In Iowa, the campaign was carried on with intense interest and earnestness. Public meetings were held in nearly every school-house, and the spirit of patriotism pervaded every neighborhood. Our State had more than 50,000 soldiers in the Union armies, and they represented a large majority of the families of the entire population. Women who had fathers, brothers, sons or lovers in the field, hospital or Southern prisons, could not restrain their intense interest in the absorbing contest; they turned out to the Union meetings, joined the processions, sang the war songs, and helped to swell the enthusiasm. A “Peace Convention” was called to meet at Iowa City on the 24th of August, which, among its resolutions, declared:
“Resolved, That, believing the war to be disunion, and desiring to stop the further flow of precious blood for a purpose so wicked as disunion, we respectfully urge the President to postpone the draft for 500,000 men to be driven like bullocks to the slaughter, until the result of an armistice and a National Convention of the States is known.
“Resolved, That in the coming election we will have a free ballot or a free fight.
“Resolved, That should Abraham Lincoln owe his re-election to the electoral votes of the seceded States, under the application of the President’s “one tenth” system and military dictation, and should he attempt to execute the duties of President by virtue of such an election, it will become the solemn mission of the people to depose the usurper, or else be worthy the slavish degradation which submission under such circumstances would seem to be their just desert.”It will be seen by the action of this convention that Iowa had its share of citizens who never ceased to do all in their
