Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/124

Several of them, however, freely expressed their opinions of the incapacity of McClellan, to the President, among whom was Governor Kirkwood. He urged upon the President the consideration of the following facts:

“The Army of the Potomac had the first and best of everything, and our Western armies had what was left. The Army of the Potomac was better armed, better clothed and better equipped in every way than our Western armies. Its soldiers fought as bravely as men ever fought and yet were continually whipped, and our Western people did not think he was a good general who was always whipped.”

President Lincoln remained silent for a moment, and then said slowly and with emphasis:

“Governor Kirkwood, if I believed that our cause would be benefited by removing General McClellan I would remove him to-morrow. I do not so believe to-day, but if the time shall come when I so believe, I will remove him promptly, and not till then.”

The Republican State Convention, which assembled at Des Moines on the 23d of July, nominated the following ticket: James Wright, Secretary of State; J. W. Cattell, Auditor; W. H. Holmes, Treasurer; C. C. Nourse, Attorney-General; J. A. Harvey, Register Land Office.

The Democrats nominated R. H. Sylvester for Secretary of State; John Browne for Auditor; S. H. Lorah, Treasurer; B. J. Hall, Attorney-General; Fred Gottschalk, Register Land Office.

The election resulted in the choice of the Republican candidates by an average majority of about 15,200.

The census of 1860 showed the population of Iowa to be sufficient to entitle the State to an increase of Representatives in Congress from two to six, and the Ninth General Assembly therefore apportioned the State into six Congressional Districts. The first election under this act was in October, 1862. The Republican candidates were James F. Wilson in the First District; Hiram Price in the Second; Wm. B. Allison in the Third; J. B. Grinnell in the