Year: 1861




From Judge Ma6on's letter, accepting the
( Democratic nomination for Governor of Iowa.
we make the following extracts bearing uDon
our present troubles


The remedies best adapted to the cur,no or
/ preventing any disease, either national or IN
dlTduaI, are those which are most in harmony
with the law OF the PATIENTS existence. Were
our government formed in blood aud violence
we might ratonaily resort solely to the same
principles for its preservation. But as the IT,
mon was the result OF compromise and con-
sent, how can.E.be restored or preserved hv vi
, oience' Which IS SO radical departure from
the fundamental laws of its being


If the difficulties in which we are now enveI.
oPed are merely Of mob-lke, riolous, or Insur-
Feclionarv character, they may rigblfully and
successfully be suppressed by the strong arr of
power The Constitution and the law both
con template such course and have made due
provision therefor


But II the present disturbance is the upris-
ing OF whole people against what they deem
injustice and oppression; If il is the voice of
one-thlrd OF the sovereign parties TO cur present
constitution Claiming the rights of securing
me happiness OF their citizens by changing the
form OF Their government in accordance, as
they contend, with the principle made sacred
and unquestonable IN our own great Declara-
tion OF Independence, can it be the dictate Of
sound political wisdom 10 resort 10 the first in
stance to naked, arbitrary, downrIgh; coercion,
however unJus!ifable may be the act Of the


He WHO regards the present danger as mere
iEsurrection, that can be safely and etfectualy
queled By the sole application of military pow
er, has never risen to level with the difficult
which now surrounds US. He is not the
statesman that the present condItion OF the
country demands. When armed resistance
has assumed such proportions as to embrace an
empire IN geographical extent; when il has be-
come crganIzed into a regular Government
with al lis Departments filled and in full op-
Grafton; when 1t Is regarded and treated by
foreign nations, and even by ourselves, as en-
titled 10 all the rights and privileges OF bell
igerent party; when the magnitude ofthat re-
siStaace is such as TO Justify the Executive IN
disregardIng all the safeguards with which the
Constitution of his country had promised TO
protect the liberty, the property and the rights
of ;he citizen, IN war as well as IN peace;
when it calls for authority 10 create an army
equal in number 10 the one-fourth part OF all
the enrolled militia Of all the loyal States, and
the creation OF debt greater than ever incuT-
red in single year by any nation on earth
when all this is true, are we prepared to follow
the counseS of those who speak of The difficult
ty as a mere ordinary outbreak of popular dlssa
lslactlon and who would treat It accordingly?
The disease is not mere surface tumor that
can be cured by the application of the knife or
the Cauterizng iron. Constitutional treat
nent can alone restore the the patient to its
pristine health and yicor.


A Il attempts at concession and compromise
should be exhausted before!the strength and re-
sources Of the North are strained 10 their utmost
tension 10 carry slaughter and devastation
throughout the length and breadth OF the
South


Fully convinced that the Union, such as it
has been, car never be restored or preserved
Sy force alone, that the dsafection of The South
has attained proportions and consistency which
forblds j. being crushed out by mere military
power, however great learning from history
that all wise rulers, however arbitrary, have al
ways done much to pacily the demands Of those
engaged in any widespread revolution before
resortng to harsher measures, and that those
who have been so unwise as to refuse all con-
cession to the popular demand except as it was
forced upon them. have generally paid dearly





to use every legitimate effort IN my power TO
induce the government OF my country TO take
that course which most relglously believe 10
be the only one that can ever prove satisfactory
or successful. Cancellation and union are eg-
cry day growing more difficulty but still / do
not deem the effort hopeless Politicians seem
to have exhausted their power the only hope
now is in the people. The voters of this State
should have an opportunity 10 express their
wishes on this momentous question. Il may
produce an effect both here and elsewhere.


As do not engage 10 this canvass from mo-
tives of personal ambition, l shall meet with
calmness The result, whatever it may be. If
defeated my regrets shall BE- for my country
The important consequences will fall upon o.
theis equally with myself. But il we shall
prove successful, shall indulge the cheering
hope that this success will prove the harpingel
of general reaction which may still restore
our distracted country TO ITS former Union,
prosperity and glory.


Yours, very truly, CHAS. MASON.