Letter from John F. Dillon.

Davenport, August 17th, 1863.

Lewis A. Thomas, Esq., Dear sir: - I have your favor of the 3d inst., inviting me very cordially, to be present at a Grand Rally of the Union citizens of your county on the 16th of this month. Occupying a judicial position and being a candidate for another, it better accords with my notions of propriety to refrain from attending or addressing meetings of a party character, no matter how exalted and necessary the ends and aims of that party may be. My position alone restrains me; my heart and my sympathies are with you and with all who are on the side of their country and their Government in this tremendous crisis. Let similar meetings be everywhere held. They do vast good. They renew our courage and strengthen our patriotism; Commending for the highest and dearest interests of man – battling for the race - under the shadow of clouds which darken the Nation’s skies, the great duty of the hour is Faith – Hope – Courage.

Let the people meet, then; meet often meet in vast numbers and take counsel together. The people established and ordained the American Government, and therefore the people are solemnly pledged to resist and crush any attempt to subvert it.

Only one thing is necessary to establish the cause of Constitutional, rational freedom upon a rock which can never be moved; and that is to demonstrate as the result and issue of this struggle, that a popular Government has the fiber, the tenacity, the coherency, and the power successful to defend itself, not only against foreign foes, but also against domestic revolt, and if need be, against both combined. And this can be done only by the warm, umbegrudged, generous, overflowing and undivided support of the Government and the loyal men who are charged with its administration. If this is done all will yet be well.

To sustain the nation in this great crisis, Iowa has sent forth over 50,000 of her best and bravest sons. Their valor has illustrated and rendered glorious every battle field to which they have been called. It will live in history. Having the historic stamp, it needs no eulogy. With unequaled devotion and unequaled gallentry, her soldiery have surrounded her youthful brow with an aureola of undying splendor – have written her military history in bright and fadeless colors. – Who is not now proud of being a citizen of loyal Iowa? Let us honor those of our brave soldiers who survive, while we cherish the memory and keep fresh and green the graves of those who gloriously died that their country may live! Let us replenish our courage and renew our devotion to the cause of the country. Let us stand by, let us rally around the Old Flag, as the honored symbol of our Nationality, and of all this it contains and represents; that Flag is good enough for me; and if we are but true and patient it will yet wave as the recognized emblem of the Nation’s sovereignty; over every drop of our water and over every inch of our territory.

Very resp., Your ob’t serv’t,

Jno. F. Dillon

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, October 3, 1863