The Daily Dispatch: June 12, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Peace resolutions in the Senate of Iowa.

We are gratified in being able to lay before our readers the following resolutions introduced into the Senate of this State by Mr. Duncombe, and the vote by which the Senate refused to lay it on the table. This is an indication that there is still left a healthy conservative constitutional sentiment in Iowa, which needs but a favorable opportunity to manifest itself for the preservation of at least a remnant of the Union, and some of the political rights resulting from the acknowledgment of the Independence of the United States:

Whereas, At this time nearly one-third of the States of this Union have taken upon themselves the responsibility of withdrawing their allegiance to the Federal Government, and have established a Confederate Government separate from the Government of the United States, and establishing a Constitution Republican in form, and have sent Commissioners to the Federal Government to negotiate relative to the property and rights of the belligerent parties; and,

Whereas, It is not only desirable but indispensable to the security and welfare of the people of the United States that terms of peace be arranged between the portions of the country now in a state of war, before the bitterness of fraternal bloodshed shall make arrangement impossible; and,

Whereas, The necessary consequence of such a war would be the ruin of thousands of loyal citizens in the States now seceded and in other portions of the Union, who are in no way responsible for the fratricidal war now commenced in our unfortunate country, and believing, as we do, that the calm patriotism and reason of the American people may yet settle upon honorable terms the existing troubles, and believing that civil war, if persisted in and pushed with the malignity which universally characterizes all civil war, will only terminate in an overwhelming indebtedness, public and private, without benefiting either of the parties to this controversy, and a military despotism in which the liberties of the people will be disregarded, the butchery of the patriotic and innocent citizens as well as guilty, and such a war, if possible to be honorably avoided, is unpatriotic, unmeasurable and anti-Christian: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Iowa recommend to the Government of the United States in this, their most earnest appeal, that while every preparation for the defence of the Government shall be made, a cessation of actual hostilities may take place until Congress shall have time to act in the premises.

2. That we recommend to Congress the calling of a National Convention, for the settlement of our national difficulties, and that every possible honorable means shall be first exhausted by the national Government before our prosperous people be plunged into a civil war, the ultimate result of which the wisest cannot foresee.

3. That we are opposed to a war prosecuted for the subjugation of the seceding States, while it is possible amicably to settle the difficulties now existing.

4. That we are opposed to the prosecution of a war against the seceded States, waged under any circumstances for the purpose of emancipating the slaves of the Southern slaveholding States.

5. That the secretary of the Senate be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to the President of the United States, and to each of our representatives in Congress.