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State of Illinois
Executive Department.
Springfield Sept 23rd 1863.
Mr D. B. James.
Chairman of Committee
Dear Sir.
Your favor of the 20th, inviting me to be present at the "Union May Meeting," to be held in De Kalb, on the first of Oct, next is just received. I have accepted an invitation to speak in Dayton O. on that day. I regret that I shall be unable to attend. Were it possible to do so, nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to meet with my friends of De-Kalb, & to add my feeble voice in behalf of that Union which we love so well.
No man, feels the value & necessity of these meetings more than I. The condition of our
State is one of extreme perils. A desperate attempt is being made to break the phallanx of the Union Party by raising false issues, such as that of opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation, opposition to the suspension of Habeas Corpus, & opposition to every stringent measure of the Government; as an act of usurpation; & so to break up the Government itself.
The people of Illinois must oppose these Sophists as they would oppose our more deadly enemy. For if successful they are likely to our most fatal antagonists. People of De Kalb, prove faithful to your high trust as citizens of the United States. Know no cause but that of your country. Let her friends of whatever party be your friends, & her enemies under whatever disguise your enemies.
I have much more which I would like
to add, but could give no better counsel than that. All that I could say would culminate in that.
Let us be of good cheer. Notwithstanding the recent gloomy tidings, I am persuaded that a glorious destiny is in store for our country. It is a sublime proof of the justice of our cause & the heroic ardor of our soldiers, that through defeated disasters that, singly, would destroy almost any power, the collumns of the Union are evermore making their way Gulf Ward.
It remains to us who stay at home, to teach the traitors of Illinois that she can send a hundred thousand men into the field & yet retain enough to crush domestic treason.
Yours Respectfully
Rich Yates
Sept 23, 1863,