Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-02-21
For the Burlington Hawk. Eye.

do not doubt that his adherents, animated by the
same party zeal and energy, which have hitherto
been so onspicuous, will do all that is possible TO
spread his views before those for whose especial
benefit they have been announced; yet the lamen-
table fact will remain apparent, that large class OF
our citizens will continue in the most profound ig-
norance of the luminous exposition this marsei'
lous speech presents upon the most exciting topic
Of the day! More particularly in this nor'h-wes.
tern section will this ignorance prevaii Tor MS
friends will not prove remarkably solicltous TO
convince the immediate neighborS Of the doughty
General, that for the last half.cenury, they have
been laborng under the most egregious error upon
a matter with which they were intimately connect
edi Lest they should prove too partial to ee'tain
sections Of the coun,ry, would gladly assist in
the es~t to dissipate the thick clouds which have
so long concealed the light OF Truth from the eyes
OF your readers. by presenting them with CON-
plete analysis of his argument; but the dread OF
doing it injustice will deter me, OF present from
making the attempt. It will suffice, by giving
rude outline Of his reasoning, to satisfy the most
incredulous, that the General is most decidedly
sssome in bar fight,' and only requires fair pay
and can open feld,'' to smake the fur fly" about
the ears of his enemies in a manner altogether as
tonishing!
The object of the uwilmot Proviso,' is to exclude
slavery from the territory belonging to the United
states, in which il does not exist, by the pos
tive enactment Of Congress. The question is,
shell law to this effect be adopted? General Cass,
hut recently the northern candidate Of half defunct
Democracy for the Presidency, and ambitious Of
! second nomination., says "No," with the most de-
terminel emphasis. ssConsre's has NO RIGHT to
pass such la,c'! His argument may be summed
| UP in few words. The powers Of Congress are
limited to, and cannot be extended beyond the letter
| Of The Constitution. That instrument confers no
authority to establish any government over, or ex-
ercse any jurisdiction within the territory belong
ing to the United States, beyond what may be reQui-
site for the use, preservation, improvement, and
disposition by sale, Of the Islands and other proper
| ty', held by the Government, as proprietor, and
lying without the boundary Of the several states.-
| This, and this ony,is conferred by the Constitu=
ton. The establishment of government, and the
exercise Of special jurisdiction, over the persons
those who may occupy portions Of this territory,
are acts of nature superior to- and not Authorized
by, any Of the powers bestowed upon Congress by
! the Constitution. The "Wilmot Prosiso" has no
relevancy, whatever to the authority granted, and
! can BY no implication be made needful eto the
proper enjoyment of the lands and other property"
in The hands Of the Government for the use Of the
| people. The passage of such law, would be the
exercise Of a purely sovereign and governmental
right, upon the persons and property Of individuals
| and as no such authority is any where granted by
the constitution, 1t cannot legally be carried into
effective operation.
Such is the argument OF Gen. Cass. do not in
tend at tn. present time, to express opinion as
! to its correctness. 1merely wish to acknowledge
my surprise and establishment at recent dscnnsr
II it be true that Congress cannot Constutionaliy
establish government over any territory, Or adopt
any law affecting the persons or property within
it, it certainly is amazing that no one should have
hit upon it before We all knov that numerous
territorial governments haze been established by
Congress since the adoption Of the Constitution
that in fact, nearly one-ha OF the States composing
the confederaey were first organized as Territories
before their admission. 1t is also well known that
the earliest Of these organizations occurred soon
after the adoption of Federal Constitution, and
that they have since existed under, and have been
sanctioned by every succeeding Congress, and cal.
led into being every administration Ihave heard
it minated, and confidently believe, that General
Cass was himself appointed Marshal in the very
first Territory known to the country was after
wards member of its Legislature, and finally, fol
many years, the Governor Of arotherl And think
it will where be found recorded that, during all
this time he suggested the idea that these Or
carnations were in violation of the constitution
his own acts illegal; or that he experienced any
computations OF conscience about approprating tc
his own private use the extraordinary emolumt nta
Of his various oficest
II is astonishing that almost at The same honr In
which such men Clay and Benton are directly
proposing to establish territorial goverhmen Mt.
TO say nothing Of that monde script animal, Foote
of Mississppi-Gen. Cass. after grcping about al
his life in darkness, should at last have thrust hi:
bucket to the bottom of the well, and most oppor
tunely ished up the GREAT TRUTH which had beer
quietly reposing there's for his especial benefit, fol-
half century! And is it not equally astonishing
that this truth, should have been brought the ligh
of day just at the nick Of time, when is likely t.
, prove mos: advantageous to the man who made The
discovery 2-when the cheerful ray will meet will
the most hospiable reception from those Southern
Hotspurs, who, with genuine democratic feeling
deem themselves the only ones who can make
| democratic president9
IL also remarkable, tnat the discovery OF tnt!
truth, enables the General, who has hitherto beer
in an awful dilemma, TO shirk free from any direc
expression Of opinion upon the srroviso.'' Tha
has now became of secondary importance indect
( Of no importance at all. Congress, he says, car
pass no ,ap specially for the government Of Terri
tories and if SO, of course the .Proviso' at ono,
falls to the ground. It matters not what any mans
opinion may be upon it. when neither that or an,
other prov,Sos, ever be etectuated. It suits
the people Of the Sont. most admirably, and leave.
them free to carry their peculiar institutions to tn
Pacific, if they please; and those Of the North can
not complain for they law abiding people -
There seems to be other position, which woult
be palatable in both sections ana so the General
with that daring which has becA celebrated upoI
many we'll fought field, has grappea the bull b,
the horns, with strong inclination to conquer
even If he be compelled, once again, to break ,
sword in the contest!
would not venture to accuse General Cass o
insincerity. He is Senator, one of the Elders o
the People, and doubtless entirely devoid of ambi
ton He is an honest man, speaks what he be
ieves to be the truth, and has the good Of the
try constantly before his mind He has no fond
ness for Office its emoluments, and, like the Gin
cinnatus of old Rome, would prefer filling the sol
| OF his moor farm. To a nc SitiOn at he a