Year: 1864

so'called conscrlption law, the govern
ment sought to force only the poor
men of the country into the ranks of
the army to effect these objects so
prejudicial to their interests, and that
while these objects were being effect
| ed, the government intended to over
throw our free institutions and estab-
lish in their stead despotism.


1t is passing strange that intelli-
gent men could be found so wicked
as to make these statements, and that
other men could be found so ignorant
and foolish as to believe them. But
so it was. These statements were
made through The press and from the
stump, in the most violent and excit-
ing language, apparently with all the
carnestness of conviction, and thou
sands OF honest, but deluded men, be.
lleved them, and in consequence en-
tertained feelings of deep hostility to
the government. In this excited state
of the public mind secret societies
were organized in many, if not all of
the loyal states, the members of which





for the avowed purpose of protecting
themselves against what were called
arbitrary arrests" but as | am salts
fled with the intent upon the part of
the leaders to bring their members in
to armed collision with the general
government, in case any attempt
should be made to enforce the draft.
The natural result of these teachings
and this action, was seen in the bloody
riot that occurred in the chief city of
the Union, and in similar smaller out
breaks in other places.


Under these circumstances my duty
seemed to me to be plain and clear.
| was bound to see to the enforcement
of the laws and the preservation of
peace and good order and when or
ganized action was being taken
throughout the state to prevent the
one and violate the other, did not
think my duty permitted me to wait
until the evil was upon us before |
took steps for its prevention. | ac-
cordingly called upon the loyal men
of the state, who were willing to aid
In the enforcement of the law, TO or
ganize a volunteer military company
IN each county of the state. Such
companies were promptly organized,
in most of the counties, Of loyal and
substantial citizens, and, as they were
organized, placed arms and ammu-
milton in their hands to make their Or
ganizations effective. BY these means
a sufficient force was provided to pre-
serve the peace of the state and insure
the enforcement Of the law of Con-
gress, without weakening our army
facing the enemy by Withdrawing any
portion of it for that purpose, and, in
my Judgment, this state of prepara-
ton to preserve the peace, tended
largely to prevent its violation.


There was but a single occasion in
which 1T was necessary to use the
force thus organized. About the first
day of August last, as a number of
persons, who had been attending po-
litical meeting near the village of
South English, in Keokuk county,
were returning through that village, a
collision took place between them
and other persons in the village, in
which a Mr.. Tally, who had addressed
the meeting, was killed. The friends
of Tally, instead of appealing to the
laws and the officers of the law for
redress, chose to assume that the Off
GERS of the law would not do their du-
ty. They sent runners to various
points and in short time had gath
cred, near Sigourney, the county seat
of the county, large body of armed
men, who undertook to dictate to the
officers Of the law for what offence
and in what manner, the persons charg-
ed with killing Tally should be tried
and punished. Much alarm existed
throughout the country. The county
funds were sent off for safety, and ar
rangements were made to send away
the county records and orderly and
law-abiding people were in great anx-
iety and terror. AS soon as these
facts were made known to me, at
once ordered to Sigourney sufficient
number of volunteer companies, Of in-
fantry and artillery, to give protection
to the people and the officers Of the
law, and to show those assembled for
unlawful purposes, not only the hope
lessness, but the danger Of their at
tempt to overawe the authorities and
| am glad to be able to inform you
that the display of force was sufficient
to effect the desired object. As soon
as it became known that force was
being gathered to sustain the law,
the unlawful assemblage quietly dis
persed, order and tranquility restored,
and the officers of the law were left
unmolested in the performance of their
duty.


The companies thus organized and
armed are still in existence, aud,
should any further legislation be deem
ed necessary for their efficiency, / rec
ommend that such legislation be had.
{ At the commencement of the ses-
! sion of the Ninth General Assembly
+ the state had organized and sent to
the field fourteen regiments of infant.
ry, three regiments Of cavalry, and
three batteries of artillery and had
in process Of organization, two regi-
ments of infantry and one of cavalry
Of these regiments the lst infantry
was enlisted for three months, and had
then been mustered out of service
! All the others were enlisted for three
years. Since the commencement OF
that session. the two regiments of in
fantry and one of cavalry, then incom'
, plete, have been organized, and in adj
: dition thereto, tweuty-four regiments
, Of infantry, five of cavalry, and one
battery have been enlisted, and all fol
, three years. Besides these complete
organizations, large number of men
have been enlisted for regiments in
the field. | have not been able, as
vet, to ascertain whether the quota o
this state, under the last call of tho
! President for volunteers to fill tht
, ranks of our veteran regiments, has
, been filled. If it has not, the def
I cheney cannot be large, if the prope