North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-08-19
the SIN king Shin.


The following letter from Col. G. C.
Gardiner of Elmira, assessor for the 9th
district Of New York, to General Henry
w. Slocum OF New York, relating to the
issues Of the present political canvass,
will be read with interest. General Slo-
cum and Col. Gardiner were brother Off
GERS of the same regiment of volunteers
in the early part of the rebellion. They
now stand together, again contending for
an undivided Union, not by wager of bat.
tie, but through the constituted forms oi
law, and propose to win:
ELMIRA, N. Y, July %, 1868.
My DEAR GENERAL-I have received
your reply to my letter of last month.
The political views which expressed to
you in my former letter have entertained
for many months past, although have
not deemed it necessary to make them
generally known. My business is not
politics. True, l am now a government
officer, but is the first position of the kind
l have ever held. l never asked for any
Office, and do not desire another.
The situation of our national affairs, !
regard with no ordinary degree or alarm.
The chief causes for this anxiety may be
read in the proceedings Of congress. The
unconstitutional and revolutionary meas
ures of that national body should excite
the gravest apprehensions of danger for
the institutions of our country, and judg-
ing from my own observations and the ex-
>f oth / hals
to be shared in by many, who, like myself,
fomerly supported the republican party.
The people have the remedy, and be-
lieve the popular will to be largely in favor
of change in the character of our repre-
sentatives. know Of many who will not
dispute the military genius of Grant or the
eminent ability Of Colfax, both soldiers
and civilians, who, this year, will vote for
chGnge-a comI lete change in the admin.
istration of our affairs!
Congress should be arraigned and ques-
toned by the people in this canvass!
Let congress answer for depriving ten
states of all civil government for the last
three years!
There can be no equality in the sister.
hood of states, if conditions may be i'm
posed upon some and not on all. We are
in union of equals. No other doctrine
was entertained by the statesmen Of 1889.
Congress now assumes new wisdom, and
proposes to rebuild the superstructure of
our government, better and more enduring
than our fathess, in direct violation of an
established constitution solemnly ratified
by the people. Shall We surrender this
priceless heritage of constitutional civil
government, bequeathed to us by wiser
generation, without struggle within the
constituted forms Of law?
Let congress answer for their encroach-
ments upon the executive and judicial de-
partments Of the national government
and every act of tyranny and misrule cal.
culated to inf1ame the passions of one sec
ton of the country against those of an
other
LIE t congress answer for keeping down
the credit Of the government, continuing a
currency, taxing the people
uneqaally, appropriating the public funds
improvidently, and sustaining proaligate
and corrupt officials!
There is but one way by which these
desired changes can be brought about, and
that is, to indorse the action of the New
York national convention. ~
This is my candid judgment, and l
shall labor earnestly for that end, with all
the great body Of conservatives in the
country, who stand pledged for change.
With complete victory, we may ex-
pect a restored Union with peaceful rela-
tions between all the states, a sound cur
rency, equal taxation. industrial activity,
comercial prosperity, and every citizen in
the enjoyment of his constitutional rights.
Sincerly your friend,
c. G. GARDINER.
To Maj. H. w. Slocum, New York City.