USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 39
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will give the finishing stroke in Dubuque to the enemies of the Union and the Constitution." (Herald, April 8, 1862.)
"It must never be forgotten that the victory of Monday was not what our enemies would try to make it appear to the discredit of the Democratic party-a success of Secession. No, friends and fellow citizens ; it was a victory for the Constitution and the Union." (Herald, April 9, 1862.) "The man that beat you is one of the keenest in Iowa. A Pharisaical, Janus-faced trickster, a dissem- bling pretender, a political knave, a juggling hypocrite, a man who wishes well to the South and ill to the North; a shuffling, de- ceiving liar: an artful, sly, designing, diplomatic Machiavellian.
You know who we mean." (Times, April 9, 1862.) "The news of the battle in Tennessee caused considerable anxiety in this city, as several Iowa regiments were known to be at Pitts- burg Landing." (Herald, April 10, 1862.)
"The Register (Linn County ) makes a great mistake in saying that the Herald is ably pro-slavery. It is not pro-slavery at all, in the true, honest sense of the expression. The Herald is not nor never was an advocate of slavery. It finds slavery existed in some states, and finds this existence recognized as a legitimate thing in the Constitution, which the Herald respects, obeys and is deter- mined to maintain."-(Herald, May 10, 1862.) "What's up? The Abolition and Republican papers of the state, from the drowsy Dubuque Times to the spiteful Gate City at Keokuk, have made a simultaneous onslaught on the Dubuque Herald. What do they expect to accomplish by this movement ?"-(Herald, May 8, 1862.)
At the Republican convention of the Third congressional district ( 1862) W. B. Allison was nominated for Congress. "Mr. Allison, it is fair to presiune, was thought by his political friends to be their strongest candidate, although a large minority of them thought otherwise, and so do we. From our point of view, Mr. Allison is the very man for us to beat the easiest. As a neighbor and fellow citizen we respect Mr. Allison, but as a politician we look upon him as one of those who have brought our country to its perilous condition."-(Herald, August 8, 1862.)
In 1862, G. Blocklinger, of Dubuque, was a delegate to the state Republican convention. The county Democracy in June endorsed the course of Mr. Mahony toward the national administration.
Early in July, 1862, the attempt to mob the Herald office was commenced, but was really prevented by the leading men of hoth parties, who advised against such a step; it was Cummings, the sheriff, who prevented it. Marshal Conger assisted. Two citizens, Koch and Sittig, were made uncomfortable by the mob. The inten- tion of the mob was to destroy the Herald office.
In 1862 the Democrats nominated D. A. Mahony for Congress. He won in the convention by a majority of one and a fraction votes. It was generally understood that his nomination was made
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in order that the public should know that his course was approved by the congressional and state Democracy. His letter of accept- ance was rejected by the government censor as improper by reason of its disloyal sentiments.
At an immense Democratic meeting here in September, 1862, resolutions condemning the emancipation proclamation and de- manding that the Union be left as it was were passed unanimously. Among the speakers were Ben M. Samuels, Thomas M. Monroe, Thomas Rogers, Stilson Hutchins, Daniel Cort, J. H. Emerson and others.
"There never has been a moment since the war became of any considerable magnitude that Abraham Lincoln and his associates have wavered in their design to free the slaves of the South. They have held to this purpose from the very birth and inception of the party to which they belong. They have succeeded so far as an open avowal of sentiment can be styled success. But we have confidence that the people will teach these men that constitutions and laws are to be observed by the servants of the public as well as by the public itself, and that the effort to subvert them will result in their immediate and eternal destruction. They have played with fire- let them look well that they are not badly burned."-( Herald, Sep- tember 26, 1862.)
"The tide is flowing strong against the purposes of the present administration. There have been but three meetings held lately in Dubuque county of a Democratic character, but such meetings were never known before. The enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. Their indignation, long pent up, found utterance. Every denunciation of the Abolitionist authorities and their pur- poses received a hearty endorsement ; every allusion to the Consti- tution and its integrity, resounding applause. It is not well to refuse to heed the temper of the people. They made the powers that be, and although in their giddy exaltation they forget their derivation, the people can and will unmake them as easily."- (Herald, October 4, 1862.)
It was the appearance in the Herald of such articles that caused the arrest of Mr. Mahony in August, 1862, as narrated elsewhere, and his confinement in the old Capitol prison at Washington, D. C., for about three months. Mr. Allison ran against Mr. Mahony for Congress in 1862 and won by 1,654 majority; Mahony's majority in Dubuque county was 1,424. The total vote of the city of Dubuque was 2,228. Jefferson and Taylor townships returned Republican majorities.
"In the town of Epworth, where one year ago Messrs. Samuels. Hewitt and Fortune were mobbed by a crowd of cowardly Aboli- tionists, Mr. Mahony received seventy-two votes. The Abolition majority was decreased from eighty to forty by the untiring energy
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of Messrs. Moore, Hogan and others."-(Herald, October 18, 1862.)
"We can point to Dubuque and her glorious Democracy with a just pride. There she stands, fearless and triumphant. Over- shadowed by military prestige, her citizens arrested and hurried to prison without charge or trial, resisting the appliances of shame- less and unscrupulous power, rejecting the bribes of easy official virtue, she stands nobly erect, a Democratic county by nearly double her last year's majority. The minions of power, the cow- ardly, threatening Abolitionists, had best take warning and menace her no longer. As nobly as she has done, she has a power in reserve which it would not be healthy to arouse."-(Herald, Octo- ber 18, 1862.)
"In this city the Republican party has not yet nominated a city ticket, the Union League being deputed to take the matter in hand and, like the old midnight Know Nothing Lodge, nominate a ticket in the dark. The conspiracy broadens. It involves, if it succeed, all we hold dear as Americans."-(Herald, April 3, 1863. )
Vote down the Union Leagues ; vote down midnight conspirators ! Who wants to vote the nigger emancipation ticket? Who wants Iowa covered with indolent blacks? Answer at the polls. Every candidate but one on the Abolitionist ticket is a member of the Union League. Vote them down. To elect the Abolitionist ticket tomorrow is to drive a nail in the coffin of civil liberty. It is far better to crush them at the ballot box than to be obliged to meet them with the cartridge box."-(Herald, April 5, 1863.)
At the Burns festival Mr. Allison delivered an eloquent address in which he took occasion to extol President Lincoln. The Herald said : "Of course, Mr. Allison at least is a fit eulogist and has reason to be grateful to him (Lincoln), if for nothing else than the constitutional manner in which he effected the imprisonment of an ugly opponent," meaning Mr. Mahony, who had been a can- didate for Congress against Mr. Allison. In January, 1863, Mr. Mahony was urged here for the nomination by the Democracy for governor of Iowa. Henry Clay Dean made a strong anti-war speech here in February.
Without much open excitement the citizens of both parties in March, 1863, began with suppressed rage and fire to prepare for the municipal elections. The Republicans nominated Franklin Hinds for mayor and the Democrats renominated J. H. Thedinga.
"We are again gloriously successful, despite military mobs and provost marshals. The most desperate efforts were made by the opposition to carry our municipal election on yesterday. The cohorts of Abolitionism, drilled and disciplined under the direction of the Union League, thoroughly organized and confident of success, have been met and defeated by the sterling Democracy of Dubuque, by majorities ranging from three hundred down. Dubuque is yet
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a free city under Democratic rule. Thank heaven that we are not yet at the mercy of midnight conspirators. No person outside of Dubuque can appreciate the difficulties under which we labored. We were opposed by the whole force of the military stationed in the city and represented by such men as J. B. Dorr. We were obliged to fight the Union League, numbering, it is claimed, over a thousand members. On Sunday morning the Times came out with a statement to the effect that a provost marshal had been appointed for Dubuque and vicinity, and that deputies had been selected to attend each poll and take down the name of every person for conscription who should cast a vote. In pursuance of this threat, Lieutenant David was sent to the Fifth ward, where he was permitted to remain all day, practically by his presence intimidating the people, the fruit of which is seen in the loss of our candidate for alderman in that ward by two majority. In the First ward Lieutenant Duffy was foolish enough to try the same game, and by a murderous assault on Mr. Henneberry, one of the judges. put his life in imminent peril. Yet despite all this, despite threats and cajolery, Dubuque repudiates the whole horde and stands erect in Democratic integrity. By the loss of Jolin Rugamer, our can- didate for alderman, in the Fifth ward, by two majority, the city council stands, Democrats 4, Republicans 6. While this is to be regretted, it amounts to nothing, practically. We have every city officer, from highest to lowest."-(Herald, April 7, 1863. )
"Dubuque takes no step backward. Within two weeks her majority has been increased from 90 to 250. She is good for the latter at any time, in spite of all the Union Leagues out of jail." -- (Herald, April 7, 1863.)
The Democratic county convention in May, 1863, took strong grounds against the prosecution of the war. The Republicans were equally strong for its prosecution. Among the Democratic speak- ers were Mahony, Richards, Hutchins, Jennings, O'Neill, Den- linger, Stewart, Emerson, Shields, etc. Among the Republican speakers were Lyon, Shiras, Lorimier, Allison, Cooley, Conger, Clark, Heath, Bissell, Dorr, David, Adams. Rhomberg and others. On the Fourth of July, 1863, the Republicans and Democrats held separate celebrations because they could not agree about the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. The great federal victories
in the field early in July caused great rejoicing here among war advocates. General Tuttle, the Democratic candidate for governor, came out in favor of the war; the Herald disagreed with him but supported him. At a Union mass meeting at Dubuque in August, when Senators Harlan and Trumbull and Mr. Washburne, of Galena, were here, there were present about eight thousand people. Senator Harlan spoke three hours; delegations were present from all the surrounding counties.
"Mrs. McCall, of Dubuque, Iowa, was in the city yesterday, on
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her way from Memphis to her home, on a brief visit of absence from duty as a hospital nurse. She has been in the service since June, 1861, when the Third Iowa Infantry was organized. Two of her sons enlisted in that regiment. and she was resolved to go along, and has stuck to it in all the vicissitudes of battles and blood and marching and sickness ever since. Some time ago she was assigned to duty as hospital nurse at Memphis. She is a hale, hearty woman with a most pleasant face, one that would have more good effect on a sick soldier than the doctor's potion. She is about thirty-five years of age and exhibits the nervous activity and energy of a girl of eighteen. The Third Iowa boys call her mother." -- (St. Louis Republican, about August 26, 1863. )
The Democratic county convention in September, 1863, after passing its resolutions against the continuance of the war, thanked Daniel Cort for his resolution as a member of the county board to appropriate $300 for the relief of each drafted man. The lan- guage of Mr. Cort's resolution and of the resolutions of the Demo- cratic committee was "for the relief of drafted men." It was not stated that the appropriation was to raise volunteers, clear the county quota, or even to hire substitutes; but was for the relief of the poor unfortunates who might be drafted. The Herald and its adherents generally held that as the conscription act was unconstitutional and an outrage, the county board was justified in assisting the citizens who were forced to leave their homes by the arbitrary power of the government. The Times, having charged Mr. Mahony and Fernando Wood with being responsible for the New York draft riots, was sued for libel and bound over for $2,000.
"We therefore earnestly appeal not only to those who are Demo- crats on principle already, but to such of our fellow citizens as are not under the influence of fanaticism, to organize themselves to- gether for the purpose of resisting the attempt which is designed to be made to subvert the government and to subject one portion of the people of the North to the despotism of the party which is aiming to hold and wield power, regardless alike of the Constitu- tion, the laws, and the rights of their fellow citizens."-(Herald, July 4, 1863. )
Mr. Mahony was candidate for sheriff in 1863. At an immense Democratic meeting at Cascade late in September, 1863, speeches were made by Richards, Barker, Cort, Mahony, Cantillon and Hutchins; there were "seven solid hours of speaking" during both afternoon and evening; delegations from all the surrounding country were present ; fifty teams came from Temple Hill alone. A. C. Dodge, James W. Grimes, Rev. Ames, D. N. Cooley, John A. Kasson and Shubael Adams spoke in Dubuque during the fall. At a big Democratic meeting in Epworth, Mahony, Richards, O'Neill and Lepper were the speakers. The Republicans made great efforts to defeat Mahony, candidate for sheriff, and to elect Mr. Swivel.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Stone (R.) and Tuttle (D.) were candidates for governor, the former receiving 2,114 votes in Dubuque county and the latter 3,280. Mahony received 3,124, Swivel 2,152 and Fortune (Ind.) 45 for sheriff. At this time the Republicans favored a registration law. The vote of that part of the Twelfth regiment from this county was Stone (R.) 210, Tuttle (D.) 23. The final result, including the soldiers' vote, was: Mahony, 3,149; Swivel, 2,596; Fortune, 47. In 1862 the Democratic majority was 1,524; in 1863 it was 1,315.
When James W. Grimes was re-elected United States senator at Des Moines in January, 1864, the Democrats unitedly voted for John D. Jennings, of Dubuque. Mr. Cort, of Dubuque, bolted the caucus and voted for J. W. Love. The Democratic club at Dubuque was a strong political factor in 1863-4.
On February 10, 1864. the Republicans held their convention in Dubuque to choose delegates to the Republican state convention to be held at Des Moines, February 22. The following were chosen : Platt Smith, J. K. Graves, H. Markell, E. C. David, D. N. Cooley, J. A. Rhomberg, D. E. Lyon, E. R. Shankland, C. Wull- weber, M. Blumenauer, O. P. Shiras, P. H. Conger, George L. Matthews, H. C. Fellows, Thomas Lawton, Gustave Grahl, J. L. McCreery, Henry Heil, William Luther and C. H. Foote.
In the spring of 1864 the Democrats nominated John Thompson for mayor and the Republicans nominated Mr. Cummings. The former received 1, 175 votes and the latter 1,018. The Democrats elected all the city officers. The principal question at issue was the payment of the city debt.
In 1864, the Democracy, here as elsewhere, was split into war and peace factions. In the Democratic state convention the Dubuque delegates divided, Jennings and McLenan favoring war and Hutch- ins, Monroe, Richards and Robb favoring peace. D. A. Mahony was a strong peace man. It was claimed that Jennings and Mc- Lenan violated their instructions, and a row resulted. On the Democratic state ticket Thomas M. Monroe was named for supreme judge.
The call for a peace mass meeting at Dubuque on August 25, 1864, was signed by D. A. Mahony, John H. O'Neill, Thomas Hardie, Reuben S. Long, Thomas M. Monroe, John Deery, John Hodnett, Timothy Mason and Nicholas Leffert. An immense crowd, probably 15,000 people, was present at Jackson Square. Henry Clay Dean, John F. Duncombe, D. A. Mahony, John H. O'Neill, B. B. Richards, Stilson Hutchins and other brilliant orators spoke. The resolutions advocated peace at any price. Several distinguished speakers from abroad were present.
"After more than three long years of subjection to a most intol- erable despotism and cruel tyranny ; after suffering evils of govern- ment administration without precedent in the most execrable rulers.
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of the past and without parallel in our own times ; after submitting to usurpation of power in public servants whose authority is cir- cumscribed by law such as no monarch claiming to rule by divine right was ever bold enough to grasp; and after enduring more than ever a people did before in the same length of time in the sacrifice of life and waste of money ; and acquiescing in blind obedience and craven servility to the behests of power arbitrarily and illegally exercised, * *
* the popular will has now, in the agony, it may be, of the nation's death, become sensible at last that the body politic is in danger of dissolution and aspires to preserve it from such a fate."-(Herald, August 4, 1864. )
"A very animated discussion took place on Main street last evening, each of the disputants vying with each other in the violence with which the Abolitionists were assailed. The very common and just conclusion was reached that Abe Lincoln is too ugly in phiz, too weak in intellect and too tyrannical in the exercise of power to be allowed to 'run the machine' another four years."- (Herald, August 30. 1864.)
The Republican county convention was conducted by Bissell, Wiltse, Shiras, Karrick, Rupert, Hetherington, Matthews, Blumen- auer and others.
The resolutions adopted declared that the success of the Repub- licans in November was essential to the preservation of the Union and liberty, praised Mr. Allison's course in Congress, and recom- mended his renomination and favored a continuance of the war along lines already announced and well known.
The nomination of McClellan for the Presidency suited the Dubuque county Democracy; the renomination of Mr. Lincoln suited the Republicans. The campaign was brilliant and vindictive. Immense meetings were held and eloquent addresses delivered by distinguished orators. Patrick Quigley was president of the Demo- cratic association. At this time it was conceded that B. B. Richards was one of the most brilliant stump speakers in the state. He was candidate for elector on the Democratic ticket and was also candi- date for Congress against Allison. Richards and Allison stumped the district together and spoke to immense crowds.
On October 22, 1864, Kirkwood spoke at the Athenaeum. The Herald spoke of him as "the man who wears the dirtiest shirt west of the Mississippi river"; also, "Kirkwood the unwashed." On October 26, Governor Stone and John H. O'Neill held a joint debate at the Athenaeum. There was a large attendance, though the rain fell in torrents. Schuyler Colfax spoke here October 29. The November ( 1864) election resulted in this county as follows : McClellan electors, 3.319: Lincoln electors, 1,744. For Congress : Richards (D.) 3.316, Allison (R.) 1,753. The balance of the county ticket ran about the same.
"This is a noble record for Dubuque county. It shows that
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there is at least one briglit spot in Iowa that has not been overrun and blotted out by the scum and filth of Abolitionism."-(Herald, November 15, 1864.)
"As a patriot we cannot but deplore the result of the recent election, because we believe the re-election of Mr. Lincoln opens the road to certain dissolution and untold misery. * No reason- able man will contend that the country can survive four years more of strife. The end, whatever it is, must come during Mr. Lincoln's second term of office, and then will come the fearful reckoning. * The duty of Democrats is plain. We cannot control or direct the policies of the administration, and shall not be respon- sible for results. Our mission is simply that of the wrecker-to rescue and save from the noble Ship of State whatever remains of constitutional liberty."-(Herald, November 13, 1864. )
"Stock Market .- The market for McClellan stock is dull and drooping, with more sellers than buyers at 50 per cent discount. Holders are anxious to effect sales and are not particular about rates. Copperhead 64-90's have overstocked the market and an- other supply will not be needed in four years for national use. McClellan badges and medals are given away, holders having no further use for them. A whole torchlight procession could be bought for a song ; small lots are in demand for sale at auction." -- (Herald, November 12, 1864. )
In March, 1865. E. C. David was reappointed postmaster at Dubuque. The Times announced the name of William B. Allison for United States senator. In April, 1865, both parties nominated John Thompson for mayor, because the principal and almost the only issue was to put the city debt in tangible shape and pay it. He received a total of 1,898 votes. The Democratic majority on the balance of the ticket varied from 274 to 578. They swept the city and county. Every city officer, fourth-fifths of the council, seventeen out of nineteen county supervisors, and every county officer were elected by the Democrats.
Early in April, 1865, the Herald wanted President Lincoln to offer amnesty to the South, including right to slave property, states' rights, no federal interference-in fact, place the South where it was before the war. "By doing this, Mr. Lincoln can remove much of the stigma that attaches to his name for the tyranny and oppres- sion of which he has been guilty."-(Herald, April 6, 1865.)
"The Republican journals are united in their efforts to secure for the liberated negroes the right of suffrage. * *
* This plan to turn over the best portion of our country to the control of the negro will miserably fail."-(Herald, May 19, 1865. )
David Styles was present at the old settlers' meeting July 1, 1865. He had opened the second hotel in Chicago, and came to the Dubuque mining region about 1830. He had voted for George Washington for President. V. Herancourt placed a glass and
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frame over the photographic picture of 258 portraits of Dubuque county early settlers. A number of the early settlers refused to take part in the celebration of the Fourth of July if the Emancipa- tion Proclamation was to be read immediately after the Declaration of Independence. They did not want "politics" introduced into the celebration. The result was that people divided on political lines and held several celebrations, at one of which, at least, the Emancipation Proclamation was read. The Republicans cele- brated at the Gardens and the Democrats at Eagle Point and Ham's Island. In the Republican procession was a wagon with thirty-four young ladies representing the states. The Good Templars went to Cassville to celebrate.
All Dubuque turned out to the Grant reception, Wednesday, August 23, 1865. "The display made last Wednesday on the recep- tion of General Grant was one of the finest and most creditable that ever took place in this city. The crowd has been variously estimated at from 10,000 to 25,000 persons. The sidewalks on Main street from the First Ward market to Fourteenth street was a solid crowd of human beings awaiting the arrival of the hero of the day. Every window and doorway on the line of march was filled with admirers of the General. For a large assemblage of people it was the most orderly we ever saw."-(Herald, August 25. 1865.)
The Herald found fault with every act of the administration during 1865 after the close of the war. It objected to negro suf- frage, punishment of the leaders of the rebellion, reconstruction of the southern states, trial of the Lincoln assassins; a large stand- ing army ; the outrage of military trials ; the Chicago sanitary fair, and particularly abused Stanton and Butler.
In 1865, Col. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., was Democratic candidate for governor. At the Democratic county convention, held in Dyers- ville, August 19, Gen. George W. Jones called the delegates to order and J. H. Emerson was chairman. The resolutions affirmed Democratic policies. W. B. Allison spoke at the Athenæum, Octo- ber 5. The differences between President Johnson and the radical Republicans were dissected and explained. The Herald's abuse of Secretary Stanton was notable at this time; it also lashed Judge Burt for saying that the Democrats wanted to keep the negroes under because otherwise they would outrival the Democrats and secure all the plums. At the October election the vote for governor was: Benton (D.) 2,842, Stone (R.) 1,552; for sheriff, Mahony (D.) 2,729, Cummings (R.) 1,639. Mahony lost most of the soldier vote.
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