Year: 1870

houses meet in joint convention, as
contemplated by the act of Congress,
to ratity, SO to speak, their separate
votes OF to-day. know not that my
presence or absence will be noticed by
any one. Lest, however, some may
think me Indifferent to an act SO i'm
portant to myself, and hence led to
misconstrue my absence, | drop you
this note. On Monday next, to meet
an engagement in the claw Depart
ment' OF the University, | am COM
PEELED to leave home to be gone al
most continuously for four weeks
Business ot q private nature, long neg
lected, now ilnberatively demands my
attention, cannot be postponed, and
hence l go in the morning early Tor
two days, to my old home in Van Bu-
rem county.


This much have deemed necessary
to say to you and through you to 9TH
ers who perchance may expect my
presence. 1 should be untrue to myself,
my friends and the occasion if did not
say one further word.


TO the people OF Iowa l can never
be grateful enough for the honor thus
conferred upon me. l will not say it
is unexpected, and yet | know it is al
most. If not quite, mamertted In view
OF the action of my political friends,
harmonious and then unanimous, ami
!, still more because OF the many letters
from all parts OF the State expressive
OF confidence and congratulations, am
in all sincerity, led to distrust my abi-
ity to meet their expectations. shall,
therefore, accept the trust with no lit
tie hesitation, and yet, with firm de-
termination to stand by and do 1.-THE
right as God and my conscience shall
lead ME to see it.


l am citizen of Des Moines; and
yet il know myself, | have been too
long identified with Iowa and its gen
eral interests, and have as l trust,
thoughts liberal and catholic enough
to enable me to remember that l must
represent all and every part, and not
any locality. If l cannot do this l
would be unworthy the confidence OF
the good people OF our noble State,
whatever my residence. Be assured
that l love lowa-aH Of 1t, not lone
part OF it-and that it shall be my aim
to cultivate the utmost cordiality and
good feeling among her people where
ever they may be, and to SO legislate
as to rebound to the greater good of
our entire commonwealth. Its entire
national and every interest shall de.
mand my constant and earnest atten-
ton.


Withdrawn somewhat for years from
active political life, some may suppose
l have hence been indifferent to the
scenes transpiring. No mistake could
be greater. \ sense OF duty, in view
OF the nature of my position and the
duties hence devolving, to my mind,
demanded that should refrain from
any active participation in political
contests, however earnest my feelings.
And those most intimate know more
OF the depth of this earnestness, and
how fully sympathize with every on
ward movement,-every breach made
in the citadels OF error and wrong.


Do you ask me what | would have
done? l answer hurridly and briefly
(tor time viii not allow me 20 do
more.)


First. For the good name of the
State and because we have never fall
tered in the field or in council, would
as quickly and as overwhelmingly as
possible, ratity the '.proposed Fifteenth
article Of the Federal Constitution.
| Second. Never by any act or vote of
mine shall there be withheld dollars
tribute or debt of any kind or descrip-
ton due, or which can be justly or
fairly claimed for those who, upon the
field, gave us united country in the
recent struggle.


Third. The public debt should and
must be paid according to the letter
and spirit of the national contract.
Reputation, secret or open, shall
never receive my conntenancc or sup
port. The nation, no more than an
individual, can afford to act in bad
faith. 1t is 4 reproach to our good
name, our fair fame, the good name of
soldier and citizen alike, to ask or in
innate that the nation shall or will
prove untrue to its obligations.


Fourth. To the end that the national
debt shall be paid, good faith observed,
the public debts lightened, and be-
cause it is right, there must be the
strictest economy in the expenditures
OF the public funds. This includes an
honest disbursement, Of coarse, (not in
name merely, but truly and actually,)
and SO, too, it implies the application
Of the peoples money to objects and
purposes strictly necessary, and that |
would discountenance Gas l would
thoroughly, absolutely, and entirely
all railroad subsidies, every effort to de-
vote the public domain or treasure to
the aggrandizement of individuals or
monopolies, and that my face would
be set against the exorbitant demands
OF those who combine that they may
fleece.


FyM. Finally, l would stand by
protection to home industry and man
ufactures. This is part OF my boy
hood faith, and is the conviction OF
manhood, and this not TO bu,M up the
,ad.r'duaI but to protect and benefit
the mRltoa.


Sirth. In every honorable way the
interest of the public debt should and
must be lcssencd, and as the debt was
contracted to save the nation for pos
terity as we'll as the present, so it is
but reasonable the future should be
made to bear its portion of the bur-
den.