USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
WHEREAS, In the vicissitudes which are inci- deut t all governments, to human safety, and to civiliza ion, the government and the people of the United States have become involved in a civil war, which threatens alike to be disastrous to the form of government which experience has proved to be the most conducive to the happi- ness of mankind, and to result in imposing upon the present and future generations onerous burdens, which it should be the duty of a gov- ernment having any regard for the well being of the people to avoid, it becomes the incumbent duty upon the people for whose benefit alone government is instituted, and who, having the right to either alter or abolish it when it ceases
to be administered for their happiness and pros- perity, have also the right to determine and direct how it shall be administered when they find it departing from the principles upon which it was founded, and to be precipitating into waste and ruit. the fabric of civil society, instead of preserving the people in peace, promoting their prosperity, and securing their rights. Viewing, therefore, dispassionately, the present condition of our distracted country, and with the single purpose of making an effort to avert impending and other threatened calamities, and of restoring peace, founded upon that fraternal patriotism which gave birth to the American Union, and which preserved its integrity till the election of a President upon a principle which was hostile to the constitution of the United States and antagonistic to the vested right of the people of nearly half the States of the Union, do declare-
1. That we regard the present condition of the country, the civil war in which the people are engaged, the effort to dismember the Union and all the concomitant evils which affliet us as a nation, as the legitimate result of the success- ful teaching of the doctrine and policy of the "irrepressible conflict;" a doctrine and a policy which arrayed northern sentiment in antagonism to the constitutional rights of the people of the slave States, and which proclaim an "irrepres- sible" and unceasing hostility to the domestic institutions of our brethren of the South.
2. That, notwithstanding the provocation given to the people of the South by the mani- festation of hostility toward their institutions, by a majority of the people of the North, we unequivocally condemn the course they have pursued to obtain a redress of their grievances, believing, as we do, that, aided by the conserva- tive people of the Northern States, their griev- ances would have been redressed, and their rights and interests respected and secured in a constitutional manner and by constitutional means.
3. That we are heartily opposed to the doc- trine of secession, a political heresy, unwar- ranted by the constitution, detrimental to the
C
HISTORY OF IOWA.
167
best interests of the whole country, and destruc- tive of the Union and that glorious heritage of liberty bequeathed to us by our fathers.
4. That our obligations to the government, the duty we owe to posterity and the advance- ment of political freedom throughout the world, alike, command of us the preservation and per- petuity of our federal Union, and we hereby pledge the whole power of the Democratic party to every just and constitutional means to main- tain the same, whether its destruction be at- tempted by the insidious teachings of the higher law doctrine of the Abolition Republican party, or by the open attacks of men in armed rebellion against it.
5. That, as we were taught and admonished by the experience of every free people whose political existence was extinguished by the assumption of arbitrary power and the violation of fundamental principles, to resist the encroach- ment of executive prerogatives, we therefore emphatically and unequivocally condemn the assumption of unauthorized power by the Ex- ecutive of the United States, or by any other officers of the government.
6. That our Union was formed in peace, and can never be perpetuated by force of arms, and that a republican government held together by the sword becomes a military despotism.
7. That the Democratic party are in favor of a convention of the different States of the entire Union, as soon as the same can be properly had, for such legislation as may secure equal and full rights to all sections of this Union, and a full representation of all the States, and a removal of the agitation of the question of slavery from the halls of Congress and the States of the Union.
8. That we repudiate the modern heresy that the States of this confederacy never had an independent existence distinct from the federal government, and are indebted for their present position in the Union to that government, as a gross insult to the common sense of the country, and a shameless falsification of historical facts, unworthy of the source from whence it emin- ated, and unless promptly met with a stern re-
buke on the part of the people, fraught with consequences fatal to the liberties of the country.
9. That we are irreconcilably opposed to all paper money banking, as being a system of legalized swindling, to be indulged in only by the designing capitalist, and are opposed to every species of paper, except commercial pa- per, for the transaction of business and trade, and in favor of a speedy return to a specie cur- rency; and, if for a time we must submit to the banking system, we recommend that the bank law be so amended as to make each stockholder individually liable (to the full extent of his property not exempt from execution) for the debts of the bank, and to subject their corpora- tions to such restraints as to make them amen- able to law.
10. That we are opposed to a tariff of duties upon imports, for the purpose of protection, as creating monopolies, and that, in the present crisis of affairs, when the laborer is poorly paid and the products of agriculture are almost worthless. it is the interest of the people that the present burdens imposed upon these articles which enter into the consumption of the poorer classes of our citizens be at once removed.
The official vote for Governor was as follows:
S. J. Kirkwook, Rep .59,853 - 16,608 William H. Merritt, Dem. 43,245
The Democratic convention was held at the Capitol in 1862, and the following ticket nominated: Secretary of State, Richard H. Sylvester; Auditor, John Browne; Treasurer, Samuel H. Lorah; Attorney-General, Benton J. Hall; Regis- ter of Land Office, Fred. Gottschalk. The following is the platform adopted:
1. That the constitution and the Union and the laws must be preserved and maintained in all their rightful supremacy, and that rebellion against them must be suppressed and put down; and that we are in favor of the employment of all constitutional means for that purpose, not merely by force of arms, but by such other
Y
6
168
HISTORY OF IOWA.
measures as common sense, reason and patriot- ism will readily suggest to the governing powers.
2. That the true interests of the country, as well as the dictates of humanity, require no more war or acts of war should be prosecuted or done than are necessary and proper for the prompt and complete suppression of the rebel- liou.
3. That the present war, as avowed by the President and Congress, and understood by the people, was commenced and prosecuted for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion, and pre- serving and vindicating the constitution of the Union and the laws, and for that purpose only.
4. That the doctrines of the secessionists and of the abolitionists, as the latter are now repre- sented in Congress, are alike false to the consti- tution and irreconcilable with the unity and peace of the country, the first have already involved us in a cruel civil war, and the others (the abolitionists) will leave the country but little hope of the speedy restoration of Union or peace, unless the schemes of confiscation, eman - cipation, aud other unconstitutional measures, which have been lately carried and attempted to be carried through Congress, be revoked by the people.
5. That the doctrine of State necessity is unknown to our government or laws, but the constitution and the laws are sufficient for any emergency, and that the suppression of the free- dom of speech and the press, and the unlawful arrest of citizens, and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, in violation of the constitution in States where the civil authorities are unim- peded, is most dangerous to civil liberty, and should be resisted at the ballot-box by every freeman of the land.
6. That this is a government of white men, and was established exclusively for the white race; that the negroes are not entitled to and ought not to be admitted to political or social equality with the white race, but that it is our dnty to treat them with kindness and considera. tion, as an inferior and dependent race; that the right of the several States to determine the position and duties of the race is a sovereign
right, and the pledges of the constitution require us, as loyal citizens, not to interfere therewith. That the party fanaticism or the crime, which- ever it may be called, that secks to turn the slaves of the Southern States loose to overrun the North, and into competition with the white laboring classes, thus degrading their manhood by placing them on an equality with negroes in their occupation, is insulting to our race and meets our emphatic and unqualified condemna- tion
7. That the purchase of the slaves by the government, as proposed by the President, will impose an enormous and unendurable burden upon the present generation, and entail upon posterity grievous exactions.
8. That Congress, in the enactment of the late tariff and tax hills, and the President by his avowal, have imposed unfair and uujust enact- ments upon the people at large, by discriminat- ing in these acts in favor of the comparatively wealthy, and against those who are least able to bear the burdens of taxation.
9. That we recur with patriotic pride to the bravery and valor of the officers and soldiers of all the Jowa regiments exhibited in the struggle upon the many bloody fields in which they have been engaged; and that this convention, in be- half of the Democracy of this State, tenders to them a united testimony to their valor, and devotion to the constitution and the Union, and offer to the friends and families of those who have fallen upon the field, its sincere sympathy and condolence.
10. That viewing the glories of the past and contemplating the realities of the present, we believe there is no hope in the future for the perpetuity of our government, but by preserving the constitution inviolate and in respecting it by both government and people as a sacred deposit of individual and State rights; in an economical and systematic administration of the govern- isent by which corruption will be prevented, extravagance restrained, expenditures reduced, and heavy taxation rendered unnecessary; in cultivating among the people that spirit of American fraternity which once knew no North,
169
HISTORY OF IOWA.
no South, no East, no West, except as parts of one unbroken Union; in submitting questions which might arise hereafter, effecting the legal rights of States to the judicial tribunals and not to the executive or legislative branch of the government.
And firmly believing in the efficiency of the principles herein enunciated, we implore the blessing of God upon our efforts to have them applied to the administration of the government, and we appeal to our fellow citizens who love the constitution and Union as it was before its harmony was disturbed by abolition fanaticism, and its bonds broken by rebellion.
The Republicans met at DesMoines and nominated as follows: Secretary of State, James Wright; Auditor of State, Jona- than W. Cattell; Treasurer of State, W'm. H. Holmes; Attorney-General, Charles C. Nourse; Register of the State Land Office, Josiah A. Harvey. The platform adopted lead as follows :
We, the delegates of the Republican party of Iowa, assembled to declare anew our political belief, and to select candidates for important official positions, present to the people the fol- lowing as our articles of faith:
1. That the constitution of the United States is the fundamental law of the land; that it was adopted by our fathers to establish justice and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity; that in accordance with the forms prescribed by that instrument, and by the laws of Congress, Abraham Lincoln was elected by the voluntary suffrages of the people as the Chief Magistrate of the United States for the term of four years; that before he had taken the oath of office or exercised any of the powers with which he had been clothed, certain States of the Union passed ordinances of secession, assuming thereby to be no longer a part of, nor subject to the laws of, the United States; that soon afterward they organized a separate con- federation, proclaimed their independence of and hostility to the federal government, and from that time to the present have waged cause-
less, merciless and barbarious warfare against the republie, to which they owe perpetual grati- tude and allegiance.
2. That for the maintenance of the govern- ment, in this the hour of its peril, it is the duty of every citizen to devote time, labor, property, life; that we, as the representatives of an organ- ized association of citizens, publicly pledge all our energies and substance, should they be needed, for the governmental defense.
3. That we have undiminished confidence in the President of the United States, that he is faithful to his pledges, is honest and determined in his purposes to crush the rebellion and main- tain the union of the States, and that we earn- estly endorse the action of our Representatives in Congress iu aiding to pass laws for the aboli- tion of slavery in the District of Columbia; for the perpetuation of freedom in all the Territo- ries of the republic; for the confiscation of the property of rebels, and clothing the President with authority to use the slaves of traitors for all military purposes.
4. That we abhor all sympathizers with seces- sion, who, to cover their treasonable sentiments, raise the cry of abolitionism; but that, on the contrary, we will honor any loyal citizen, what- ever may have been his former political associa- tions, who will sustain, with all his power, the struggle of Democratic Republicanism against traitorous aristocracy, North or South.
5. That, extending a hearty welcome to those who are present with us in this convention who have left the so-called Democratic party, we in- vite all loyal citizens, regardless of former political associations, and who are in favor of giving the national administration their honest support, to co-operate with us, and we commend to all of such the patriotic words of the lamented Douglas, who said: "There is only two sides to this question. Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrality in this war-only patriots or traitors."
6. That we reiterate the demand for an eco- nomical administration of our national and State government, and for a punishment of fraudu- lent contractors and plunderers of the public treasury.
170
HISTORY OF IOWA.
7. That the valor of our soldiers and sailors, and especially those of our own State, on every batth fiell to which they have been called, has earned for them a lasting gratitude, and com- mended themselves and their families to our practical sympathy and and.
8. That the State of lowa will promptly fur- nish her quota of troops called for by the recent proclamation of the President, and any addi- tional number which the public service may require.
9. That the voluntary enlistment of our adopted citizens in the army and navy, and their tried valor on our battle-fields, have demon- strated the warmth of their patriotism and an appreciation of liberty and good government which have earned for them the proud name of American citizens and soldiers.
10. That as citizens of a loyal State, whose patriotism, ' oth at home and upon foreign battle-fields, has spoken for itself, we earnestly appeal to the incumbents of the legislative and executive departments of the government, to use every legitimate means in their possession to crush the rebellion, and if, as a last measure for the preservation of the republic, it shall hecome necessary to blot out the institution of slavery from the soil of every State. we will say Amen, letting the consequences fall upon the wicked authors of the war, and leaving the final issue with God.
The official vote on Secretary of State was as follows:
James Wright, Rep. 66,014-15,205 Richard H Sylvester, Dem .. 50,809
In 1863 the Democrats met in conven- tion at DesMoines, and nominated Maturin L. Fisher for Governor. Mr. Fisher sub- sequently declining, Gen. James M. Tuttle was substituted; John F. Lumcombe was nominated for Lieutenant Governor, and Charles Mason for Supreme Judge. The following was the platform adopted:
In view of the circumstances that have brought us together, we hereby resolve:
1. That the will of the people is the founda- tion of all free government. That to give effect to this will, free thought, free speech and free press are absolutely indispensable. Without free discussion there is no certainty of sound judgment; without sound judgment there can be no wise government.
2. That it is an inherent and constitutional right of the people to discuss all measures of their government, and to approve or disapprove as to their best judgment seems right. That they have a like right to propose and advoc .. te that policy which, in their judgment, is best. and to argue and vote against whatever policy seems to them to violate the constitution, to imperil their liberties, or to be detrimental to their welfare.
3. That these and all other rights guaranteed to them by the constitution are their rights in war as well as in times of peace, and of far more value and necessity in war than in peace: for in peace, liberty, security and property are seldom endangered; in war they are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may con- cern, not by way of threat, but calmly and firmly, that we will not surrender these rights, nor submit to their forcible violation We will obey laws ourselves, and all others must obey them
5. That there is a manifest difference between the administration of the government and the government itself. The government consists of the civic and political institutions created by the constitution, and to the people owe allegi- ance. That administrations are but agents of the people, subject to their approval or con- demnation, according to the merit or demerit of their acts.
6. That we are opposed to the war for the purpose of carrying out the emancipation procla- mation of the President of the United States; and if the Federal administration expect a united North to attend its efforts to sup, ress a rebellion, it must not only come back to its object of the war, as set forth in the Crittenden resolution adopted by the House of Representa- tives in July, 1861, but it must, in its dealings
.
171
HISTORY OF IOWA.
with the people of the States, infringe upon no one single right guaranteed to the people by either the federal or State constitutions.
7. That we declare our determined opposition to a system of emancipation by the State upon compensation to be made out of the treasury of the United States, as burdensome upon the people, unjust in its very nature, and wholly without warrant of the constitution.
8. That we declare that the power which has recently been assumed by the President, where- in, under the guise of military necessity, he has proclaimed and extended, or asserts the right to proclaim or extend, martial law over States where war does not exist, and has suspended the writ of habeas corpus, is unwarranted by the constitution, and its tendency is to subordinate the civil to the military authority, and subvert our free government.
9. That we deem it proper further to declare, that we, together with the loyal people of the State, would hail with delight any manifestation of a desire on the part of the seceded States to return to their allegiance to the government of the Union; and, in such event, we would cor- dially and earnestly co operate with them in the restoration of peace and the procurement of such proper guarantees as would give security 'to all their interests and rights.
10. That the soldiers composing our armies merit the warmest thanks of the nation. The country called, and nobly did they respond. Living, they shall know a nation's gratitude; wounded, a nation's care; and, dying, they shall live in our memory, and monuments shall be raised to teach posterity to honor the patriots and heroes who offered their lives at their country's altar. The widows and orphans shall be adopted by the nation, to be watched over and cared for as objects fully worthy of the nation's guardianship.
11. That we will adhere to the constitution and the Union as the best, it may be the last, hope of popular freedom, and for all wrongs which may exist, will seek redress under the constitution and within the Union by the peace- ful but powerful agency of the suffrages of a free people.
12. That we hail with pleasure and bope, manifestations of conservative sentiment among the people of the Northern States in their elec- tions, and regard the same as the earnest of a good purpose upon their part to co-operate with all citizens in giving security to the rights of every section, and maintaining the Union and constitution as they were ordained by the foun- ders of the republic.
13. That we will earnestly support every constitutional measure tending to preserve the union of the States. No men have a greater interest in its preservation than we have. None desire it more; none who will make greater sacrifices or endure more than we will to aecom- plish that end. We are, as we have ever been, the devoted friends of the constitution and the Union, and have no sympathy with the enemies of either.
14. That the establishment of military gov- ernment over loyal States where war does not exist, to supersede the civil authorities and sup- press the freedom of speech and of the press, and to interfere with the elective franchise, is not only subversive of the constitution and the sovereignty of the States, but the actual inaugu- ration of revolution.
15. That we denounce as libelers of the Democratic party and enemies of the country, the men who are engaged in representing the Democracy as wanting in sympathy with our gallant defenders.
16. That we earnestly denounce the authors of those heresies. secessionism and abolitionisın, which have culminated in an armed rebellion, desolated our country and brought sorrow to the heart of every person in this broad land.
The Republicans met at DesMoines, June 17th, and adopted the following platform :
We, a convention of representatives of the loyal people of the State of Iowa, assembled under the call of the Republican organization of the State, as an expression of the views which shall govern our political action, do declare:
1. That when our fathers formed our consti- tution, and founded thereon a republican form
172
HISTORY OF IOWA.
of government, they intended to and did grant to that government full power to sustain its natural existence.
2. That whenever the life of the Republic is endangered, either by invasion or rebellion, the constitution justifies the use of all necessary meins known to civilized warfare in resisting invasion or suppressing rebellion.
3. That we fully and heartily endorse the policy of the administration, and we will to the utmost continue to sustain the government in suppressing the rebellion, and to effect that object we pledge our fortunes and our lives.
4. That the gratitude of a free people is due to our soldiers in the field, both native and foreign born, for that heroie valor by which they have honored us and sustained the flag of our country, and we guarantee to them con- tinued encouragement and support
5. That we have witnessed with pride and admiration the bravery and heroism of lowa soldiers, and we recognize in their brilliant ca- reer a history for the State of Iowa, second to that of no other State in the Union.
6. That we approve of the action of the Gen- eral Assembly of the State, in enacting a law giving to our brave soldiers in the field an opportunity to vote at our elections, and we earnestly hope that no technicality may deprive them of their right.
7. That this convention hereby tenders to Hon Samuel J. Kirkwood the cordial thanks of the loyal people of lowa for the able, fearless, and patriotic discharge of his duties, during the two terms he held the office of Governor of the State.
8. Finally, we declare that the preservation of the constitution and the Union is above and beyond all other interests, and that all questions of party, of- life, and of property, must be sub- ordinate thereto.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.