Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-10-24

ne bankruptcy which he brought upon
housands--his frequent arbitrary violations
{ the Constitution-the alienation of the
cople from the government-and the abso
ute dismemberment Of society which fol-
owed in their train. The morals of the ma
ion have been declining and the general
of the country has been detri-
mentally affected ever since his advent as
for the Presidency.
But this is not all. Before laying aside
lis robes Of Office, and as il in utter disrc-
gard of the genius Of our republican nsti-
lutious, he pointed out his successor. IT
that alone that made Martin Van Buren, pass
current with the people as a successful can.
ddatc for the Presidency. Not content
with that, he has again brought his males.
te-ial agency into requistion by recon-
mending James X. Polk for the same high
Office. and it yet remains to be seen which
ty Of the people Of this country-a regard
20 the dictation OF Gen. Jacks son, or regard
to the only principles which can promote
the universal prosperity of the people. This
is the issue. and we have too exalted an
opinion Of the patriotism Of the masses to
doubt as to the result. Henry Clay will be
tho next President Of the United States.
Opening the Iowa Convention with
Prayer.
Mr. HALL offered the following amend
mcnt to the resolution for opening the daily
sessions of this body with prayer:
Reso!ued, That the exercises created BY
this resolution shall commence at least one
half hour before the assembling Of the Con.
vention at it's req ula hour of adjournment,
and be concluded before the regular time
of the meeting of the Convention.
The debate which followed, would have
shone in the annals of the French Nation
al Assembly, during the olutionry afro
cities. We hardly know which creates the
most disgust, the diabolcal sneer embodied
in the amendment, or the impudent by.
pocrisy of the subsequent declaration of the
mover, of his high generation" for reli
gion and its teachers We do not envy in
him, or any other man, the peculiar men
tai organization which fits him for a ser
vice such as this. If his conscientious in
| stincts are faithful to their Office, reflec
ton must bring remorse, but if SO com
pletely indurated as to be insensibe to
these visitings, it is blinded pcrversity O.
mind, from which any and every man who
has an ambition to be co-worker in tho
cause of society and morality should pray
devoutly to be delivered.
| The institution Of christianity and it,
ordinances may be to these individuals thu
delusons of priestcraft, but to thousand
Of their fellow citizens, they are an anchor
ed hope. interviewer with their enjoyment
here. and their happiness hereafter. Oh
such subject, their feelings shall be saw.
ed from insult, and the members Of
grave deliberative body who will so far for
get the dignity Of their position, as wan
tonly to outrage them, shall receive from
an injured community. the earnings 0
their infamy in indignation aud scorn.
Persons in the stations Of these gentle
men, should be supposed to have some gen
eral knowledge of past events, and vii
they point US in eighteen hundred years 0
the worlds history to a single nation which
has existed, without national religion
Does not all concurrent testimony to which
we have access, prove with the force O
demonstrat ion, that from the moment a
people tramp,e upon the divine principle il
their nature, their death knell is struck
France by a solemn act Of her legislator.
degraded the Deity and deifed Reason
and twenty five years Of crime and carnage
was her terrible expiation; and as if to make
the lesson more strikingly impressive to he
Universe, the sovereigns of leaguered Eu
rope assembled in her captured Capitol
tfod the palace halls Of Louis lie Grand
while their household troops bivouaced in
the gardens of the Tuilleries.
Our OWN government, from its founda
ton, has been distinguished for it's respect
to religion in all Of its public acts. From
the fervent supplication sent up by the
way worn pilgrims of the May Flower,
when the keel of their vessel grated upon
the sandy beach OF Cape Cod, the aid OF
that same Providence has been prop;tiated
in ali of our enterprises both in peace and
war. But as il the barrier stream which
divides US from the great sea ward section
shall be also the boundary between religion
and infdelity, the Iowa Convention assem-.
bled TO give us Constitution for our fu-
ture government, commenced their session
by what amo units to a deliberate vote Of
censure, upon these time honored prece-
dents.
Admitting the whole institution of chris
tianity to be based upon an ideal mysticism,
is it an error which strikes at the high pur-
poses OF government Has it corrupted So
ciety Has it debased character! No.
From the hour of the oonv md tLa cruc;.