The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-27

Ma. EDIroR :-1a your Issue u ThutS.
Icy morning ! end stessneat Of The
oanvassing COMMITTEES for fhs drsft relief
iand Of the 81 Ward. il which I end my
name heading the list Of s'persoas Liable
to draft, who refused to pay" Pleese
permit me to say . few words in defend
iag myself in this attempt to stigma,ise
my name.
10 free country it is the duty Of eve
~ citizen to stand up for the Institutions
Of his country and il necessary 70 Icy
down his life 10 defending the principles
our fathers fought for. and which it u
the mission OF this nation, If she is true
to herself. to help to establish. al over the
civilized world.
That was my impression when l work
ed among the first to effect Representa-
ton of this city in the renowned LIST Iowa
Infantry Regiment. ! left my family at
the first call and risked my life, which
| consider hundred times more valuable
than all the money which these very
worthy notwithstanding sons of this
country can beg together.
After my time was out and l had come
home | heard the enquiries, " low many
dollars will you give for enlisting"
At once conceived that had done my
part Of duty, and it is my belief, that il
every one had done IS much Gas little a.
some may think it to be) our troubles
would be over at this time. | refused to
contribute five dollars to help to buy a
substitute for one that has 40 far succeed
ed in keeping himself from doing bis
duty to himself, his country and HE
health, but am ready If l shall be the
lucky drawer Of prize 10 Uncls Sd ms
lottery to do my duty again, the more SO,
if shall have the pleasure of having
some of these substitute hunters BY nv
SIDE. ApoLPH RiKKER.
Keokuk, Aug. 26th. 1864.
1t would seem that the refusal oil
Capt. Edwards and Mr.. Rinker (and
doubtless OF MIR. Seifert also) va.
prompted by motives which loyal men
will hesitate long before they condo mo.
la personal conversation, We did not un.
derstsnd Mr.. Rinker as especially blaming
the Committee. They certainly should
not be They but followed The lette o.
the resolution adopted at tho citiz ems
meeting Tuesday evening. Any anil pad
vsraions upon them, emanatiog from
whatever source, are urcaIled for and on,
Of place. In this regard. while Capt. Ed.
wards bad sufficient grounds Tor feeling
sggrieved, his remarks concerning the
Committee personally had more prop.
erly have been omitted. As to the
charge of cowsrdice. we say nothing.
Tho Committee denies the right Of Capt.
Edwards or any other man to become, o.
assume to become the criterion or censor
OF bravery tor themselves. or any Ameri.
can citizen. Every man is the uustv
guardian Of his own honor, AID here,
where cowardise is dishonor, every man
feels competent to preserve and defeud
dis reputation for courage
The substance of the whole matter il
this As We understood the frst move ON
the part of our citizens, it was to raise
sufficient recruits to fill our quota. To do
this, money was necessary and each man
was TO be called on to contribute. This
movement would have been pubic one,
aud for the general interest, and it would
havs been eminen.ly proper to publ b
the names Of those refusing to give
With this view the meeting Tuesdsy
evening resolved to publish the names If
ta'ss refusing. But when it was change
inta a"Mutual Insurance Company" then
instead of public, the mcvemen. te.
came personal one, and every man had
the right of Keeping out of the ring
without having his name psraded 10 the
papers.
We hope this distinction will be con.
'ldered At the nesting tonight.