Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-09

all the news our readers can OBTAIN iEoM 'oSs qu91
ter will be interesting.
The re Dor. Of the Committee ON Federal Rela-
tisns.-we extract literally from this Report. II
will be seen that both in the Report and in the Res
outions, the great principle Of Freedom of Opinion
and the Freedom Of the Press is fully recognized
and acknowledged; and yet, few weeks since,
the Hawk-Eye was threatened with being ostia-
cised for avang Itself Of this privilege and Of ad-
hitting articles in its columns this very subject,
because they were somewhat repugnant to the
views Of the majority. The articles were not
however, half SO repugnant as Misrepresentation
made them to be. We love freedom and hate
slavery, and we might well be siove in the
South aye, better be, with no more knowledge of
the value of liberty than they have, than slave in
q free State. Here is the extract:
Having said this much as to the duty and power
of Congress- to legislate on this subject, we now
come to the duty Of the citizen in relation thereto
The great distinguishing feature between we'll
regulated, prosper Gus and permanent government,
anu that which affords no safety to the citizen and
no protection property, is that in the one case
the citizen ab,des BY the law, and seeks its repeal
modifc alton, if obnoxious, BY proper constitu-
tional and legitimate means; and in the other he
sets the law at detiaace-acts from his DUN cor
ligation imposed upon MIN the moment he becomes
a citizen Of the government. To say that each
man shall he allowed to prescribe his own rule Of
conduct in violation Of law. and in SO doing shall
be protected and justified, necessarily destroys all
ideas OF government. and as necessarily destroys
the government that may he established. Govern
men, gTe:uGposes ooea'ence to law: Not IN
speech and Of the rress-nnr that otedi~nc- Whit.
would hush argument. or prevent the proper de-
mand for the repeal or modification of law; but
that obedience which aisavows resistance by force,
to The execution Of the law, and which while deem
ing the law unjust and mpoiitic, seeks only const
tutional means for its change. To recognize any
o.her rule, throws us int" wide h,ld heset by
danger on every side-presents anarchy and con-
fusion instead Of law ami o, der-gr's ms the most
cruel of des,otisms instead OF well regulated GOT
ernmenf.
Upon proper view OF this question and conse-
ouent proper action thereon. your committee hps-
tate not say, depends the peace, the prosperity,
the happiness and even perpetuity Of cur govern
ment. 1t is question as they conceive between
the supremacy of the law, the constitution nj the
government, and individual opinion and conse-
que spirit of defiance 10 law and the constitution
oil tribunals OF the land This issue they regard as
clearly presented in the Issue now before the
American people. And let this spirit ofresls'aEce
and the claim OF right to he guided by each mans
own rule Of conduct-originatc north or south-in
free or slave states-your committee say unqnali-
fe.!y that il should meet with unreserved con-
demnation from all good ci.zens-fraught as it is
with untold evils IT, Union and its institutions.
Under these circumstances, your committee will
not believe that any citizen Of Iowa can hesitate in
his action, but houni to believe that he will al
ways he found on the side Of safety to his country
an in op;,osii, to that doctrine which leads to
its destruction. AS q citizen Of young hut pros
porous State-situatr6 alnof fr"n these partitions
OF our Union in which great excitement has pre-
vailed and stiA prevails, our voice should lie heard
the side Of law, order, the constitution and tn"
Union. ami we fondly hope that such voice will not
he without its il hufnce. By every motive that
binds us to Country--by every feeling that can
prompt the American heartily all the love that
owe to that government, which, commando e
the admit alton Of the world, shields and protects
our lif. and liberty and ensures our happiness
we should feel hound not 10 evade the require
mehts Of that government or "nuiIisy'' It's COM
mands. SO dong we uphold the supremacy OF the
law-auell that spirit Of forche resistance which,
encouraged, destroys all that we love best in our
country, and insure, as fondly hope, the perpe-
tuity Of that gov eminent, upon the existence Of
which depends not only our own welfare. but even
the fate Of the citizen, and the civil liberty Of all
the nations Of earth.
In conclusion your committee would recon-
mend the adoption Of the following preamble and
resolutions:
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States at
| its last session adopted series of acts, known
! as the compromise measures; and whereas there
has been manifested throughout portions Of the
north and south, disposition to set portion of
said acts at defiance and the reby declare open re-
sistance to the power of the government and its
laws:
And whereas, in view Of our duty to the govern
ment, and for the purpose Of showing to all por-
tions Of the Union our firm and uny elding devo-
ton to its cause and its institutions, deem it
proper to make some public demonstration Of our
views and feelings. Therefore
I. Resolved, That in the opinion OF this General
Assembly, sthe constitution Of the United States
IS a compact, fundamental treaty''-and that in
md hat,,
that the constitution and the laws of the land must
DC respected and obeyed.
2. Resolved, That we will give no countenance
ola'a 10 those, north or south, who would set up
"thetf own rule Of conduct' in opposition to and
as being higher than the constitution--and while
we would give the largest latitude to thought.
speech ana action, yet snch avowal we regard as
mefit'hs unmixea condemnation-its inc vitahle
tendency oeing hazardous to that Union which we
hereby declare ourselves bound to maintain nv ,rv
and all means in our power.
3. Resolved, That whatever may be the op;n;ons
Of individuals as to the policy or details Of said
compromise measures, yet it is the duty of every
good citizen to conform to thei- acquisitions and
carry them out in good faith-seeking their modii-
cation or rereal,f such should be necessary in the
manner contemplated ny the constitution and laws.
!. Resolved, That the constitution should be our
guile, ssand in questions OF doubt we should look
for its Interpretation to the judicial decisions Of
the tribunal which was established to expound il,
and to the sages Of the sanctioned BY
the acquescence OF the country call its pro-
visions ere equally binding--that it is the will of
the people expressed in the most solemn form,''--
that no pretence of utility, no honest conviction
even OF what might be erpedenf can justify she
umpfion Of aug poUer not granted or the violations
Of its provisions and that we deem it first duty
not to ssevade its requirements or nullfy its COM
mands.s
s. Resolved, That the Secretary Of State is here
by directed to forward copy Of these resolutions
to the Governors of each State and Territory, and
to each OF Our Senator's and Representatives. in