Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-02-24
Senator Wright Or the Proposed
Constitutional Amendment.
DEs MONIES, Dec. 6, 1869.


Noah Green, Esq, Keokuk-Dsa'
Sn:-I acknowledge apparent neglect
in not sooner answering yours OF the
22d inst. The causes Of the delay
need not state Be assured they are
sufficient. / have not the pleasure OF
personal acquaintance, but, from what
mutual friends have said TO me oi
your sincerity and honesty Of purpose
/ assume that you seek my position up
on the question presented-not to pro
mote mere political ends, nor to further
tho interests Of any particular indiyid-
ual-but from an honest desire Ia
know my views thereon-deeming
such your right under the circumstan-
ces, and compliance with request
SO plainly stated, my duty.
l was not at the Oskaloosa conyen,
ton. Ireceived letter from the com
mittee inviting me to be present and
take part in discussions. Approaching
the compliment, knowing well some
Of the earnest minds engaged in the
movement, ard always making it a
point 10 at least acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of every call of this kind upon
my time-I stated that l should neces-
sariIy be absent attending to my du-
ties at the State University, adding:
accept my earnest wishes for the har
monlous action Of the convention, and
that everything may rebound to the
glory Of the common Master and the
country's strength and greatness"
| was, therefore, not present, nor did
l have any knowledge of my election
as president of the convention for days
perhaps two weeks afterwards. No
one, am sure, will say that the elec-
ton was the result Of any conference
with me, for l am certain 1t was not.
And yet beg to assure you that l
know too well many OF the gentlemen
taking part in the convention, to sup,
pose that in conterring upon me that
place, they were actuated by other
than The best of motives. Their friend
ships arc too sincere and too oft re-
peated to lead me to doubt tor a mo.
ment their sincerity; their earnest anx-
iety to promote every good cause and
work; their readiness to promote my
interest wherever and whenever they
could consistent with duty. But these
remarks are comparatively lmmaterial,
the vital question being whether | IA
vor the proposed amendment. While
l entertain the most profound respect
for the high character OF those engaged
in the movement here and elsewhere,
l nevertheless feel constrained to say
that I do not. This answers your in
quiry, and Is, perhaps, al! | need say,
aud yet may be permitted to say one
word further.
Following the resolves of the con-
vention, do most reverently acknowl'
edge the Deity; His Law; and the Son
as "the governor among nations"
admit that He administers the affairs
Of this world through the Son, "who
is wise of all things" I 60 not con-
cede, of course, as some claim, that
s.the New Testament is fable and
Chris. a myth But to thus believe
as matter of faith, and to pronounce
the same in the form OF constitutional
law to which all must subscrib by sol
emn oath or otherwise, are very differ.
ent things. With us religion is neither
paid nor presented by the State. 1t has
its strongest support in the regard for
public morals and the enunciation OF
enlightened faith. 1t always, in my
judgment, best serves nation when
it is free from entangled alliance with
the State, and in no form OF govern.
ment is this more emphatically true
thar in Republic. Or, as this thought
was we'll expressed from one of the
pulpits of our State on our recent
thanksgiving occasion, (Rev. Burnard,
Mt. Pleasantly: "We see, then, the wis.
dom OF the fathers Of this government
and the high honor they put upon con-
science, IN that they not only allowed
the largest liberty, but they did 1t 81
lently, or as though 1t were privilege
which did not emanate from them, and
which it would have been presumption
in them to seem to confer. Thus truth
has fair field heres Religion is in its
own element. And the
Church. instead Of being tool in the
hands of politicians, exerts healthy
influence on the affairs OF the State and
the conduct of statesmen" And this
is what we want. This too, it can best
DO by the largest religious liberation.
I know not your views in detail up
on this question. Nor-entertainlng
for them il known, l trust, due re-
it make any difference
il / did. Your convictions are such, l
am led to suppose, as you have formed
after an earnest and intelligent effort,
to see the right. l ask the same judg
ment upon m,ne. may be wrong
you may be. The convention may be
right. And, indeed, as above sug
gested, there are very many matters
In the report and resolutions
adopted, in which most heartily con-
cur and to which, imagine, no one
would interpose the least objections.
[ do not, however, appreciate the ne
cessi;y tor the proposed amendment.
The great principles of human liberty,
being now, or soon to be, secured be-
J ond all contingency SO far as consti-
sutional guaranty is concerned. Icon
fess that doubt much the propricty
Of making Or suggesting further amend
ments, except under the most urgent
or pressing circumstances. And while
will in my humble way, I trust, al
low no one to 60 in advance of me in
devotion to my country and our polit-
cal institutions, and in efforts to trans
nit our civil and religious liberty to
posterity, | nevertheless fail to recog-
nize III this movement anything neces.
sar, to the accomplishment OF this end.
II its results are negative or merely
passive, then see no occasion for the
II positive. active or ao-