USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 7
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 7
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
5
POLITICAL HISTORY.
419
cratic vote being less than a fourth of the total for State officers. In 1867 the Demo- crats organized and made a vigorous cam- paign, the result of which was that they polled nearly half as many votes as the Republicans, or a little over 200 votes. They nominated candidates for most of the local offices, and gave them the full party vote. Both parties desired to nominate General Grant in 1868, but the Republi- cans stole a march on their opponents by holding their convention first. Schuyler Colfax was named for Vice-President. The Democratic convention was for a long time unable to decide between Pendleton, Han- cock, Hendricks and others; but on the twenty-second ballot Horatio Seymour, whose name had been scarcely mentioned before, was unanimously nominated, to- gether with Francis P. Blair for Vice- President. An active canvass followed, in which the brief expression, " Let us have peace," in Grant's letter of acceptance, was liberally employed by Republican journals and orators to tone down what were regarded as rapidly-growing race and sectionà . differences, and with such effect that Grant carried all of the States save eight, receiving an electoral vote of 214 against 80. His majority in this county was 262 in a total vote of 774. This was the largest vote cast in the county up to this time. The majorities were about the same for all the offices.
In 1869 the Democrats nominated another list of candidates, who were defeated by the usual vote-a little more than two to one. The majorities ranged from 200 to 400. In I870 the disproportion was still greater, on State ticket. No contest was made for county offices. In 1871 the Re- publican majority in this county for Gov- ernor was 432. The Democrats tried to elect their leaders for several county of- fices, and came nearer doing it than since 1859.
An issue raised in Missouri gave immc- diate rise to the Liberal Republican party, though the course of Horace Greeley had long pointed toward the organization of something of the kind, and with equal plainness it pointed to his desire to be its champion and candidate for the presidency. In 1870 the Republican party in Missouri, then in control of the Legislature, split on the question of the removal of the disquali- fications imposed upon rebels by the State Constitution during the war. Those favor- ing the removal of disabilities were headed by B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz, and they called themselves Liberal Republicans. Those opposed were called and accepted the name of Radical Republicans. The former quickly allied themselves with the Democrats, and thus carried the State, though Grant's administration " stood in" with the Radicals. The liberal movement rapidly spread, and its leaders at once be- gan to lay plans to carry the next presi- dential election. Horace Greeley was nominated for President, and B. Gratz Brown for Vice-President. The Demo- cratic convention indorsed these nomina- tions, but a few dissatisfied Democrats named Charles O'Conor and John Quincy Adams. The Republicans re-nominated General Grant, with Henry Wilson for Vice-President. The Republicans were overwhelmingly successful, not so much from the popularity of Grant as from the unpopularity of Greeley. The vote in Ringgold County was: Grant, 805 ; Greeley, 215 : O'Conor, 1 ; Grant's plural- ity, 590. The Republican State ticket re- ceived about 30 less majority, as did their candidate for clerk of courts. Their man for recorder received 234 majority, while the candidate for surveyor got in by only 9 votes.
A heavy vote was brought out in 1873, the Republican majority averaging 100 less than in IS72 for State officers. The candi-
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420
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
dates for the local offices received all sorts of majorities, and one office, the treasurer- ship, was captured by the Democrats, or rather the fusion ticket, for the Democrats and " Anti-monopolists" pooled their is- sues. Allen Higgins was the lucky candi- date. In 1874 the Republican majority averaged about 100, the reduction being due to the fusion of opposing elements. In 1875 the Republican majority for Governor was 373. The county officials were elected by figures from 166 to 290.
The troubles in the South and the almost general overthrow of the " carpet-bag " governments impressed all with the fact that the presidential election of 1876 would be exceedingly close, and the result con- firmed this belief. The Republicans nom- ated Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler, and the Democrats, Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks. A third party had sprung into existence, called at first "Greenbackers," but latterly " National Greenbackers," who desired to relieve the financial crisis of 1873 and the hard times following by a large issue of irredeemable paner money. They nomi- nated Peter Cooper and Samuel F. Cary. After a contest for months over the returns of this election, Hayes was declared elected. The vote in this county was: Hayes, I,- 245 ; Tilden, 422; Cooper, 245 ; Hayes' plurality, 823. The same figures obtained on the State ticket. The Greenback vote increased from this year until about 1881.
The Republican majority for Governor in 1877 was 293. The majorities for county offices were from 52 to 335. In 1878 the contest was closer, the Republican majori- ties being from 100 to 200 on State ticket, and about the same on local issues. In 1879 the majorities were all the way from 20 to 253.
In 1880 James A. Garfield, Winfield S. Hancock and James B. Weaver were the standard-bearers of the three National
parties. The vote in this county was : Garfield, 1,450; Weaver, 525; Hancock, 436; Republican plurality, 925. It will be noticed that the Greenbackers polled nearly 100 votes more than the Democrats. For the county offices these two parties have fused every year recently, though their combined strength is much less than the Republican vote. The Republican ma- jority for county offices was in 1880 about 500.
In ISSI Governor Sherman's plurality was 602. The Greenback vote outnumbered the Democratic more than two to one, and the Republicans were more than twice as numerous as the Greenbackers. The fusion- ists carried one county office, John W. Been being elected sheriff. The Republican majorities for the remaining offices were much less than that for Governor. At the special election of June 27, 1882, on prohi- bition, the question stood in this county, 1,640 for, and 570 against ; majority, 1,070. In 1882 the Republican plurality on State ticket was 550, and between 300 and 400 on county ticket. In 1883 the Greenback strength fell off, in comparison with the Democratic, and it has since remained the smaller of the two parties in opposition to Republicanism in Ringgold County. Gov- ernor Sherman's plurality was 845. The majorities on the local ticket varied from five to 475.
The presidential campaign of 1884, with its personal animosities and bitter discus- sions, is fresh in the minds of all. James G. Blaine stood for the hitherto successful party ; Grover Cleveland was supported by the Democrats and the " Mugwumps," or protesting Republicans; Benjamin F. Butler was the nominee of the Greenback and Labor conventions, and John P. St. John was the candidate of the Prohibi- tionists. Cleveland was elected by about 1, 100 votes in New York State. In Ring- gold County the vote was: Blaine, 1,677;
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
421
Cleveland, 1,096; Blaine's majority, 581. This was the average majority of the whole ticket. In 1885 Larrabee's plurality for Governor was 552. The majorities for county officers were from 334 to 693.
Of the seventeen civil townships in Ring- gold County, the Fusion party can usually carry Union, Benton, Middle Fork and sometimes Athens and Monroe. The others are safely Republican.
Political campaigns in this county have always been marked by good nature on the part of the candidates, and good order on the part of voters. The county offices have, as a rule, been filled by industrious, capa- ble and honest officials.
OFFICIAL REGISTER.
The following register of the names of those who have held office in Ringgold County, with years of service, has been prepared from the records of the county.
COUNTY JUDGES.
James C. Hagans, 1855-'9; Isaac W. Keller, 1860- resigned in September, 1862; Wendell Poor, appointed to fill va- cancy, then elected to office, 1862-'5; Isaac W. Keller, 1866-'7; John T. Williams, 1868-'9. The office of county judge was abolished at the end of 1868, and the duties chiefly devolved upon the newly-created office of auditor. During Judge Williams' second year as county judge he performed only the duties of auditor.
AUDITORS.
John T. Williams, 1869: John McFar- land, 1870-'5; R. F. Askren, 1876-'9; J. C. Askren, 1880-'1 ; J. E. Doze, 1882-'5; Henry II. Ross, 1886 -.
CLERKS OF COURTS.
Mathew B. Brown, 1855, resigned Octo- ber 10; Andrew W. Tice, appointed to fill
vacancy, then elected to office, 1855-'6: Randolph Sry, 1856-'60; T. F. How, 1861, died in office ; Ith S. Beall, 1861-'4; Thomas Ross, 1865-'70; H. C. Andrews, 1871-'2; George S. Allyn, 1873-'8; Thomas Liggett, 1879-'84; James H. Burke, 1885 -.
TREASURERS AND RECORDERS.
Joseph W. Cofer, 1855-'7; A. G. Beall, 1857-'9; John Birkhimer, 1860-'1; Alex. Z. Huggins, 1862, resigned in September ; John T. Williams, appointed to fill vacancy, then elected to the office, 1862-'4. The offices of recorder and treasurer were separate from January 1, 1865.
TREASURERS.
John T. Williams, 1865-'7 ; C. W. Dake, 1868-'71 ; Allen Higgins, 1872-'5; Henry Todd, 1876-'9; A. M. Poor, 1880-'5; Thomas Campbell, 1886 -.
RECORDERS.
Wendell Poor, 1865-'6; Warren R. Turk 1867-'72; Hugh A. White, 1873-'4; B. F. Day, 1875-'6; H. H. Parsons, 1877-'S2; John C. McClurg, 1883 -.
SHERIFFS.
Hiron Imus, 1855, May to August ; Peter Doze, 1855-'6; Charles H. Schooler, 1856- '8, resigned ; Samuel Allison, appointed to fill vacancy, then elected, 1858-'9; John D. Carter, 1860-'1; John McGaughey, 1862-'3 ; Luther Tillotson, 1864-'5 ; D. B. Marshall, 1866-'7; John A. Lesan, 1868-'9; D. B. Marshall, 1870-'3 ; J. R. Henderson, 1874-'5; H. A. White, 1876-'9; W. A. Delashmutt, 18So-'1; John H. Been, 1882- '3; James Beard, 1884.
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONERS.
Charles H. Schooler, 1855, resigned July 2 ; Wendell Poor, appointed to fill vacancy.
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
then elected to office, 1855-'7. Office abol- ished and duties devolved upon
SUPERINTENDENTS OF COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Wendell Poor, 1858-'9; A. G. Beall, 1860-'1; Edgar Sheldon, 1862-'3; W. T. Laughlin, 1864-'5 ; Andrew Johnson, 1866- '7; Henry H. Ross, 1868, resigned in Sep- tember; I.I. C. Andrews, appointed to fill vacancy, then elected to office, 1868-'9; William J. Buck, 1870-'1; R. F. Askren, IS72-'5; W. J. Work, 1876-'9; WV. E. All- drews, ISSo-'1; T. E. Dubois, 1882.
SURVEYORS.
James White, 1855-'6; Isaac B. Tall- madge, 1856-'9; Samuel Allison, appointed to fill vacancy caused by S. J. Hall, who had been elected, not qualifying, 1860-'3 ; A. G. Beall, 1864-'9; Henry II. Ross, 1870-'3; E. B. Heaton, 1874-'9; Henry H. Ross, ISSO-'3; Edgar Sheldon, 1884.
SUPERVISORS (TOWNSHIP SYSTEM) .
1861 .- Randolph Sry, Mt. Ayr, Chairman; Charles H. Schooler, Lott's Creek; Parks Brittain, Platt; Martin Patrick, Athens : Andrew Johnson, East Fork ; James Rich- ards, Jr., Sand Creek ; L. N. Lewis, West Fork ; John T. Williams, Washington, and Allen Higgins, Middle Fork.
1862 .- Thomas Ross, Mt. Ayr, Chair- man ; James Richards, Jr., Sand Creek ; L. N. Lewis, West Fork; John T. Williams. Washington ; Allen Higgins, Middle Fork ; John Gard, Platt ; Charles H. Schooler, Lott's Creek ; Andrew Johnson, East Fork, and Martin Patrick, Athens.
1863 .--- Ith S. Beall, Mt. Ayr, Chairman ; Silas Tedrow, Athens ; Charles II. School- er, Lott's Creek ; Absalom Baird, West Fork; John Gard, Platt ; Nathan Miller, Middle Fork; Iradell Cooper, East Fork ; G. C. Nulph, Washington, and Standbury Wright, Sand Creek.
1.4 :
1864 .- Ith S. Beall, Mt. Ayr, Chairman ; G. C. Nulph, Washington ; Absalom Baird, West Fork ; James T. Blades, Lott's Creek ; D. F. Sellards, Athens; John A. Lesan, East Fork; John Gard, Platt ; E. M. Den- nis, Middle Fork, and Standbury Wright, Sand Creek.
1865 .-- D. F. Sellards, Athens, Chairman ; Standbury Wright, Sand Creek ; John Gard, Platt; Absalom Baird, West Fork ; James T. Blades, Lott's Creek; John A. Lesan, Mt. Ayr; A. F. Talbot, Washington ; A. C. Tardy, Middle Fork, and Hiron Imus, East Fork. A. F. Talbot was chairman after the resignation of D. F. Sellards, whose place as supervisor was filled by L. R. Larue. Michael Stahl, of Platt, succeeded John Gard.
1866 .-- A. F. Talbot, Washington, Chair- man; Standbury Wright, Sand Ceeek ; Absalom Baird, West Fork ; A. C. Tardy, Middle Fork; Hiron Imus, East Fork ; Jesse Thompson, Lott's Creek ; L. D. Riley, Athens; Green B. Reynolds, Platt, and E. G. Martin, Mt. Ayr. Absalom Baird, was chairman during the latter part of the year, Mr. Talbot having removed from his town- ship, and James II. Ruby was appointed supervisor from that township to succeed Talbot.
1867 .-- E. G. Martin, Mt. Ayr, Chairman ; Standbury Wright, Sand Creek; Green B. Reynolds, Platt ; John D. Carter, West Fork; Jesse Thompson, Lott's Creek ; Josiah Vorhies, Washington ; A. C. Tardy, Middle Fork; L. D. Rilcy, Athens, and John A. Lesan, East Fork.
IS6S .- John D. Carter, West Fork, Chair- man ; Standbury Wright, Sand Creek; Isaac A. Tally, Platt; Jesse Thompson, Lott's Creek; A. G. Beall, Mt. Ayr; A. C. Tardy, Middle Fork; L. D. Riley, Athens ; A. Lorimor, Liberty ; Job Rush, Monroe ; James II. Ruby, Washington, and Josiah Vorhies, Jefferson.
1869 .- Absalom Baird, Clinton, Chair-
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
man : Edgar Sheldon, Sand Creek; Josiah Vorhies, Jefferson ; Isaac A. Tally, Platt ; James H. Ruby, Washington; Asher Lori- mor, Liberty ; L. T. Long, Monroe; L. D. Riley, Athens; A. G. Beall, Mt. Ayr ; John Stevenson, Benton ; Allen Higgins, Middle Fork, and Jesse Thompson, Lott's Creek.
1870 .- Edgar Sheldon, Tingley, Chair- man ; Jolin Dixon, Union ; Josiah Vorhies, Jefferson ; J. P. Lambert, Lincoln; Green B. Reynolds, Grant; James H. Ruby, Washington; Asher Lorimor, Liberty ; Lewis T. Long, Monroe ; Milton Rey- nolds, Athens; J. F. Mount, Mt. Ayr ; John Stevenson, Benton ; Absalom Baird, Clin- ton; Allen Higgins, Middle Fork, and Jabez E. Varney, Lott's Creek.
SUPERVISORS (PRESENT SYSTEM).
1871 .- Andrew Johnston, Chairman ; N. Miller and J. F. Mount. Mr. Johnston re- signed in October. His place as a member was filled by Edward B. Heaton, and Nathan Miller was chosen chairman.
1872 .- Nathan Miller, Chairman ; Absa- lom Baird and Edward B. Heaton.
1873 .- Absalom Baird, Chairman ; Aaron Nash and C. K. Pierson.
1874 .- Absalom Baird, Chairman ; Aaron Nash and Isaac W. Keller.
1875 .- Aaron Nash, Chairman; Isaac W. Keller and W. H. Barnes.
1876 .- Isaac W. Keller, Chairman ; W. H. Barnes and James A. Miller.
1877 .- W. H. Barnes, Chairman ; James A. Miller and S. England.
1878 .- James A. Miller, Chairman ; S. England and A. Goodell.
1879 .- S. England, Chairman ; A Good- ell and James A. Miller.
1880 .- A. Goodell, Chairman; James A. Miller and Alexander Beard.
IS81 .- James A. Miller, Chairman : Alex- ander Beard and Thomas A. Stevenson.
1882. - Alexander Beard, Chairman ; Thomas A. Stevenson and G. S. Moore.
IS83 .- Thomas A. Stevenson, Chairman ; G. S. Moore and E. J. Pricc.
1884 .- G. S. Moore, Chairman ; E. J. Price and E. J. Pratt.
1885 .- E. J. Price, Chairman ; E. J. Pratt and Andrew Johnston.
1886 .- E. J. Pratt, Chairman ; Andrew Johnston and L. D. Riley.
SENATORS.
Samuel Dale, 1856-'9 ; James C. Hagans, 1860-'3; L. W. Hillyer, 1864-'5; C. G. Bridges, 1866-'7; Isaac W. Keller, 1868- '71; Elisha T. Smith, 1872-'5 ; Fred Teale, 1876-'9; Isaac W. Keller, 1880-'3; A. P. Stephens, 1884 -.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Samuel H. Moer, 1856-'7; W. B. Davis, 1858-'9; Reuben A. Moser, 1860-'3 ; Will- iam Elliott, 1864-'5; Alexander Z. Hug- gins, 1866-'7 ; Leonard T. McCoun, 186S- '71; Andrew Johnston, 1872-'5; S. W. Mc- Elderry, 1876-'7 ; Allen Higgins, 1878-'9; Charles C. Bosworth, 1880-'3 ; John Coie, 1884 -.
CONGRESSMEN.
Augustus Hall, 1855-'7 : Samuel R. Cur- tis, 1857-'62; James F. Wilson, 1862-'3; John A. Kasson, 1863-'7 ; Grenville M. Dodge, 1867-'9; Frank W. Palmer, 1869- '73; James W. McDill, 1873-'7; W. F. Sapp, 1877-'81 ; William P. Hepburn, 1881-
DISTRICTS.
Ringgold was in the First Congressional District (then half of the State), until 1863, then for ten years in the Fifth District, and since 1873 in the Eighth.
Until the adoption of the present Consti- tution the county formed a part of the Sixth Judicial District, except one year, when it was attached to the Ninth Dis trict. Since 1858 it has formed a part of the Third Judicial District, which now in-
494
HISTORY OF, RINGGOLD COUNTY.
cludes Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Mont- gomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Union countics.
For Senatorial purposes, beginning with 1856, Ringgold was joined with Fremont, Mills, Taylor, Page, Montgomery, Adams and Union counties as the Eleventh Dis- trict. Four years later, with Taylor, Adams, Union and Clarke counties, it made the Sixth District. Two years later Clarke was detached, and Page and Montgomery added. In 1866-'7 Ringgold and Decatur formed the Sixth District. This arrange- ment endured four years, when Taylor was added, and the district numbered the Sev- enth. In 1884 it was again put in the Sixth, with Taylor and Union counties.
For representation in the lower branch of the General Assembly no arrangement
endured any great length of time. In 1856-'7 it was with Mills, Taylor, Page, Montgomery and Adams counties as the Fourteenth District. In IS58-'9 it was joined with Adams, Union, Page and Tay- lor, in the Forty-fourth District. Then for two years Ringgold and Taylor formed the Seventh District. Next, Union wasadded. and the district numbered the Sixty-second, Two years later Union was taken away again, and Ringgold and Taylor became the Sixty-sixth District. In 1866-'7 the same counties composed the Sixty-seventh, in 1868-'9 the Sixty-fifth, and in 1870-'3 the Fifteenth. Then Ringgold was joined with Union to make the Fourteenth Dis- trict, for four years. Since 1878 Ringgold County has formed the Fifteenth District by itself.
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THE CIVIL WAR.
425
THECIVILWAR
1
HE people of the North- crn States have just reason to be proud of . the glorious record they made during the dark and bloody days when crimson- handed rebellion threatened the life of the nation. When war was forced upon the country by rebels in arms against the Government, the people were quietly pur- suing the even tenor of their ways, doing whatever their hands found to do-work- ing the mines, making farms, or cultivating those already made, erecting homes, building shops, founding cities and towns, building mills and factories-in short, the country was alive with industry and hopes for the future. The people were just recovering from the depression and losses incident to the financial panic of 1857. The future looked bright and promising, and the industrious and patriotic sons and daughters of the free States were buoyant with hope, looking forward to the perfect- ing of new plans for the insurement of comfort and competence in their declining years; they little heeded the mutterings and threatenings of treason's children, in the slave States of the South. True sons
and descendants of the heroes of the "times that tried men's souls "-the strug- gle for American independence-they never dreamed that there was even one so base as to dare attempt the destruction of the Union of their fathers-a Government baptized with the best blood the world ever knew. Whileimmediately surrounded with peace and tranquillity, they paid but little attention to the rumored plots and plans of those who lived and grew rich from the sweat and toil, blood and flesh of others-aye, even trafficked in the offspring of their own loins. Nevertheless, the war came, with all its attendant horrors.
April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, at Charles- ton, South Carolina, Major Anderson, U. S. A., Commandant, was fired upon by rebels in arms. Although basest treason, this first act in the bloody reality that followed was looked upon as a mere bravado of a few hot-heads-the act of a few fire-eaters whose sectional bias and freedom and hatred was crazed by the excessive indul- gence in intoxicating potations. When, a day later, the news was borne along the telegraph wires that Major Anderson had been forced to surrender to what had first been regarded as a drunken mob, the pa- triotic people of the North were startled from their dreams of the future, from un- dertakings half completed, and made to realize that behind that mob there was a
426
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
dark, deep and well-organized purpose to destroy the Government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare question their right to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black, or who, perchance, through practices of lustful natures, were half or quarter removed from the color that God, for his own purposes had given them. But they "reckoned without their host." Their dreams of the future, their plans for the establishment of an independent confeder- acy, were doomed from their inception to sad and bitter disappointment.
Immediately upon the surrender of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln, America's martyr President, who, but a few short weeks before, had taken the oath of office as the nation's Chief Executive, issued a proc- lamation calling for 75,000 volunteers for three months. The last word had scarcely been taken from the electric wires before the call was filled. Men and money were counted out by hundreds and thousands. The people who loved their whole Govern- ment could not give enough. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through cvery heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house, every calling offered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity. Party lines were for the time ig- nored. Bitter words, spoken in moments of political heat, were forgotten and for- given, and, joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier-statesman : " By the great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved!"
Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the free States to crush out and subdue
the monstrous war traitors had inaugu- rated. But to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready re- sponse. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. Such were the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North, among whom the sons of Ringgold County made a conspicuous and praise- worthy record. Of the offerings made by these people during the great and final struggle between freedom and slavery it is the purpose now to write.
April 14, A. D. 1861, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the following :
PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been and now are violently opposed in several States, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordi- nary way ; I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the ag- gregate number of 75,000, to suppress said combinations and execute the laws. I ap- peal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain the laws and the integrity of the perpetuity of the popular Government, and redress wrongs long enough endured. The first service as- signed to the forces, probably, will be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. Let the utmost care be taken, consistent. with the object, to avoid devastation, de- struction, interference with the property of peaceful citizens in any part of the coun- try; and 1 hereby command persons composing the aforesaid combination to disperse within twenty days from date.
" I hereby convene both Houses of Con- gress for the 4th day of July next, to deter-
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THE CIVIL WAR.
mine upon measures for public safety which the interest of the subject demands.
" ABRAHAM LINCOLN, " President of the United States. " WM. H. SEWARD,
" Secretary of State."
The gauntlet thrown down by the trai- tors of the South was accepted-not, how- ever, in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence, but with a firm deter- mined spirit of patriotism and love of coun- try. The duty of the President was plain, under the Constitution and the laws, and above and beyond all, the people, from whom political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the rebellion, and stood ready to sustain the authority of their rep- resentatives and executive officers.
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