met at Des Moines, and nominated Charles Mason for Governor, Maturin L. Fisher for Lieutenant-Governor, and James M. Elwood for Supreme Judge. One of the resolutions declared “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.” Another resolution declared that a convention of all the States should be called for the purpose of securing to the States by legislation equal rights, and the removal of the agitation of the question of slavery from Congress, and the States of the Union. The convention also declared opposition to all paper money banking and to a protective tariff. Judge Mason accepted the nomination in a long letter, but later in the campaign he withdrew from the head of the ticket and Colonel Wm. H. Merritt was nominated to fill the vacancy.
On the 28th of August, another convention convened at Des Moines, and organized a “Union Party,” nominating the following ticket: Governor, General N. B. Baker; Lieutenant-Governor, Lauren Dewey; Supreme Judge, Ruben Noble. Baker and Noble promptly declined the nominations and warmly supported Governor Kirkwood for reëlection. Absorbed in the arduous duties of his position in this darkest year of the Rebellion, the Governor had little time or disposition to engage in a political campaign. The disastrous defeats of the Army of the Potomac, from which so much had been expected, compelled the President to make call after call upon the loyal States for volunteers to fill the depleted ranks. Every energy of the Governor and Adjutant-General was required to raise and organize the new regiments which our State was called upon to furnish. Every neighborhood in Iowa was contributing young men to reinforce the Union armies, and their friends and relatives were not in a frame of mind to attend political rallies.
At the urgent solicitation of his friends, the governor consented to make one speech at Des Moines on the 4th of
