Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-03-12
PROsCRlPTION OF THE STATES.
NAN HY THE IOWA LN0ISLA-
TURE. - +

AAANsSSs
publican members Of the General Assem-.
bly, was the prescription Of the Iowa
Statesman, sterling Democratic sheet
published at Des Mo;nes, BY Col VIM. Il.
Merritt. In doing this tho Republican
party have disrsgarded all former prece.
dent, and followed neither the reason or
spirit Of the law authorizing the puplica-
ton Of such laws as are deemed of imme.
date Importance in the prominent journals
of the State.
It cannot be urged in extenua,ion of
this matter, that Col. Merritt is disloyal, or
that his Influence has been at work against
the Government. On the very first break
ing out of the Rebellion we find him offer
ing his services to the State, and was
commissioned Lieut.. Colonel Of the First
Iowa Infantry, and served with that Regi.
meus during the whole Of its campaign in
Missouri, aud was in command ct the bat.
Ito Of Wilson's Creek. The record Of that
regiment and it's gallant conduct on that
memorable field is matter of history,
bright page in the annals Of the heroism
and daring Of Iowa's noble sons Those
who were present at that engagement all
unite in saying he did his whole duty as
became brave man and soldier.
A short time after his term of service
expired We find him q candidate for
Gubernatorial honors on the Union ticket.
But being nominated at late day in the
canvass, and in fact in many counties in
the Safe it wos net known he was q can.
didate until after the election, and as
matter Of course he was defeated After
this, We find him again Offering his servi.
ces to the State; but notwithstanding his
acknowledged ability aud past service,
Governor Kirkwool gave him the cold
shoulder, and would not give him q com.
mission; assigning as reason that he
had offered him commission at the time
he was candidate for Governor on the
Union ticket, and that he had refused it.
No one is at a loss to know why the COM
mission was rendered him just at this
time; as it must be apparent to every one
that it was only done that be might re.
move his political opponent out of the way
and thus secure his reelection. A short
time after this Col. Merritt raised a com.
pany for the 9th Iowa Cavalry. and went
into camp with it at Davenport. But even
here the hate and animosity of Kirkwood
and Baker still pursued him, and every
obsticle possible was placed in the wav of
his company organization, until at length
becoming Disguised at the petty meanness
and spite exhibited by these State officials,
he left his position and returned home
In July last he commenced The publica.
ton of the Iowa Statesman aud notwith
standing the short time that paper has
been established, it has won a place among
the first Journals in the State, of which
the Colonel may we'll feel proud. Possess.
ing in an eminent degree the requisites Of
q successful journalist, intelligence, ener.
gy aud perseverance, his paper is doing
splendid service for the Democracy, and
dealing such blows at the rotten carcass Of
A5olitionism as to cause its friends to
howl from one end of the State TO the
other. There is not one horse Abolition
Editor in the State bat what has lent his
puny effort to the task OF the Republican
par'y-the persecution and pros cri p,ion of
the Statesman. 1t was not that Colonel
Merritt was wanting in devotion to the
Government and the Constitution tia.
they have done this, but, because they
feared his influence in behalf of the Dem
ocracy, and hoped to delude the credulous
masses BY their dasiardly attacks upon
him. These narrow minded men have
made the Statesman the particular object
Of their spite and venom. They saw in its
Editor qualities Of mind and heart which
low, vile ours have always hated, and
whose example they might never hope to
emulate.
These men having failed to carry out
the programme Of their party in this res
pect, the General Assembly have saw fit to
undertake it.; but the low, mean spiri.
they have manifested has only had the
effect Of rebuilding the efforts Of the
Editor Of the Statesman in the ventilation
Of the corruption and treason of the Abo-
lition party. Our pafty and the country
needs tho assistance OF just such bold out
spoken journals as the Statesman. It is
refreshing in this sboddy age to find now
aud then frank manly spirit who, know.
ing the truth dare assert and maintain il,
and who will not for Government patron
age sell bis soul to the devil!
The Statesman is needed at the Capita,.
and 1t must be sustained but Democrats
must do it. Let every one who wants to
build up the interest Of his party and sus.
tain lis organization send for the States
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