The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-09-22

+ drill as amiktia company, t.iey could prac
tice theReculisr tactics of their Order with
out beinx compelled, Is nov, to seek con
csalmenfh darkness, caves and oellars.--
Most oftheselodges in the Southern half Q
the State ale in constant correspondence,
with their coadjutors in Missouri, and sine
the first day of July last, they can bear IN,
!ont ia, saying that their COMMUNICATION
have been characterized by the most un
tbushing treason, both to the Federal and
State Governments. Oourers are now run
ming regularly between lodges on either side
of the State line, and much of the extraor
binary tide Of immigration now pourins
from Missouri. IA inv ted here by Iowa con
| spirators under promises Of fellowship and
protection. And when You reflect that or
/ the first day of August there were over SO,
4 600 members Of this secret Order enrolled
in this State, bound together by oaths which
il obeyed, renders every one of them an &C.
tive traitor to the Union. and an abettor to
civil strife in our State that large qnanti-
ties of arms and ammunition purchased with
means contributed by their monied men in
this and other States, are being secretly
brought into these counties to be used for
disloyal purposes, you may well conceive
that the development of their nefarious mil
it'a scheme, concocted in midnight conclav es,
became with me matter of setious concern,
T Two alternatives were before me, and be-
tween them there was no middle ground
| must either succumb to the mac h,nations
Of these secret plotters against Government
and Law, or adopt speedy and effectual mea.
sures to circumvent them. did not long
hesitate which course to pursue, nor doubt
that the patriotic and law abiding sentiment
of the State would sustain me in the perform.
ance of this obvious duty, s,s-gar,a.I Ia,
1 The sad experience of orr Missouri neigh
bors in their late troubles with disloyal
militia, was a sufficient warning for me to
carefully guard that point in Iowa. -uri
/ The Constitution of this State makes the
Governor commander in-chef of the militia,
and the law under which we are now organ.
izing. clothes him with express authority to
issue such orders as are necessary to carry
outfits provisions. s5gr ..ara
| lie is not the passive instrument Of the
Flaw, bat the source from which i.s.life and
executive power are derived. Had the
General Assembly 50 desired, it e,uld not
have curtailed the military authority of the
Governor. FIR that is created and secured by
the Constitution itself. AS Commander
IN Chief, his or lers are as obligatory upon
the State Militia, as are the acts of the Leg
islature, and the kind of orders he may issue
for the purpose of executing the law are
necessarily left to hsjudgment and discre.
ton, It must be conceded that he cannot
make orders in conflict with the law, hut his
power as Commando in Chief 10 extendand
amplifyits provisions exists beyord dispute.
| Conceiving, therefore, that my authority
to correct errors and regulate the organiza.
ton of. companies by general orders was am.
pie, and that Giro amstances demanded nv
interference, the course have pursued re
quires no further justification. ~ But am
now informed by anonymous letters, almost
daily received, and hy newspaper pnblica-
tons. that these orders will be disregarded
and my auth ority set at defiance. Beiev.
ing that am capable Of properly estima-
ting tue character and calibre of men, who
will invite local strife by publicly advising
tdisohedience to constituted authorities,
have only to remark that these orders,
which their own con iuct has drawn forth,
will remiin unchanged AMI be strictly en-.
forced in every case. Companies that dis
regard them will not be recognized or treat.
ed for any purpose as portions of the State
Militia.
Regrettng the necessity for abiding to
these matters, cannot refrain from adding
that these self constituted advocates of pop.
ular rights may learn, if they do not already
know, that we are well advised oftheir plans,
and should they so far forget their obliga-
tons of duty as to attempt to carry them
out, may not deem it advisable t. remain
a silent observer of the demonstrations 1t
is well that we should understand each other.
1t is a mistake 20 suppose that can be de
tered by threats and denunciations, how
ever severe, from steadfast adherence to
those measures deemed essential to the prop.
er enforcement of the laws, and the preser-
walton Of order in our State. With these
men alore are the fearful issues of strife in
Iowa. There will be no trouble here unless
they take the initiative and become the ag.
gressors. So long as they obey the laws
and submit to proper authority. their rights
will be faithfully respected, their persons,
property and firesides defended by all the
power which the State can command.
would appeal 70 them to forget our political
differences, and cordially unite with me in
defending our exposed borders from the dan.
gers which menace them. I would admon.
iah them that prudent counsels, and friend
ly spirit, not threats and words Of defiance,
will go far towards preserving our domestic
peace, and maintaining the yet untarnished
honor of our State. But ii contrary to the
ardent hopes Of all good citizens. the conflict
which they now seem DESTROYS of inviting be
forced upon US, they may find US prepared
at all points where they least expect us. and
on our part at least. there will be no blank
cartridges used or shots thrown away.