The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-01-24
WHOLE NO. 484.

allied patriotism or integrity of the Presiien
o While could not have desired him to 20 III
t ther than he has, cannot withhold my cordit
= approval Of the acts already done in the exc
: else of these constitutional powers, and woul
counsel my fellow citizens to sustain him whil
performing his duties within the limits thus d,
. lined, with their generous confidence and ger
erous support. He makes no immodest clair
TO perfection in his own theory, and, while W
may differ from him on minor points, his coul
age and devotion, so amply tested, my be ia
ken as guaranty that he will not differ frou
US in the great object Of saving AMI parpatuas
ing tho noble fabric Of our American Uri)n.
The Governor now goes into a eulosy o
Mr.. Lincoln, getting into it more Of eth
smoke Of battle and the tramp of conlictin.
legions" than the eu!ogist ever saw in his mil
itary career. Says Lincoln did not cmaucpate
in Difference to the rights of the bondmcn bu
as military necessity. Claims that the
south do not sec emancipation as Just to them
Insists tha: the union must be restored on 9
"loyal basis"-kindness to be extended to all
but the leaders. The mere legal consent te
emancipation is not enough, but universal free
com and political tqualay. Calls the late e.cc
tions at the south farces, in which federal au.
thority was 6efed-members sent to congress
whose treason forbids their taking the tcs
o.th-proposes keeping the rcfracto" y state.
in political quarantine.
The magnanimous con
duct OF this immense population of bondmen,
has contradicted the observation and expert.
ence Of other nations, and must excite in their
behalf the admiration of posterty. Under no
perceivab!e obligation to assist in the mantc.
nance OF government from which they have
never received either justice or mercy, and
whose arm for generations had only sustained
their oppressors. they nevertheless became,
both in spirit aud conduct, not merely the tru.
est friends Of the union in the south, but the
only friends of whose CO operation the rational
cause derived material aid in the entire region
Of the rebel states. Nor was their alliance to
our cause by any means an incOnSiderablc aid
! to the disposable power of the union. In va.
| rous ways their physical efforts, always freely
! given. and their knowledge of the country and
its inhabitants, assisted in large degree in
overcoming the serious difficulties which so
often interposed themselves to the advances of
our armies through the insurgent states
While on many field of conflict for the union
their dssky battallions have displayed stead.
mess, devotion AMI courage, only excellcd
by the tried veterans of the northern armies.
Nor is this ALL Pass by the outlines which
present this war in its horrid form of carnage
and blood, to those inner scenes which present
the sublime spectacle of these black agents of
mercy lowering upon the verge of b ,tt'efields
within range OF bursting shells. bearing food
and water to nourish the bleeding soldiers o.
tho union. Invoke the grateful memory of the
many thousands who have been rescued from
the dead lines Of Andersonvile and Libby, to
find sympathy and protection in the rude cabin
of the slave. Appeal to the fathers and moth.
crs all over this broad land, whose sad hearts
have been relieved by the return Of sons long
mourned as among the hapless victims of rebel
cruelty.
BY these numerous acts of valuable service,
and their unwavering fidelity to the union,
these people have placed the government in q
position towards them which should engage
the gravest consideration.
Their emancipation was an emphatic asser.
ton Of Federal jurisdiction and authority over
them, carrying with il 10y unavoidable implica.
tion the power to guarantee all the rights and
incidents which result legismately from it.
Although, in form, military measure, yet its
validity did not terminate with the war. Inde-
pendent of the constitutional amendment, we
a condition of their return to the Union. This |
demand could not have been legally made an
terror to the rebellion, but the power to do it |
now is clearly deducible from the position OF
the government as the injured and prevailing
party in the late war, exercising the right to
of security from a vanquished belig e.
erent To maintain that we now lack the con.
'tltutlonal authority to secure this freed people
n the enjoyment Of all the rights incident to
their new condition, involves the inevitable
that, on the part Of the Federal
government, compulsory emancipation itself
vas usurpaiion of power.
Just about that last sentence, Governor
nothing more. Your own admission of "mili.
AIRY necessity" comedies it, You will find |
hereafter, when full discussion of this subject
md others connected with the administration
or the last four years, have been given to an
intelligent public, that this is not the only alb.
urdit, in which your "van-guard" PARTY of pro-
,ress has involved itself.
The Gov. next proceeds to claim this gov
rnment was established for the naturalization
md admiss ion into as citizens, not OF ICON.
'lexions" or nationalties, but Of everybody who
eeks shelter under its aag The foreigner
md the negro are placed in comparison with a
trong leaning toward the Latter Here fol
ows passage which in justice to the Execu-
i've, we give entire:
speak now Of a national necessity. Here
tter the political power of the late insurgent
states must be exercised either by loyal citi
ens or traitors, or by both conjointly. Preiu
lice may dictate, but justice and sound policy
will never sanction the disfranchisem of
hese four millions of tried people, whose loval
'allots, more formidable to treason than bayo
'ets, would hereafter constitute them an army
It occupation to the government in the yet un.
uet regions o! the south
Shal. we adhere to this fundamental idea of
olitical equality incorporated with our very
xistence, or must we surrender it in the hour
t the nations triumph, to the caprice OF men
Tho, by four years OF desperate war, attempt
to destroy the Constitution, thereby ac.
nowledSiag that in spite of our greatness, the
Government has ceased to contain in itself the {
leans OF its own preservation.
States in their individual capacity, must
lset this vital issue by bold and decided ac.
on. Indications are not wanting that the {
eople OF this State, will pronounce upon it
ieir calm and intelligent judgement. We
ave stricken from our statute the infamous
III our eariy history, winch denied, 8
&c negro, or the hunted fugitive the right to
cad the free soil OF Iowa. And it is reAec. $
Oh no less gratifying, that the men through e
hose truculency to the slave power this Q
lack code was adopted, have long since been
ns'gnsd to their political graves. Our pres
at just laws reflect the liberal and hu name
'ntiments OF the people. We acknow edge
at black men have some rights which ar. en- ,
tied to respect. They testify in our co rts,
icy have the right OF immigration and exit,
ley hold property, enjoy the benefits of our t
'mmon school system, and are otherwise pro- .
cted.