
within her limits, and prohibiting forever,
human slavery. With a population chasten.
ID by suffering and made wise by experiences.
,ne may set forth upon new career Of pros
perity. predicated upon trsth, industry and
and that her citizens and their
for ages to come may contribute
to, and share the blessings of a government
devoted to tho freedom, progress and hsPpi.
ness of the human race.
A ! n JESSE BROOKSHIRE.
The Rev. Theodore Cuyler, of Brook.
lyn, preached to his congregation last
on ".the way to peace" He
counselcd his people against the awful
49, n -..l