The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-04-13

ushul,
Yours allus,
A DIsBANDED VOLUNTEER.
Gov. Stone.
The letter published below is somewhat
SLOW in getting into our columns, but it is
of character entitlng it to general circu
lation. We think much more of Gov.
Stone after perusins this letter. 1t ex-
plains itself. The murderers of CARss
have been dischargcd-s such is report
trial was had at all events, under what
circumstances we do not learn:
EXECUTIVE OrrIcE,|
Des Moines, March IS.
Col. j. \. WILLIAMSON N:-Sir-Reliable
information has reached me that one CAIRNS.
the alleged murderer Of private PRAEruER,
OF the Fourth Regiment, Iowa Infantry,
was .orcbly taken from the Jail in Adair
county, and shot dead, by members of that
Regiment; that warrant has been duly
issued for their arrest, and resistance to it's
execution is threatened.
The conduct of these men cannot be re.
garded in any other light thar as gross
outrage upon the dignity of the State; and
as being repugnant to every principle of
good order and public justice, and deserving
Of the Severest cenSure
1t must not be forgotten that outside of
lnsurrectionary districts, the military are
subordinate to civil authorities; and tha.
soldiers, when absent from the army. are
I N WOW IL Il.
subject to its commands and restraints pre-.
cisely as other citizens. These acts of law.
less violence, are in the highest degree de.
rogatory to the character of our soldiery.
and if tolerated, would jeopardize all indi
vidual rights, and produce in our own
midst the fearful consequence Of civil
strife.
There being no reasonable by pothesis
upon which the act Of these soldiers can be
legally justified, | cannot withhold the ex.
preston of my unqualified disapprobation
of such conduct.
Admitting that CAIRNS was guilty of
cold -blooded and fiendish murde r, in taking
the life of PRAETHER, he had been prompt
ly arrested and committed to the custody
of the law to await his trial before com
petent tribunal Of the country. A reason
able degree of vigilance was being exercised
to prevent his escape, a speedy and fair
trial would have followed and, if found
guilty, who doubts that he would have suc-
fered the extreme penalty Of the law p
More than this, the most Unsuitable advocate
of speedy and condign punishment could
not have demanded. Where then was the
necessity for setting civil order at defiance,
by forcibly entering public prison, drag
ging therefrom the hopeless victim of the
law, and executing him in summary and
barbarous manner?
While the family Of the murdered man
have my heartfelt sympathy in their be,
and prepared, as am, to make
all suitable allowance for the excited pas
Sions OF the brave sons, who returned from
a long and honorable service in the field, to
weep over the grave of a father foally assas-
siuated, | cannot but deplore the mistaken
sense of duty under which they assumed
to act the avengers part, and set at defiance
the laws of peaceful and loyal State
While we oheerfully accord to our veteran
soldiers, all the honors they have so well
earned by faithful and heroic deeds, and
greet their return with the warmeSt homage
of grateful hearts, we cannot release them
from their obligations of obedience to the
laws Of the State.
Having assumed the fearful responsible
ity of pelpetrating this outrage against the
law, they must now bravely face the conse-
quences of their act. Were they to escape
the legal process, which cannot be permit
ted, it would be but an aggravation of their
offence, and must forever disgrace them in
public estimation.
By quietly surrending themselves to the
officers of the law, and submitting to the
ordeal Of fair and impartial trial. the re.
suit, whatever it may be, will satisfy the
of public justice, and exoneratc
them from further legal censure. And this
is their only alternative.
As Chief Magistrate Of the State, it is
my duty to see that the laws are faithfully
executed. At all hazards this duty shall
be faithfully performed; and to this end the
warrant now in the bands of the Sheriff of
Adair county, must be duly served, and
the persons therein named be delivered into
legal custody. Any resistance which i'll
advised persons, whether citizens or sol
diers, may interpose to the proper execution
of the warrant, will be promptly and effec-
tually overcome.
Believing that you will concur in the
views herein expressed, and regretting the
necessity which calls them forth, | dismiss
the matter, for the present, with the hope
that you will advise your men to submit to
the requirements of the law.
Truly yours, &c,
w. NJ. STONE.