Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-09-23

ahu ueVaSlate our un0eIended neldS
The recent troubles In Missouri, which for
a time presented the alarming features Of a
general war, have been temporarily checked
by the activity Of Federal troops, but far from
being permanently snbdued, the hostile ele-
ments may be revived at any moment, and
under the direction of more determined lead
ers, assume boldcr form and wider field
1t is no secret that the guerrilas and bush
whackets of Missouri, for many reasons en-
tertain a feeling of inveterate hostility to.
wards this State, and il in case of another
uprising they should succeed in reaching the
counties Of North Missouri might. easily cross
our undefended State line and commit their
depredatons upon our people.
Nor is this all. An Indian war of formi.
dable proportions is looming up in the West,
and has so far baflled the vigorous efforts Of
Gen. Curtiss and the forces at his disposal
With 10000 well armed and hostile Indi.
ans lowering upon the plains beyond us, it
would be absolutely criminal to say that the
western counties are safe from tho horrors of
savage warfare, and omit the necessary meas
ures for their defense.
| need scarcely suggest our inability to
arm and keep troops in the field at our own
expense, and as the Federal Government can.
not well provide us with garrisoned posts
we are compelled to rely alone upon our mi.
litia force for defense against dangers from
all directions.
With these views earnestly controlling my
own actions, was dcsirous to effect an early
and practical organization of the militia, arm
it as far as possible, and keep it well in hand
ready to meet danger from whatever quarter
it might appear. did not doubt that our
people in pursuance Of law, and few gene.
raj orders from your office, would quietly as.
senblc at times and places convenient for
the purpose, and organize themselves into
companies without any interference being ro.
quired from the Executive Department.
1t did not occur to me that party differen-
ccs would DO considered, and failed to per-
ceive why they should. regarded the or.
ganization Of the militia as matter of State
pride, as well as a matter of State defense,
and demanded by considerations entirely
above all party questions.
1t was not the homes Of my political
friends alone, which felt under obligations
to defend, and should have regarded my.
self as unwotthy their confidence and the
position occupy, had attempted any dis.
elimination in their favor.
But the result has shown that this reason
| abe hope was not well entertained. .
On my return from the South found many
letters awaiting me from which | learned
that in large number of counties attempts
were being made to organize companies upon
a strictly partisan basis. Leading members
of the 80 called Democratic party were as
siduous in collecting their followers together,
in some instances remote from their own
neighborhoods, to the exclusion Of Union
men, and electing officers favorable to their
peculiar creed. In many instances the pee.
pie assembled to organize without distinction
of party, and were proceeding with the work
when these men, offering some frivolous pre-
text for their course, withdrew from the
meetings, leaving an insufficient number for
the organization of companies. Thus in
many localities our efforts to procure the or.
ganization Of companies were successfully
thwarted. ..a se5s . .....
This is especially true in the three lower
tiers of counties; although similar com
plants have come from those farther North
In one instance an individual was elected
Captain Of company who had been tried
and dishonorably dismissed tho United States
service for the utterance Unreasonable senti-
mcnts, and for other conduct unbecoiriing an
officer and gentleman and in another q no.
tori0us secessionist who is known to have
been in the brush with guerrillas In Missouri
secursd the satne position. Both these men
sent to you for commissions, and have de.
manded arms for their companies. These
companies appear to have regarded such men
as worthy to be entrusted with military au.
thority in this State, and now insist that |
was under obligations to furnish them with
arms and ammunition without looking be-
yond the rolls returned to your Office, As
my views Of public duty did not coincide
with theirs, commissions and arms have both
been refused them. 7 asa aI b.
In several Lodges of the "Sons of Liber.
ty," REASONABLE organization which now
exists in nearly every county, it was deter
mined, after full consultation, to unite in or.
ganizing companies under the militia law.
and use 1t to cover their movements from
public observation. While pretending to
drill as Militia Company, they could prac.
tice the peculiar tactics Of their Order with
out being compelled, as now, to seek con.
cealment in darkness, caves and cellars
Most Of these lodges in the Southern half of
the State are in constant correspondence with
their coadjutors in Missouri, and since the
first day Of July last, they can bear me out
in saying that their communications have
been characterized by the most unblushng
treason, both to the Federal and State Gov.
ernments. Couricrs are now running rcpu
larly between Lodges on either side of the
State line, and much OF the extraordinary
tide Of immigration now pouring in from
Missouri, is invited here by Iowa conspira-
tors under promises OF fellowship and pro-
lection. And when you reflect that on the
first day of August there were over s3, 900
members OF this secret Order enrolled in this
State, bonnd together by oa,tis which, ifI
obeyed. renders every one Of them an active
traitor to the Union, and an abettor to civil
strife in our State; that large quantities 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 pur.
poses, you may wen conceive that the devel.
opment Of their ncfarious militia scheme.
concocted in midnight conclavcs became
with me matter of scrions concern.
Two alternatives were before me, and be-
tween them there was no middle gronnd-Il
must either succumb 10 the Vaccinations of
these secret plottcrs against Government and