The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-09-14
non The Daily ssaes Rsyistsv.
Benton's Acceptance.


sideration, Brevst Brigadier General Thorn
~ II. Benton, Jr., late Colonel of the
Twenty Ninth Iowa Infantry, has decided
that he will accept the tutinatior1 tefider-
ed him by the double headed Copperhead
State Convention held in this City on the
% al,s 24th Of August. His so-callsd
reasons for SO doing are set forth over his
own signature in Letter. They are, In
effect: /. That the extension of the cleo
tive franchise to tho colored race, il the on
" issue inroiped in this political contest! 2.
That tho safety Of the Government and the
wcll-bcing of the blacks demand that the
freedom should not I've permitted 10 vote.
IS. That the Republican Party, having an
nounced its willingness to put the ballot
into the hands of Loyal Blacks, he cannot
support its nominees, but is compelled TO
array himself in hostility TO them.
1t was bad enough in Brevet Brigadier
General Thomas III: Benton, Jr., after pro-
| Tossing to- be a conscientious Republican
and enjoying largely the honors and profits
Of the Republican party, to go over to its
enemies, the Copperhesds; but he has
| made his case infinitely worse by attempt
ing to give his reasons therefor. Judged
by his Letter of Acceptance, he compels
| the Loyal Voters Of the State to conclude
| that he is either shauefully ignorant Of
| current political events, or that he is
shamelsssly dishonest. Just look at his
averments:
! I. lie says 'the extension of the elective
franchise to the colored race, is the only
issue involved in this coirestr' Is this
true? Far in advance of the question of
Enfranchiscment of the Blacks in the In
surrectionary States, is the question Of
their Freedom. by the terms of Presi-
dent Lincoln's Proclamation, the Slaves of
Rebel Masters in certain States and parts
of States, were permanently emancipated.
In certain other States and parts of States,
the institution of slavery was left I'M
| touched by the war, excepting, of course,
the inevitable restiveness and insecurity
to that species Of property which the re-
bellion and war would be likely to COM
municate. In order that the entire Afri-
can race, everywhere throughout the States
and Territories of tho Union might he for
ever Free, Congress at its last session passed
an Amendment of the Federal Constitu-
ton providing for this result. This Amend
ment will be valueless unless ratified by
the Legislatures OF three-fourths of the
States. Upon the Legislature of Iowa to
be mainly elected in October will devolve
the duty Of voting affirmatively or mega
lively upon the question OF ratification
4. 49, II
ton in nomination, had no profession tn
avow on this question. The practic. of its
party has, however, been that of bitter,
unconlpromising hostility to this measure.
In Kentucky, Delaware and New Jersey,
where the Copperheads are the dominant
party, the Legislatures have voted against
the ratification of this Amendment. Gen.
Benton knows that if the same party in
} this State TO whose uses he has abandoned
himself, should by any calamity succeed
in electing majority in either branch Of
our General Assembly, that this great Ma.
tional measure would be rejected also in
Iowa. He knows also that such rejection
would be hailed all over the South as an
. evidence that the North had commenced
taking backward step Oh the question O
I slavery; that the vote of no additional ere
constructed" State could be hoped for; ant
that finally the control of Nationallaffair
, would relapse into the hands of the Pro
5 Slavery Traitors who plunged the Nation
into the late four years war: TRs fs Hns:
upon sh,,s CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL Amendment will
: be charged also with the duty of electins
| a Senator In Congress to fill the vacancy
accustomed by the resignation of Hon
James Harlan, and also Senator for TIM
full term of six years. Will 1.-The gentlemen
thus elected have NO representative duty
to perform, save 10 vote upon tive question
OF enfranchising negroes? If the Copper
heads should have the power to elect ,hos,
members of the United States Senate, dc
Benton, that they would expect no other
duty from their representatives, If Brig.
adler General George Wallace Jones should
DO chosen for the short or long sernl--and
he undoubtedly would be-the hsst motion
he would make after taking bis seat in the
Senate would be for a Committee of In.
quiry TO ascertain by what right he, MI
zen, once before Senator in Congress, and
ercently representative OF the Fetreal
Government in General America, had been
arrested and imprisoned as a Traitor!-
And then after looking at his own case, lie
would want like committees raised to in
quire into the circumstances connected
with the arbitrary arrest, abduction, and
cruel confinement of other freq horn white
innocents of Iowa, such as Mahony and
Steward, and Hill, and Dean. And then
would come claims for damages, for false
imprisonment, injury to character, pun
ishment of the wicked United States Mar
shall and his assistants who made the ar
rests, and all other like measures of repa-
ration and vinddcation- More than this:
The time will come when other Traitors
will make application at Washington for
similar alleged injuries; when efforts will
he made for an assumption by the Federal
Government of the Confederate War debt;
when attempts will be made TO reputIiate
the Federal War debt Weuld George
| or Charles Mason, or Thomas S. Wilson,
or Ed. Johnston, be quite the men to re-
fleet the wishes OF the loyal masses Of Iowa
upon these questionsi Yet if tho Anti
War and Anti-Union party at whose head
Benton has placed himself, should he sue
cessful at the next election in this State,
precisely such men would go to the United
states Senate US authorized delegates In
that body of loyal Iowa!