Corp. Danforth, of the R.[ock] I.[sland] Argus . . .

. . . is rather distressed that the GAZETTE should express an opinion on the Illinois Constitution.  As he concludes his jeremiade [sic] with the reflection that we are following in the wake of the Chicago Tribune, we began to think that after all we cannot be very far wrong, as the Tribune is certainly next to the Argus in intelligence.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 2

The Illinois New Constitution

The statement industriously circulated that a number of Illinois regiments have voted almost unanimously for the new constitution, is wholly untrue.  It was set afloat in order to discourage opposition to the instrument.  The two regiments on the Potomac – 8th cavalry and the 39th infantry – are understood to be unanimous against it.  Letters from Springfield say that there is a high probability that it will be defeated – the nullifying section of article 2, and the extraordinary clause giving Justice’s of the Peace authority to imprison citizens for 30 days without appeal, being extremely unpopular. – Wash. Dispatch N. Y. Trib. 14th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 19, 1862, p. 2

Soldiers Voting

Our exceedingly [veracious] contemporary next door says, that in the Democratic Constitutional Convention of Illinois provided that soldiers should have the privilege of voting on the new constitution of that State; and also says the Democrats in the Ohio Legislature tried to do the same thing, but the Republicans wouldn’t allow it.  Now what are the facts?  The Illinois Convention, with only two dissenting voices, agreed to allow the soldiers to vote on the proposed constitution.  The Democratic commissioners appointed for the purpose, however, have fixed things so that the said soldiers have about as much real voice in the adoption of the new Constitution as the inhabitants of Kamtschatika.  In Ohio, the plan was opposed by both parties on the ground that there was no way to punish illegal voting.

The talk about two Democrats to one Republican in the army, has been proved to be the very reverse of truth so often that we should think even the Democrat would be ashamed of it.  Its repeated asseveration only shows the callousness of its editorial conscience.  It is probably trying to make itself believe so – not an uncommon thing with dealers in fiction.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

The Republican Party

The Republicans, as a political organization, have a family resemblance to the old Whig party, so much so that we sometimes have wondered if a man who at heart had ever been an old line Whig, could honestly turn square around and put his neck into the same yoke with men whom for long years he had bitterly denounced as everything that was corrupt, rather than act with the Republican party.  The chief point in which our present political associates resemble those with whom we formerly affiliated, is in that disposition they occasionally manifest to repose confidence in the honesty or uprightness of the Democratic party.

In Ohio, Illinois, and it may be in some other States, the Democrats found themselves at the last election, from the inevitable destiny of their principles, sadly in the minority.  What they could not effect by hard fighting, they determined to accomplish by cool stratagem; so proposed to the Republicans of these States, that as the war was for the Union, political matters should be shelved, and all unite in one common party and elect men on the ground of their capability and without regard to past political associations.  The bait was so tempting to the good Republicans of those States, they having the weal of their country at heart and, perhaps, not possessing the sagacity of the older politicians of the Empire State, that they eagerly swallowed it.  Of course they were caught, as the Democrats afterwards, true to their party instincts, made use of the Union movement to foist into power men of their own stripe.

In the Constitutional Convention that has just adjourned in Illinois, and in the unsuccessful effort to re-elect Ben. Wade in Ohio, we see some of the fruits of this strange alliance, and if the Republicans of these States are ever again caught with such chaff, they will deserve to suffer the consequences.  The effort to similarly seduce the Republicans of Iowa signally failed, and since they have observed the consequences in other localities and learned that the movement was wholly preconcerted, they have perhaps taken more credit to themselves than they really deserve.

This weakness of the Republican party, inherited possibly from the old Whig party, of placing reliance in anything emanating from the Democratic leaders, when power or influence is at stake, has been so seriously punished that it should be a lesson for all time to come, under no circumstances or for any purpose, to affiliate with the Democrats, especially under the new regime when Democracy and Slavery, by their own show, are recognized as synonyms.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2

Special Dispatches

THE EXPEDITION FROM CAIRO WITHIN FOUR MILES OF FORT HENRY.

SHOTS EXCHANGED.

The Enemy Numbers 15,000.

A FIGHT EXPECTED TODAY.

REPORTED CAPTURE OF GEN. RAINS AND HIS REBEL FORCE.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

THE TREASURY NOTE BILL!

GENERAL SCOTT GOING TO VERA CRUZ!

Plans to Supercede Gen. McClellan!

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1

WASHINGTON, March 31 [1862].

HOUSE. – Mr. Washburn, of Ill., presented a memorial from the Illinois constitutional convention, in favor of the early enlargement of the Ill. and Mich. Canal.  The memorial was referred to the committee on military affairs.

The consideration of the Pacific RR. Bill was further postponed until Tuesday.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 2, 1862, p. 1

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., Feb. 5 [1862].

The Convention occupied this afternoon in discussing the amendment of Mr. Wentworth to Judge Purple’s report, first section.

Mr. Orme finished his speech, defending and defining the vested rights of banks.

Mr. Fuller took Mr. Wentworth’s side of the question, and the question being put, Mr. Wentworth’s amendment was sustained – 35 to 27.

Mr. Wentworth offered another amendment, preventing banking corporations making an assignment, giving preferences to creditors, also to prevent the stockholders of a bank from making assignments to the bank.  Unanimously adopted.

So far Wentworth has carried every assault of his on the banks, and if the Constitution leaves them as the amendments to Judge Purple’s report now stands, the banks are effectively wiped out.

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1