Year: 1864

sion, the attempt was treason and insur


rection, which the President of tht


United States, under the solemn obliga


tions of his oath, was as much bound tt
suppress as he would have been to repc


an Invasion of our soil by foreign enc
my. Existing laws, adopted in the early
years OF the Republic, clothed him with
ample authority over the subject, ano
made his duty imperative. In promptly
meeting the aggressions of treason, anc
placing the Government in a state Of
defence against this long projected and


wicked rebellion, he fulfilled the Just de-
mands of the Nation, AMI entitled him
self to the lasting gratitude of mankind


For nesrl y three years this dep|orabe
| war, inaugurated by the mad ambition
ard treason of Southern men, has pro.
gressed with its varied results Though
disasters have sometimes overtaken our
advancing columns, the triumphs which
have crowned their heroic efforts, in the
glorious cause of the country, have far
outwcighcd all the reverses they have
sustained. We have penetrated the in.
surgent country from almost every point,
by land and sea, and rescued from their
grasp the most productive and populous
State Of the South. To, day the ancient
flag of the Union floats trump phautly
over the soil of every rebel State, and
waves from the battered walls of Sumter,
back os far as the serpent of rebellion can
be traced.


The rebel armies, defeated and dcmor-
allied are being rapidly driven to com
mon centre; their currency worthless and
their credit gone; their pretended juris
diction reduced to nearly onc-third of
its original limits, and a surplus popula-
tion crowded within them to subsist upon
their meagre harvests; impending death
or exile to the leaders, ruined fortunes
and desolated homes to the unwilling
masses-this is the end of treason, and
the doom of traitors!


Supported and elected by the loyal
and patriotic people of Iowa, in contest
presenting the grave questions which
here, as elsewhere through the loyal
States, alone pervaded the public mind
aud determined the result of the recent
elections, l but discharge plain duty to
them, when | express the convictions of
my own mind, upon the portentous issues
yet to be decided by the valor of our
arms. While entertaining profound
respect for the opinions of all loyal men,
in whatever locality they may be found,
| am aware of no rule requiring Difference
to the opinions of their enemies, or OF
any obligation I am under to consult
their views and wishes in the discharge
of my officia duties.


There is no longer any middle ground
where loyal men can stand, and find ref
uge from the stern and positive ohliga.
tions Of the hour The times are fraught
with mighty events, involving the vel
fare Of the present and future genera
tions, aud impose the most solemn duties
upon every patriot in the land. 1t is not
the mere domination of political party,
nor territory, nor empire, but the eternal
principles of natural justice, born of God
and, under Him, established on this
Continent by our fathers, which are stalk
cd upon the issue of the struggle.


1t needs 20 words of mine to show
that the vigorous and successful prose-
cution of this war is life to the Republic,
while to hesitate for single hour upon
any pretext whatever, or stop shor: 0:
the unconditional recognition of I, drral
authority by all the revo'tcd States,
would be but hollow true, and death to
our unity and Nationality


Great and holy interests arc involved
in the contest There is "a louccr any
hope Of their preservation by the ordiD-
ary modes of adjustment They are
therefore, to be saved or lost, by the ar
bitrament Of battle. 10 the terrible or
deal through which We are passing, many
old conditions are likely to be rejected,
and some things which have been may
not be again but the patriotic heart may
find reason tor its faith, that all such as
are good and substantial will be retained
and consecrated in the new life Of the
nation. Let US hope that enemies 10 the
disguise of friends will never again occu-
py the high places of power; that the
Peoples Treasury will not again be rob
bed by official hands, their arms, their
arsenals and fortications turned agans'
their own Government; that the blight.
ing curse of human slavery will no long
er receive protection by the statutes of
the land, nor exist in any form under the
National Flag; and that traitors may
never again sit in the Council Chambers
of the Nation, nor plot their treason be-
meath the dome of its Capitol. Let Us
pray to ri ghteous God that such scenes
may never stain the coming annals of the
Republic, and if need be, that the havoc
of bloody, desolating war, may abate not
until the day of regeneration shall come.


The events of the hour, grand and
irresistible in their course, are rapidly
fastening to their Legitimate results. He
who disposes while man struggles, and
proposes, has pronounced his imperial
decree.