The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-04-14
From the Register of kpril /.
The Soldiers Reunion.

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From the Register of April !.
The Soldiers Reunion.
Yesterday Governor Merrill sub.
mitted to the Assembly the follow
| ing message and memorial relative
to the Soldiers Reunion;
ESEctTIyE OFFICE,
/ DEs MONIES, April 6, 1870
Gentlemen of the Send1e and XoMse ot
i Representatives.
| kave the honor to transmit here
with q memorivl from the special
committee appointed by the Soldiers
Reunion Committee asking sn APP
preparation of money TO defray the
expenses Of "a reunion of Iowa sol
diors to take place OH the fst and
I'd days Of june next.
TIC extreme desirability Of the
proposed reunion; The general feeling
in its favor that appears to pcrvade
the soldiery of Iowa, and the emf
nent proprlety of the suggestion that
the State should aid 10 gratifying
the desires of those who did her so
much honor on the field Of battle,
constra'n me TO unite with the men,
orialists, and to urge that the Gener-
al Assembly make au appropriation
to aid in defraying tho expenses of
the proposed reunion.
1t is proper to observe that the
brilliant record made sor Iowa by
her citizen-soldiery during the hate
war, unsurpassed by that which
adorns the history of any other
member of the Republic, has cost the
State Treasury of Iowa comparative
ly nothing. Other States paid large
bounties TO recruits, others again in
creased from their own resources the
stiye ends of their volunteers, and
since the close of the contest many
States have caused certificates of
merit to bs presented to their honor
ably discharged soldiers.
1t was not necessary that Iowa
should offer any additional induce
ments TOR volunteers. Her citizens
eagerly responded to the Nations
call, rapidly filling the quotas deman-
ded by the Government, and her
veterans rest satisfied with the
honorable discharges earned and
received from their country.
| Now that peace blcsses all our
land, and the principles for which the
Republic contended have just culmin-
ated in complete and final triumph,
there is peculiar felicity in the reu-
nion Of the veterans, yet, in life to
grasp each others hand, to revive
"reminiscences of glorifed history
and to renew the bonds of Fraternity
as well as for social enjoymonts. As
custodians of the peoples money, we
should he as careful in its expenditure
as We are in the disposal of our
private means, and allow no undue
prodigahty, yet tc my mind there is
happy propriety in the suggestion
that the State lends its aid in max.
ing for the proposed assemblage ol
those to whom State and Nation owe
so much, the proper preparations, in
order that their reunion may be ut
tended with success worthy Of
those who will participate.
| SAMUEL MERRILL.
| DEs MONIES, Iowa,
| March 80, 1870.
| 70 tie General assembly Of the State
| Of IoWd.
The undersigned, your memorial
ISIS, beg leave to represent to your
Honorable Body that they were ap-
pointed com nittee at meeting OF
ex-soldiers and officers OF Iowa regi-
ments, held at Des Moines on the
evening Of March 30, 1870, to confer
with the Governor and to respect
fully ask an appropriation of twenty
thousand dollars (S20, ,O00) or so much
thereof as may be needed for the
purpose OF providing rations and
meeting the contingent expenses
necessary to be incurred in enter
tanning the Iowa soldiers at a Grand
Reunion to be held at Des Moines on
the,lst and::2dd days ofJune, 1870. Your
memorialists would further represent
that it is the desire Of the organiza-
ton which they represent, that the
said amount shall be placed in the
hands of the State Census Board,
and that 80 much Of it as may be
necessary for the purpose contem-
plated only, be drawn and expended
on requisitions of the Quartermaster
of the State, duly approved by the
Governor. In further explanation
your petitioners would represent that
the railroad companies OF lows with
unparalled liberality have agreed to
convey to Des Moines and return free
of expense, all enlisted men, and the
ex-officers at halt rates, while the 10.
cal committees Of the Capital propose
to subscribe with equal liberality OF
their means, and to do the labor and
to arrange all tho preliminaries to
make the proposed reunion Il sue.
cess.
Your memorialists are informed
from the press, and from other sour.
ces, from all parts of Iowa, that oul
ex-soldiery view the proposition with
great enthusiasm, and intend to at
tend en- masse they have therefore
deemed tia too onerous burden to be
borne by any one locality alone, to
provide rations and accommodation
for all who are expected to attend, and
| in behalf OF the survivors OF the eighty
thousand men whom Iowa sent tG
the field, most respectfully but ur
gently appeal to the generosity and
Justice Of your Honorable body, to
make the appropriation.
| Respectfully submitted,
j. NJ HEpRIcK,
IL. L. REID,
WIN. NANDEvER.