The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-09-14

not have shown more plausible pretext.
Silence would have been brilliantly elo-
uusnt for him in comparison with his Let
ter of Acceptance. ..
Benton's Letter of Acceptance.
TIrToN, Iowa, Aug. rs, 1855.
Capt. Geo. w. Clark, Capt. A. T. Ault and
REV. A. J. Barton:
GENTLEMES:-I have just resolved your
favor Of the Goth inst, advising me OF my
nomination as q candidate for the office Of
Governor by the Soldiers Convention, held
at Dss Moines on the sd inst. Having
known or said but little Of the recent pro-
gress and development Of political events
in our State, was totally unprepared for
this announcement. Ensrossed with pub
lie duties and responsibilities, and wearied
by the tolls and privations of the camp and
the field for the past tfrsce years, had rs-
turned home with the settled purpose OF
resuming the pursuits Of private life, and
were 1 now to consult my personal feelings
1 should adhere to such determination; bat
having fought side by side with you thro'
the most eventual and perilous period Of
our country's history for the preservation
of the Union, ard fully concurring in your
views upon a vital issue forced upon us in
the present political contest, a sense Of duty
10 the country, to you, and to myself, i'm
pels me to forego my individual prefer
ences and acceed to your wishes. I,there-
fore, accept the nomination. .r...F ~
must confess that do so with reluct-
ance. regret to be placed in even partial
antagonism to portion of MY political
and personal friends; but the clear convic-
tons of duty and the great interests ut
stake, rising far above the circumscribed
rules and usages of party politics, render
this sacrifice of personal feeling unavoid-
able. -.~ ... vat rE.
The extension of the elective franchise
to the colored race is the only issue in
volved in this contest. Believing that the
period has not arrived for so radical q
Change i'm our political n-~.":"..;o:. and
s-.nuer existing circum-
. ances would prove detrimental rather
tlan beneficial to the race, am opposed TO
the measure. My opposition is not the re-
suit of prejudice but is founded on prinei-
pie. Were satisfied that it would pro-
mote their best interests, afford material
aid in organizing civil government on a
permanent and equitable basis in the States
recently in rebellion, and in restoring peace
and tranquility to the country, l should
not hesitate to advocate its immediate adop-
ton. But honestly believing that it will
impede the contamination of those great
ends, cannot consistently. do otherwise
than cast ray vote against it. ,-s u..--.. .-r
To extend the right of suffrage to the
freed men Of the South at this particular
period, and in the manner proposed, would
create deadly hostility between the white
and black races, and lead to continued acts
err, which nothing but the presence Of an
armed force could prevent. But secently
released from bondage, they are yet in
faatsy 80 far as freedom and the elective
franchise are concerned, and while they
should be protected in the enjoyment Of
the fOrner,I do not consider them quail
fed for the exercise Of the latter. To hriSg
the matter directly home, should the $780,
600 freedmen Of Georgia be transferred to
Iowa in their present condition, would we
invest tlsem with the right of suffrage?
think l hazard nothing in asserting that
the most radical frienss Of the measure
would say no. Why then force upon 9TH
or States that which We would ignore for
ourselves? ...... ...ts -s...
The supporters Of the measure say ths&
the limited number of colo1sd persons
among us, renders the issue q trivial one
sy far as Iowa is concerned--that it is q
matter OF no consequence whether the
right 10 vote is extended or wiThheld. II
so, why force the issue, conceded by it's adj
vocates to be unimportant, upon the peo-
pie at this time? In answer to this, 1t il
pretended that the issue is not before the
people in the present contest. Such is not
the fact. 1t is made an article Of political
faith, and is just as binding as the obliga-
ton to support the nominees of the Con-
vention. The platform is unit, and if
binding in one particular, it is equally so
in all, and every Republican who is OPP
posed to the measure will be prescribed in
the event the ticket iselectcd, and the news
will he heralded abroad with lightning
speed that the sovereign State OF Iowa has
declared in favor Of Negro Suffrage. The
idea OF separating the candidate and the
platform has uniformly been rspudiated
by the Republican party and cannot now
be adopted by it with any show of con-
sistency.
The army has performed noble work
a work which traitors and rebels declared
four years ago could not be accomplished.
1t has 'bdusd the rebellion. Never was a
victory 30 thorough, never an enemy 80
overthrown. .......
If statesmen will now prosecute the great
work assigned them with the Same unfa
tering purpose, exalted patriotism and de-
votion to principle that have actuated the
soldiers, the great questions Of the day may
DON be settled upon permanent, eqaita-
Die and enduring basis. ...
While tho rebels remained in arms
,gainst US, was oppored 10 any terms Of
adjustment, but since they have surren-
Tered and placed themselves NJ our mercy.
am in favor Of the restoration of civil
government in all the States recently in !
at the earliest possible period,
,pon just, liberal and honorable terms, !