History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history, Part 29

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 29

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We, the National Greenback Labor Party of Iowa, decide, as our first broad principle of faith, that that which is created is subservient to the power that created it.

Resolved, That all currency, whether metallic or paper, necessary for use and convenience of the people, should be issued and controlled by the government, and not by or through the bank corporations of the country; and when so issued

shall be a full legal tender for the payments of all debts, public and private.

2. That so much of the interest bearing debt of the United States as shall become redeemable in the year 1881, or prior thereto, being in amonnt $782,000,000, shall not be refunded beyond the power of the government to call in said obligations and pay them at any time, but shall be paid as rapidly as possible, and accord- ing to contract. To enable the government to meet these obligations, the mints of the United States should be operated to their full capacity in the coinage of standard silver dollars, and such other coinage as the business of the country may require.

3. That as the producing classes are now enslaved by interest-bearing debt, therefore we are unalterably opposed to all bonded indebted- ness.

4. That the payment of the bond in coin, originally payable in lawful money, was a gift to the bond-holder, and the payment of the soldiers in paper, when by contract payable in coin, was and is an unjust discrimination in favor of the bondholder; therefore, we demand, in justice to the soldier, that he be paid accord- ing to contraet.

5. That we are opposed to the importation of Chinese semi-barbarous labor, regarding it as a paralyzing and degrading system, that will, unless checked, undermine American free labor

6. That we demand the immediate passage by Congress of & law for the equalization of soldiers' bounties similar to the one vetoed by President Grant.

7. That the right of suffrage, free press and speech, are the inalienable rights of every citi- zen of the United States.

8. That we denounce the discrimination between government clerks and government laborers, the clerks working six hours and the laborers ten hours.

9. That we are opposed to a large standing army, either national or State, in times of pro- found peace, eating out the substance of the people.

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10. That we will continue to agitate the sub- ject of reform in this State, until official salaries shall bear a just proportion to the incomes of the people who pay them:

11. That the last Legislature of our State, in failing to paaa the innocent purchaser bill, the bill to reduce court expensea, the bill to protect the destruction of sheep from the ravages of dogs, the bill to cut down our tax penalties, the bill to reduce the rate of interest, have neglected the best interests of the State, and ought to be turned out of power.

12. That the State should not sell contract labor to compete with free labor.

13. That as citizens of Iowa we feel proud of, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to Messrs. Weaver and Gillette, for their noble and untir- ing efforts in the halls of Congress to secure the rights of the worthy toiling millions.

14. That we, as the National Greenback Labor Party, know no North, no South, no East, no West.

15. That all banks of issue and all monopoliea must go,

The Democrats met at Des Moines; Sep- tember 2d, and nominated a ticket as fol- lows : For Secretary of State, A. B. Keith; Treasurer, Martin Blim; Auditor, Chas. I. Barker ; Attorney-General, C. A. Clark ; Register of State Land Office, C. A. Dougherty. They also resolved :

1. We, the Democracy of Iowa, in delegate convention assembled, endorse the platform of the party adopted at Cincinnati, and pledge our earnest efforts in its behalf.

2. The Democracy of Iowa are heartily in favor of the National nominees, Hancock and English, as they give a decided assurance of pure and more thoroughly careful administration of national affairs.

3. We are in favor of a judicious license law, and condemn all efforta to legislate against those natural rights which do not treapass upon those belonging to the whole community, and we applaud the action of our representatives at

DesMoines in the Eighteenth General Assembly for their manly and able opposition to the at- tempt at sumptuary legislation made by a Re- publican legislature.

The vote for Secretary of State stood as follows:

J. A. T. Hull, Rep. 184, 166

A. B. Keith, Dem. 105, 760

G. M. Walker, Gr. 32,780

Scattering. 422

Hull over all. 45,204

In the campaign of 1881, the first con- vention held was by the Democrats, at DesMoines, June 16. They nominated for Governor, L. G. Kinne; Lieutenant- Governor, J. M. Walker; Judge of Su- preme Court, H. B. Hendershott; Supt. of Public Instruction, W. H. Butler. The convention adopted the following plat- form:

The Democratic party of Iowa, in convention assembled, re-affirm the national platforms of 1876 and 1880, demand strict economy in all public expenditurea, a atrict accountability of all public servants, and declares-

1. For tariff reform, ultimating in simpler revenue system, with commercial freedom asits issue.

2. That we oppose all aumptuary laws, and the proposed prohibitory amendment to the constitution in all its steps and stages as the most offensive form of sumptuary regulation.

3. That the great agricultural and producing interests of the country should be emancipated from the burdens of monopoly put upon them by Republican rule, and as a feature of such relief, for the cheapening of transportation by government appropriationa for improvement of the Mississippi river, its navigable tributaries. and other water-ways.

4. That we execrate the constant official cor- ruption grown into Republican practice, and that the demand of our national platform for civil service reform is freshly emphasized by the immoral spectacle of Republican factions dis-

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turbing the public peace, not by the agitation of great measures of statesmanship, but by a vulgar quarrel over the partition of public spoila, and a aquabble for the opportunities of official theft.

The Greenback convention was held at Marshalltown, June 2, and the following ticket nominated: Governor, D. M. Clark; Lieutenant-Governor, James M. Holland; Supt. of Public Instruction, Mrs. A. M. Swain; Supreme Judge, W. W. William- son. The following platform was adopted by the convention:

1. The right to make and issue money is a sovereign constitutional power to be maintained by the people for the common benefit. We de- mand the abolition of all banks of issue, and the substitution of full legal tender greenbacks in lieu of their notea.

2. We oppose the refunding of the national debt or the issue of interest-bearing non-payable bonds upon any pretext, and demand the pay- ment and destruction of those outstanding at the earliest possible moment.

3. We demand a gradual income tax, where- by capital shall bear a just ahare of the public burden.

4. We regard the act substituting a railroad commission for laws governing freight ratea in the State as a fraud secured by the railroad companies through a Republican legislature, and demand ita repeal. While we favor liberal na- tional appropriations for the creation and im- provement of water-ways, we demand laws protecting the people of Iowa from discrimina- tion, pooling, watering of stock, drawbacks or rebates, and all unjust charges on the part of railroads, until such time aa the people, who built most of these roads with land grants, taxes and subsidica, shall own and operate or fully control them.

5. We demand a revision of our patent right laws, placing a fair limit upon the royalties of inventors, and protecting the people from injus- tice.

6. We demand that all land grants forfeited by reason of the non-fulfillment of conditions by

railroad companies shall be at once reclaimed by the government, and henceforth that the public domain be reserved exclusively for homesteaders or actual settlers.

7. We demand absolutely Democratic rules for the government of Congress and State legis- laturea, placing all representatives of the people upon an equal footing, and taking from all com- mittees a veto power upon proposed legislation.

8. We denounce as most dangerous the re- strictions of the right of suffrage in many States, and its abolition in the District of Col- umbia, and demand equal political rights for all men and women.

9. Believing that all questions affecting the public interest should be decided by the people, we favor the submission of the proposed consti- tutional amendment to the popular vote.

10. We demand that all ballots in this State shall be of uniform size, color and material, and that each party having a State organization shall have one member on the election board of each township precinct.

11. We favor the abolition of the electoral college, and the election of President, Vice- President and Senators of the United States by a direct vote of the people.

12. In the furtherance of these ends, we ask the co-operation of all men and women, without regard to previous party affiliation or prejudice.

The Republicans met at DesMoines, June 7, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, Buren. R. Sherman; Lieutenant-Governor, Orlando H. Mau- ning; Supt. of Public Instruction, John W. Akers; Judge of Supreme Court, Austin Adams. The convention also adopted the following platform:

We, the representatives of the Republican party of Iowa, demand anew. of the people of the State their fullest confidence and support, because of the faithfulnesa of the party, in the State and in the nation, to party pledges; be- cause of the marvelous devotion it has shown in support of the Union; because of its abhorrence

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of slavery and polygamy, and of its successful efforts to crush the one, and of its persistent struggle to get rid of the other, sure to go on to its final extirpation; because of its active inter- est in the relief of struggling and oppressed humanity everywhere; because of its determin- ation to abolish all inequalities of citizenship, to give all men of all races and nationalities in this land equality of civil and political rights; be- cause of its efforts to establish temperance, to educate the people and build up all moral forces; because it has been earnest in its efforts toward honest and economical government, and has been swift to correct abuses when it has discov- ered them; because it has steadily maintained the financial honor of the nation, is rapidly dis- charging its great war debt, and has made the recent financial history of the government the marvel of nations; because it has protected the labor of the country, and built up its agricultu- ral and manufacturing interests, and promoted the means of internal commerce by judicial leg- islation; because it is positive and progressive, and will, in the future, as in the past, prove its capacity to grapple promptly and successfully with/ every emergency of the nation, and with every question affecting the people's interests; and, finally, because it will secure a complete and lasting unification of the country,' entire peace and concord, upon the statute basis of free schools, free speech, a free press and a free ballot.

In the spirit of the purpose that has redeemed former pledges and produced these results, the Republican party of Iowa resolves-

---- ....

1. We re-affirm the Republican national plat- form of 1880, and insist upon its enforcement in its relation to the several affairs of the nation, the States and the Territories, in order that sound policies shall prevail in the nation, and ample protection be afforded to its citizens in all of their rights of citizenship in the several States; and that the territories be made as abso- lutely free from the debasing presence and per- nicious influences of polygamy as the States now are of slavery.

2. We congratulate this country upon the election of James A. Garfield, and the national

adminstration upon the vigorous manner in which it has undertaken to ferret out fraud and suppress extravagance in public expenditures, to secure the personal and commercial rights of our people abroad, to deal justly with the Indian wards of the government, and upon the con- spicuous success of its financial policy.

3. That we are in hearty sympathy with the spirit of recent conventions for supplementing and improving the great water routes of the nation, and cordially endorse all measures which look toward a practical and judicious improve- ment of the magnificent water-ways which nature has afforded us for cheaply transporting the immense commerce of the States, and therefore developing the immense resources of the interior of our national domain.

4. That we recognize railways as one of the most potent agencies in our national progress, but one which by reason of its relation to the people, must be kept subordinate to the interests of the people, and within the legislative control . of Congress and the State. That in the spirit of its usefulness, it must be dealt with in fairness and without injustice. But we are in accord with the popular demand, that the unquestion- able legislative power shall be used to protect the people from any abuse and unjust exactions.

. 5. That the plenary power of Congress over the subject of patent, should be so exercised as to protect the people against the wrongs and abuses which have been developed and are practiced under the present system of laws relating to patent rights, and we ask our senators and repre- sentatives in Congress, to lend their best efforts to the accomplishment of this end.

6. That the position attained in our com- merce by American meats and live animals, demand the enactment of effective legislation by both the nation and the States, for the sup- pression of such diseases as are calculated to interfere with this important feature of our foreign trade.

7. That in pursuance of the uniform justice of the Republican party to observe the pledges and perform the promises made and given in its platform, we declare that the provisions in the

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platform of 1879, for the submission of the so-called prohihitory amendment of the con- stitution of Iowa, to a vote of the people at a special and non-partisan election should be enforced, in order that the good faith of the party may be maintained, and that the people

in this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, may have an opportunity to express their wishes concerning the pending amendment, regardless of party affiliations, and with perfect freedom from all party restraint and influences.

CHAPTER XI.

TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS-A RETROSPECT.

In the limited space of this State his- tory, sketches of the various Territorial and State officers cannot be given, though they would be of great interest. It is thought best, however, to insert sketches of the three Territorial Governors. These have been prepared by Hon. Samuel Mur- dock, of Clayton county, a gentleman than whom none are better qualified for the task.

ROBERT LUCAS.

In the spring of 1832 the celebrated Indian Chief, Black Hawk, in violation of the treaty of St. Louis in 1804, which he himself had ratified in 1816, and again partially ratified in 1831, started with his band, composing a part of the Sac and Fox Indians, ascended Rock River to a considerable distance, where he took up a strong military position.

Gen. Atkinson, with a large number of United States troops and volunteers from -

the surrounding country, immediately pur- sued him, with the intention of forcing the cunning chief either to retire or give him battle. And in compliance with this reso- lution, he dispatched forward Major Still- man, with three or four hundred volunteers, to reconoitre the position of Black Hawk. But Stillman had before him a "Warrior tried;" a man who had been born and cradled upon the battle-field; one who had followed his father through many a hard- fought battle with the Cherokees; one who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Tecumseh at Brownstown and the Thames; one who, by experience, understood both the tactics of the white man and the Indian; one who had mingled in the strife and carnage of every desperate and bloody battle along the whole western border for nearly half a century before. As soon as he heard that Stillman was approaching his camp, he made preparations to meet him, and in doing this he planned and accomplished one of the greatest and most

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skillful military stratagems known to modern times.

Stillman, underrating the character of the man before him, rnshed, with his whole force, into the very jaws of death; his troops were thrown into the worst kind of disorder, and fell around him dead and dying over the field.

Bravely did Stillman attempt to rally his men and bring them into order, which he came very near doing; but the eagle eye of an old warrior was looking over that field, and just at the moment when the tide of battle seemed to hang in a balance, this brave old warrior puts him- · self at the head of a chosen number of his gallant braves, and with a yell that sent a thrill through many a bold and daring heart, rushed to the charge, dealing death and destruction in his way. .

Stillman ordered his men to fall back, but all was now utter confusion, and the retreat became a perfect rout. Thus, sir, commenced the short and bloody "Black Hawk War," a war in which few laurels were won, and nothing found to admire save the daring bravery of the savage commander. It is not my purpose to fol- low it further; its history is a history of the most disgraceful outrages and vile treacheries on the part of the Americans; and but for the noble conduct of the gal- lant Dodge connected with it, ought to be blotted forever from the recollections of American history.

The war ended by the capture of "Black Hawk" through the treachery of the Win- nebagos; and a treaty was concluded with him on the 21st of September, 1832, at Rock Island, by which he ceded to the United States a large tract of land, west

of the Mississippi, which became known as the "Black Hawk Purchase." This war had its important effects in the his- tory of the Great West; it brought into notice the rich valley of the Rock river; it laid open to view the wealth and treas- ures locked up for past ages in the lead mines of Wisconsin; it opened to the view of the emigrant a rich and fertile valley, lying between the Mississippi on one side and the Missouri on the other; and long before the stipulations of the treaty of 1832 could be carried out, thousands rushed pell mell into the new land, ming- ling savage and civilized life together.

The National Legislature has never yet been able to keep up in making the neces- sary laws for their protection, with the great tide of civilization, as it rolls on- ward, year after year, upon the heels of retreating savages.

On the 20th of April, 1836, Congress passed a law for the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin, by the provisions of which the northern boundary of W.is- consin extended west in a zigzag direction from a point opposite the main channel of Green Bay through Lake Superior, touch- ing the White Earth river, thence down said river to the main channel of the Mis- souri, thence down the Missouri to a point due west from the northwest corner of the State of Missouri, etc .; thus, you see, in- cluding within the bounds of Wisconsin all the lands and territory which now compose the great States of Iowa and Minnesota. It was soon evident that this arrangement could not last long; Young America had crossed the Mississippi, and had left a natural boundary behind him; stretching his eyes three hundred miles

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west, his vision rested upon another, and with this in view, he demanded a separa- tion, which no Congress at that time dared to refuse.

On the 13th day of June, 1838, Congress passed an act organizing the Territory of Iowa into a separate and distinct govern- ment. This was the era of many a dar- ling project on the part of Young Amer- ica, which he has since carried out to per- fection and success; while at the same time it became the era of many a "bubble bursted" in the shape of fallen cities and deserted capitols. Cassville, below you, was once, in expectancy, a proud metropo- lis, and the seat of a more than Chinese Empire. The act took effect from and after the 3d day of July of that year, with all the requisites of a separate and inde- pendent existence.

Robert Lucas, of Ohio, the person whose name heads this article, was appointed by Mr. VanBuren, her first Governor, in con- nection with Willian B. Conway, of Penn- sylvania, Secretary.

Governor Lucas, at the time of his appointment, was quite an old man, and far advanced in the decline of life; he had spent his best days in the service of his country. His youth was spent amid the strife and storms of a cruel and desperate border war. He was engaged in almost every battle from the Huron to the Thames. He had mingled personally in almost every skirmish on the frontier during the war of 1812, and his history was full of romantic adventures, hair-breadth escapes, and bold and daring encounters. He had seen the Great West territory pass from a howling wilderness, and become the abode of millions of freemen who could

cultivate their own vine and fig tree, wor- ship at their own shrine, with none to fear or make them afraid. He had seen Ohio a despondency, a little colony, struggling for existence, with almost her entire male population drafted for a border war, and he left her for Iowa, the third among a confederation of States, the greatest, the most powerful, and at the same time the most proud and glorious republic the world ever saw.

He commenced his public career in Ohio in her infancy; he assisted, by his valor and courage, to drive back the mur- derous foe who hung upon the borders to glut his vengeance on the innocent child at its mother's breast. And not until the Indian had buried the tomahawk, and England had ceased to desolate her fron- tiers, did he quit his post and return to enjoy himself in the peaceful avocations of private life. He mingled in her halls and in her councils, and his name con- nected with almost every public act of that great State, which gave her prosperity and greatness; and as a tribute to his worth and a reward for his services, she conferred upon him, in his declining years, the office of Governor.

It was soon after his term of office ex- pired in Ohio that he received from the President the Governorship of Iowa.

It was during his term of office as Gov- ernor of Ohio that the dispute arose between that State and the territory of Michigan, in relation to their respective boundaries, which came very near plung- ing both of them into a cruel, desperate and fratricidal war. The matter was set- tled, finally, by giving Ohio all she claimed; and in order to keep the youngest child of

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the Republic in these days from being naughty, she was given a strip of poor territory, two hundred and fifty miles from her, and north and west of the main channel of Green Bay.

He commenced his career in Iowa with all the bouyancy of youth and better days, and looked forward with a great deal of interest to the day when he should see her a proud and noble State.

Scarcely had he time to look around him and gather information, in his new field of labor, before he found himself involved in another question of boundry, between Iowa and the State of Missouri. Missouri had set up a claim to a strip of country about six miles wide extending along the south line of our whole State; and on this strip of land she had several times attempted to collect taxes and en- force her laws.

The settlers resisted these claims of Missouri, and appealed to the Governor for protection. No sooner was their case made known to him than he resolved to call forth all the military force he could procure, and for this purpose he issued his proclamation. Hundreds responded to his call, and in a short time he had col- lected here and there through the territory a set of men who only wanted a nod from their commander, and they would have thrown themselves against odds into the very heart of Missouri. Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, had also called on his State for assistance, and he, too, was on his march with a desperate set of men to assert his claim. Had those two forces have met, nothing could have prevented a dreadful and fatal encounter.

But wise councils prevailed, and the legislature of Iowa, .to its everlasting credit, drew up and passed a preamble and resolutions requesting both Governors to suspend hostilities until the first day of July thereafter. These resolutions had the desired effect; military preparations were suspended by both parties, and an- other cruel and fratricidal war averted.

The matter was afterwards submitted to Congress, where, through the influence of A. C. Dodge, with his uncle, Dr. Linn, who was at that time a Senator in Congress from Missouri; the matter was finally settled by giving to Iowa all she ever claimed.

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Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918