The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-12-15

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pitrocagethe benevolent institations of.th
District of Cblumba, which have rhithert
been established or fostesed by Congress
and respectfully refer for information con
corning them and in relation to- the Wash
ingten scqueduct, the Capitol and othe
matters Of local interest, to, the, report of th
Secretary. .,,,,n
/ The Agricultural Department, under the
supervision Of its present energetic head, j
rapidly commending itself to the great and
vital interest It was created to advance.
is peculiarly the peoples. department, il
which they, feel more directly. concerned
than in any other. commend it TO tht
continued attention and fostering; care q
Congress. ., !
Since the last annual message all the i'm,
portant lines and positions then held by
our armies have been maintained, and our
armies have steadily advanced, thus liberia
d1gf tfie States lett fn' chs FEAR, 90 that Mis-
fsSIif,; KehtiIcky, sTshnessese ana paris oi
other States Have again psoduced srsasohaa.
bly, fair crops The most remarkable feat.
ure inthe military operations Of the year is
General Sherman's attempted march Of 800
miles directly through the 1fnn:sauigent region.
tends to show great increase ofour rela-
tive strength that our General In Chief
should fell able to confront and hold in
check every active force of the enemy, and
yet to detach awelf appointed army to
move on such an expedition. The result
not yet being known conjecture IS not here
INDUCED. Important tneTenents hare a.
so occurred during the year to the effect of
moulderings society for durability Id the
Union. Although short Of complete sue.
cess It IS much in the right direction that
governments, with free constitutions, and
are earnestly struggling to maintain and
admisister them. The movement in the
less definite in Missouri, Kentucky and
IL, 600 citizens of each ofthe States of Arkan.
sas and Louisiana have organized loyal State
Tennessee and 'shoula not be overlooked;
but Maryland presents an example Of COM
.plete success. Maryland is secure o.Lib-
erty and Union for all the future. The
genius of rebellion viii no more claim Mary.
land. Like another foul spirit, heing dfiv-
en- out, itrnay seek to tear her, but it will
woo her no more. -7a s-a't e .sIFFF ,saiT
At the last session Of Congress, prosos-
ed amendment Of the Constitution, abolish-
ing slavery throughout the United States,
passed the Senate, but failed for lack Of the
requisite two thirds vote in the House of
Representatives. Although the present is,
the same Congress, or nearly the same,
members without questioning the wisdom
or patriotism Of those who stood il OPPOSE
tion. ] venture to recommend the reconsids
Grafton and passage Of the measure at the
present session OF course the abstract
question is not changed, but an intervening
election has almost made ii certain that the
next Congress win pass the measure iftbis
does not. Hence there is only question
of time as to when the proposed amend
ment will 60 to the States for their action
and as it isto so go at all events, may we
not claim that the election has imposed a
duty on members to change their views or
votes. II is the voice of the people now
for the first time heard on the question:
In great national crisis like ours, unanim-
ity of action among those seeking common
end is very desirable, almost indespensi-
Bile, and yet NO approach to such unanimi-.
ty is attainable unless SOME Difference shall
be. paid to the will of the majority. In
this case the common end is tie mainten-
ance Of the Union, aud among the means to
secure that end, the people through the
election have most clearly declared in favor
ofsuch constitutional amendment. a' .
The most reliable indication of the pub
lie purpose in this connection is derived
through our popular election. Judging by
the recent canvass and its results, the pur-
pose Of the people within the loyal States to
maintain the integrity of the Union was
never more firmnor more nearly unanimous
than now. The extraordinary calmness
ana good order with which the millions Of
voters mingled at the polls, gave streng as
surancs ofthis, not only that all those who
supported the Union ticket, socalled, but =
great majority of the opposite party also
may be fairly claimed to- have been actus.
ted by the same purpose. It Is an sunas-
|swerabh argument to- this effect, that no
candidate for -Anyi, office. - wheshsr high or
low, has .ventured to seek votes oni the
ayowas tbat ne was for giving up the Union.
There hAye been, much impugninga of mo-
stives and, much. heated controversy, 4 as to
the proper means and best mode of advanc.
ing the Union cause, Butins the failure to
present the distinct issue Of Union or no.
Union, the politicians have shown, their in
tuisive knowledge that thersf il no. div ersity
among ahapeople, and the, people have thus
shown, one to another aud to the world.
this irmness and unauimity OF purpose -
The election has been Of = asst value to the