Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-01-29
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20. 1864.
tho gratitude so eminensly duo to

history. Their unselfSh devotion to the
cause of the country; their patient endurance
of the untold hardships incident TO service
in a distant and strange climate; and the
sturdy heroism they have illustrated on so
many fields, have given to our young State
record Of valor as impcrishablc as the
bloody annals of the war; and aided in Sc.
curing for our common country, fame co.
extensive with the civilized world. On every
battle ground from Wilson's Creek, where,
amid the deadly hail of an unequal contest,
they rallied round the heroic LYON, and
freely mingled their blood with his, to the
CORY mountain heights and passes in front of
Chattanooga, and tho no,o glorious field Of
| ChiCkamauga, the Flag Of Iowa has been
borne 10y brave hands TO triumphant victory.
Where all have done so well, to particularizc
would be invidious; and could not name
all who are entitled to honorable mention for
noble and v0lorous deeds, without calling the
entire muster rolls OF Regiments. Ba,talions
and Batteries. Impartial history will attcs,
the significant fact that no great battle has
yet been lost in which Iowa troops we're en-.
gagged aud none gained on western folds,
in which they have not borne conspicuous
part. Among the first in the iicla, and ever
scattered from the plains of Texas to the
banks of the Cumberland, and from the
shores OF Lake Michigan to the waters of the
Gulf--sad, yet truthful witnesses of how
bravely they fought and nobly died.
Fathers and sons, husbands, brothers and
friends, sleep in those narrow tenements, far
from their beloved Iowa; but cnshrincd in
the hearts of grateful people, their memo.
ries, like the uniading laurel, will survive the
dreary wiRters Of coming time.
Contemplating the condition and affairs ot
our own State, let us not be unmindrul that
our common country is still involved in cruel
and relentless war. The god Of ambition is
yet unappeased, and the demon of civil strife
is making sad havoc in the land The great
struggle for the integrity of the Union and
the preservation of the National Government,
is yet to be decided. After trial Of nearly
eighty years, embracing the most compre,
hensive experience, and afrordng ample
| proofs of its power, utility and benelicence,
the existence of this unrivaled Government
lis committed to a bloody conflict between its
own citizens.
Tho constitutional right OF a State, or any
number of States, to Withdraw from tho Union
is no longer practical question for discuss.
ion. If that righ! bo conceded, the action OF
! the Federal Government, in compelling obe.
dicnce to its laws, is indo'ensble, and the
war, on our part, clearly wrong. Tho deter
minatcn of that question was preliminary
to war, and to any effort by the Government
to reduce the seeding States to submission.
In the absence of a constitutional right to
dismember the Union by secession, the at
tempt was treason and insurrection, which
the President of the Uuted States, under the
solemn obligations of his oath, was as much
| bound 10 suppress, as ho would have been to
repel an invasion Of our soil by foreign en-.
eny. Existing laws, adopted in tho early
years Of the Republic, clothed him with ample
authority over the subject, and made his
duty imperative. In promptly meeting the
aggressions Of treason, and placing the Gov
ernment in state Of defence against this
long projected, and wicked rebellion he ful.
! filed the just demands OF the Nation and en-
titled himself to the lasting gratitude Of
mankind.
For nearly three years, this deplorable war,
inaugurated by tho mad ambition, and trea
son, Of Southern men, has progressed with
iss varied results. Though disasters have
sometimes overtaken our advancing columns,
the triumphs which have crowned their hero.
ic efforts, in the glorious cause Of .ho coun-
try, have far outweighed all the reyerses they
have sustained. We have penetrated the in.
Surgent country from almost every point, by
land and sea. and rescued from their Grasp
the most productive and populons States Of
the South. To-day the ancient Flag Of the
Union floats triumphantly over the soil of
every rebel State, and waves from the batter.
ed walls OF Sumter, back as far as the srpent
Of rebellion can be traced.
The rebel armies, deieatcdand dernoralized
are being rapidly driven to common centre;
their currency worthless, ard their credit
gone; their pretended jurisdiction reduced to
nearly one third Of its original limits, and q
surplus population crowded within them to
| subsist upon their negro harycsts impend-
ing DEATH or exile, TO the leaders, ruined for
tunes and desolated homes 70 the unwilling z
masses-this is the end of treason, and the
doom Of traitors
| Supported, and elected by the loyal and
patriotic people Of Iowa, in a contest present
ing the grave questions which here, as else.
where through the loyal States a!ono perva-
dcd the public mind and determined the re-
suit of tho recent elections, but discharge
plain duty to them, when | express the
SOiis i'tiot5 VI o"t ht'ilpS upDt InO DOT'
tentous issues yet to be decided by the valor
Of our arms. While entertaining a profound
respect for the opinions Of all loyal men, ia
whatever locality they may be found am
aware Of no rule requiring Difference to the
opinions Of their enemies, or Of any ob,ga.
ton | am under to consult their views, or
wishes, in the discharge Of my official duties.
There is no longer any middle ground
where loyal men can stand, and find refuge
from the stern, and positive obligations of the
hour. The times are fraught with mighty
events, involving tho welfare of the present
and future generations, and impose the most
solemn duties upon every patriot in the land
1t is not the mere domination Of political
party, nor territory, nor empire but liberty,
and the eternal principles of natural Justice,
born 0: God, and, under Him, established on
this Continent by our fathers, which are
staked upon the issue of the struggle.
1t needs no words Of mine to show that
the vigorous and successful prosecution of
this war is life to the Republic, while to hes
itatc for a single hour, upon any pretext
whatever, or stop short Of the unconditional
recognition of Federal authority by all the re-
volted States, would be but hollow truce,
and deatA to our unity and Nationality.
Great and holy interests are involved in the
contest. There is no longer any hope of
their preservation by the ordinary modes of
adjustment. They are therefore, to be saved
or lost, by the arbitrament of battle. In the
terrible ordeal through which we are passing,
many old conditions are likely to be rejected,
and some things which have been, ,aay not
be again; but the patriotic heart may
find reasons for its faith, that all such as
are good and substantial will berctained and
consecrated in the new life of the Nation
Let US hope that enemies in the disguise of
friends, will never again occupy the high
places Of power; that the peoples Treasury
will not again be robbed by official hands,