The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-04-08

and candlO pefusdl. LIS uue from every
honest freeman, upon the accession Of a
new administration, protesting different
political opinions from its predecessor, to
examine wiki a vigilant eye, the first
manifesto Of its principles, and to under
stand with precision the line Of conduct
which it processes to adopt. The present
crisis renders this duty more imperative
than heretofore. Gen. HI. has been cal
led from his retirement to the exalted
post Of President, by the most oyerwhelm-
ing vote ever cast between contending
parties. Charges Of the gravest charac-
ter were made against the preceding adj
ministration. The spirit Of party had
risen superior 10 love of country, and
corruption had, to some extent, prevailed
every department Of the government
This great country, with the pes. form
Of government upon earth-with mex
haustible resources Of every nature
every element Of prosperity, the most
genial climate, fertile soil, fruitful mines,
an industrious population, and the accom-.
panying smiles OF heaven, had, in a time
Of profound peace, been involved in one
wide spread prevailing every branch
Of industry. and every class and condition
of men. The people eagerly sought the
cause of this-the farmer left his plough
| in the farrow, and the mechanic his work
shop, to enquire "why these things were
So" They traced the cause to its true
source. They found it at the door of the
President, and in the halls Of legislation
they remembered the prophetic warnings
of Webster, and Clay, and Porter, Of
Louisiana, upon the floor Of Congress in
l634--they saw their predictions fulfilled
almost 10 the letter--,hey decree9 change
Of rulers, and with that conservative en-.
ergy which belongs only to republican
government, they wrought that change,
and placed Harrison in the Chair - a
democrat in principle, elected by the
only true democracy. No man is then
excusable in neglecting a careful perusal
of the first message of the Peoples man
The Peoples President.
This document possesses uncommon
merit. 1t is strong, clear, patriotic, and
eloquent. The President has not con.
tented himself with stating general prin-
clples without any particular application,
and stated in such way as to mean any
thing or nothing as convenience, in future,
may require. But mindful of the charges
of conceainaent urged against him in the
late canvass-he has expressed in general
and with illustrations, all the vital princi-
pies which had been subverted by the
late administration; shews their impor-
lance 10 our existence as nation, and
pledges himself to surrender his trust un-
impaired.
All we ask of any man is candid Pc
rusal of it. 1t places our President in a
lofty position = away above the petty
brawls of party in the unclouded sunshine
of patriotism and devotion TO his coun-
try's veal. His supporters may feel
proud of the man, and the fullest assu-
rance that under his guidance the Com
monwealth shall receive no deiriment.
1t is not unworthy of remark that
large number of the hireling presses Of
the opposition have neglected to publish
lit, conscious that conviction would follow
| its perusal. Others ofthem have resorted
to ridicule TO counteract its influence
They smile and affect contempt for the
frequent illusions to Rome. Alas! for
the vanity Of ignorance. For the fool,
history teaches no lessons. The rich
experience of the past is sealed to him.
But the man of wisdom, when difficulties
thicken before him, and clouds envelope
his path, opens the volume of faithful
history, and seeks there the rocks on
which others in like circumstances have
shipwrecked--ke exclaims, as did Pat
rick Henry in his immortal speech before
the Virginia Convention in the dawn Of
the revolution :" J have no light to guide
my path. but the light of experience
know of no way of judging Of the fu-
ture, but by the past"
! Our republic is yet in its infancy-is
yet an experiment. Republican Greece
and republican Rome were once as hap
lpy, as prosperous, as glorious, as our
i selves. And the breast of Cicero glowed
with as exalted hopes for the permanency
and prosperity of the republic when he
had triumphed over Cataline and his