Daily Gazette Davenport, Iowa Tuesday Morning September 9, 1862 Part 2 Military Exemption for Friends or Quakers It will be observed that numbers of petitions have been presented to our Legislature from members of the Society of Friends, asking exemption from military duty, on the ground that they cannot conscientiously engage in warfare. From the beginning, this highly respectable, and in some portions of our country numerous body of Christians, has held a consistent testimony against wars and fightings. In no instance that we are aware of, has there ever been any swerving from this if a single congregation in Philadelphia is excepted. During our revolutionary contest, a small fraction of the body in that city took the ground that defensive warfare was admissible, acted accordingly, and always after were denied association by the original society. In holding to their views, the Friends have borne contumely, have often been rudely despoiled of their property, and have endured patiently the burdens imposed, never failing in any other instance to come fully up to their requirements a citizens, and always manifesting an intense love for Republican institutions, and a willingness to sacrifice almost everything except the cherished principle of non-resistance. State laws, where they exist in large numbers, have g! enerally been so framed of latter years, as to afford them relief from military duty, and the desires of an earnest and God-fearing people have been gratified. From the general respect which they inspire in all their intercourse with the rest of the world, and from their elevated moral and religious character, the sympathy of their fellow men has been secured, and a cordial acquiescence has been awarded to the exemption of the Quaker from the absolute bearing of arms. Indeed, it is universally conceded that he of the broad brim and drab clothing, would, in a regiment, be an anomaly, not to be reconciled. In putting down this rebellion it is a remarkable fact, that in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the Friends congregate in the greatest numbers, measures for the relief of the suffering soldiers appear to have an intensity of which hardly any other portion of our Union can boast. We believe there is a more unreserved yielding up of private resources for the welfare of the soldiers in Philadelphia and its vicinity than any other part of our country-a great deal of that unostentatious kind of work which is based upon the principle of not letting the left hand know what the right hand doeth-and this, we as honestly believe, comes from the Quaker leaven so freely interspersed through the community, always quick to recognize the call of the suffering, and ever ready to bind up the broken heart. Young men occasionally unfetter themselves and step into the ranks, in obedience to what they consider their country's call. Sorrowfully their seniors look after them, their career is e! arnestly and prayerfully watched, but reproach (it cannot fail to have been noticed in this contest) scarcely, if ever, reaches the end of the tongue. Solemn words of advice, as to consistent moral conduct, have been uttered in our hearing, to such as have enlisted, by counselors from whom reproof would have come likewise had reproof been in the heart. The language was full to overflowing with tenderness, such only as Friends inspired by the deepest emotion can use: but, but-there is ceased. The wanderers from the fold evidently were not cast-aways; and for this state of feeling, the reader, probably can find a reason. There are a number o Friends in Iowa. In Cedar, in Henry, in Marshall and in Muscatine counties, quite large congregations. We cannot help entertaining the hope that their petitions to the Legislature will meet with favorable consideration. As a people forced into the ranks, they cannot fight. In the army as men, voluntarily there, none would do the work better, for whatever they perform, as a general rule, is done strictly from a sense of duty. They are no eleventh-hour men in the enunciations of their views-not they. From the organization of the society down to the present moment, their utterances as to engaging in war have been the same. Let favorable and considerate legislation in their behalf obtain also in Iowa. ~~~ There is a rebellion among the English Quakers. The youthful fair of the sect have banded together in opposition to the poke bonnet and scant skirt. Crinoline of moderate periphery now surrounds their frames, and flowers and ribbons are invading precincts of the drab. The elders are moved to lamentations, and, through their organ, "The British Friend," urge plaintive remonstrances. The young men among them are also exciting consternation by joining rifle corps. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IAGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES