The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-06-29
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY JUNE 80, 1864
MCGREGoR. Iowa. June 21. 1864,


a., McGREGoR, Iowa, June 21, 1864.
Dear Times II am prompted by the
sadness of the hourly the distracted
condition Of the country, to express my
feelings against the ahhorent principles up
on which our war measures are conducted.
When contemplate the manner in which
our volunteer forces have been raised, by
the offering of large bounties by the Gov
ernment, the states, and otherwise, thus
laying before the minds of the poor and
industrious fardworking classes, those all
important inducements and causing de-
sertion of their farms, workshops, &C.,
to satisfy these willy spectators and po-
litical wire plllers, who brought our trou.
bles upon us and who are making money
by this war; as is New England out of the
West. ], as soldier, when enlisted in
the cause of maintaining the laws and the
Constitution" Of my adopted country,
through pure motives of patriotism, did not
once dream of the depth Of that speculating
principe, which is now daily manifested
by boti civil and military authorities under
the Government and which is now making
the nose with which to suspend the en-
terprisng and industrious mechanics and
farmer, by the neck. They will tell you
that they give their services by offering
their purses; ali but they mean to get it
all back again, and in manner not SEEM
ingly perceptible to the masses whom they
effect to dupe. Some of the supporters OF
the Administration told US that "negro
troops fight better than white troops &C.,"
thus allowing their prejudices to rule their
judgments, and try to give negros the as
tendency.
The Administration has recently passed
acts, to the effect that "colored troops after
certain date, shall receive equal pay,''
due bounty with white troops, thereby CIV
ing them even an advantage over our brave
white volunteers, who have to do all the
arduous marching and other trying duties
in the field; whilst the colored troops are
enjoying the quietude Of camp life among
the many garrisons Of tie country, thus
placing him in the safest position. Is this
right, or can we suffer it to be so; slay the
aohite man and SAGE the negro? 1t seems, in
deed, not enough for the negros to enjoy
the blessings of Liberty. Freedom alone,
to the oppressed, is as sweet as the refresh
ing flowers of spring; but it becomes ne
cessary that the free whites shall desert
their quiet homes, and honest pursuits, to
effect the purpose Of exaltng the negro, at
their Cwn sacrifices, allowing their proper
ty behind then, to be taxed to pay 800
dollars bounty to each Of such. The coun-
try already shrieks under the weight Of
the overburthencd debt which, has been
SHOW apo, .le pcup,e. 1A'''""', ~--'
millions, of dollars have been issued BY the
treasury department, upon which interest
upon principle have been acumuat'ng
with few hundred millions of specie IN
the treasury as q security, but which,
perhaps, has been sold to the highest
bidder, in order to raise surplus fund to
pay the $500 bounty to volunteers. Gold
has been up to nearly $500; thus making
greenbacks worth only so cents on the dol
lar and which contains about thirty live per
cent. Of the confidence, leaving greenbacks
virtually worth|25 cents on the dollar
Thus we perceive where the country is
drifting. But the patriots in the field
have to suffer the most as far as personal
interests are concerned; for, instead of re.
ceiving $l3 per month, they in reality get
81 dollars, when gold has doubled on par
value. .' ..a.
Goods of all kinds haye advanced, it is
true, in ratio with specie, but has not wages
of all kinds of labor increased accordingly ?
We still perceive the advantage the civilian
has over the soldier in that respect. Sue
cess has followed success to our arms by
superiority of numbers and resources
nevertheless, the war has not yet termin-
ated, and in my opinion, is not likely to
for the next three years. Drafts will have
yet to be levied to supply the deficiency
made by the large number Of troops, whose
term of enlistment expires this fall; our
extensive communications to be kept open,
or else we yield to one defeat after another
the coming spring by an energetic and
4
ever watchful foe, behind their strong de-
fences. Sixty thousand effective fighting
rebel troops, on the western side of the
Mississippi, will have to be attended to,
after the Virginia campaign is over. Men
too, Of as good fighting qualities as any
that We can hurl against them, buoyan'
over their recent successes and victories
l want then, to see everybody awake to the
importance of the ,cork ahead. also want
to see the $500 clause stricken out-the
draft used and every man made to fee
an equal interest in preserving the Govern
men,. if it is any longer worth preserving
if it is not, then still offer bounties and
levy taxes to meet them. Induce the equili
brium Of society (the honest and toiling
masses) to 60 into the field, and leave be-
hind a growing aristocracy which, wher
matured, never had parallel; then it il
that we shall have Government, that shall
crush us with the iron heel OF despotism
Let US hope for the best.
GEO. C. Woop.
BUSINESS INTEREST The Folly Of trusting
to the capacity and fidelity Of the federal ad
ho;uu tp0 ~ thu