Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-10-09
ne wAlss and he unisn.

lewcs, tie Union party Of the country. We will
not affirm that this is universally the case, for
| there are some, though we seldom meet with
them, that are honest enough TO confess that such
an assertion is too papahly false to Justify even
the most violent partizan in making 1t. Yet by
| far the larger number of the democratic papers
that reach us do not hesitate to allege that the
Wings are either openly or indirectly the sup
porters of disunon doctrines, and leave no doubt
| in our minds as to the wish of the editors, that
| Uaion and Dis-uaioa should enter largely into
the elements Of the approaching Presidential
campaign.
If this must be the issue it viii prove glorious
one for tseWhig party. Its historyfrom the begin
ming 10 the present moment, is glowing with the
most brilliant evidences of its truthful and fervd
devotion 10 the Union and the whole Union. At
no period has it, for an instant, devaed from the
mos, ardent support Of the Constitution and the
Laws, both IN their letter and spirit. Those
Wings, whose position and talents have made
them the opponents of their party principles,
have ever been, and still remain, the ablest and
most reliable defenders of the Constitution aud
the Laws. from the assaults Of faction, and the
cunning Of the designing. The schemes Of dem
agogues have, tine after time, been frustrated BY
those who have been placed to guard and preserve
the s'Ancient Landmarks" which our fathers left
u.s. They have proven too faithful TO be purcha-
sed, too courageous TO he conquered, 200 vgant
to be deceived too able aud far-seeing to be delu-
ded BY any pretences with which the selfish or
the ambitious have so often attempted TO break
down the barriers which prevented the accom-
plishment of their always deadly, and sometimes
infamous, designs. They have proven not only
great men but true patr,ots-not only intelligent
integrity aud unAinching tirmness, looking to one
obiect-the good of the whole country-no mat
ter at what sacrice Of self. Sach have been the
prominent men in our party. and such they mast
continue to be, so long as any virtue remains in
our country. With Wing principles they could
not be otherwise. A Wing who is no. patriot,
is hypocrite-a pretender, affecting principles
he does not possess. There may be such in our
ranks-t would be arrange were there not. There
was Judas even among the Twelve. But gen.
uine Wing is as necessarily patriot, lover of
his country, Union man in its highest and most
comprehensive sense, as an unaffected believer in
the Bible is Christian.
In saying tins of the Wings we do not inteni
to assert that all who do not profess and act upon
the same principles are not patriotic and not
lovers Of the Union. We believe far otherwise.
We have reason TO know that there are but few
men living in this land of plenty, prosperity, and
liberty, who 60 not love it as far they are ca
pable of loving anything. They have every in
ducement TO revere, and cling-to, and support,
with all their powers of mind and body, those in
situations which, cherished as they have been,
have made rs what we are. We cannot believe
that any body of men can be found from one ex-
tremity Of orr borders to the other, who honest
" and sincerely entertain wish to see the bonds
which make US one people severed, or are in any
degree inimica TO the great interests Of their ma
tive or adopted land. Individuals may, possibly
entertain some such sentiments. Passion, inter-
est, or ambition may have beguiled them into
projects in every way hostile TO the public good
Bat there are not, there cannot be, any class
among us, who sincerely wish to destroy the
fabric reared at so great an expense of treasure
and blood, and which is their only shelter and
security from those 'pitiless storms'' which so
frequently sweep over the political world.
But there Is a m:stak,ng Of error for right, of
rrong policy for the right policy, TO which all men
are liable, and which must lead to the most per-
nicious results. There is an irresistible tendency
in politics, especially, TO draw men, when they
have once adopted an error, into vortex of evils
81 - x,b; -
can possibly extricate them. They begin wrong
and their delusion, with constantly increasing
danger and injury, follows them to the grave
They cannot recall the past, and super human
ability is required to stem the torrent of the late
ly discovered msfortunes, into which they have
plunged, and which impetuously hurrics them a.
long. If they then perceive their danger they
find 1t impossible to avert it. But they are most
| frequently too much infatuated to see the true
cause, and blindy rush on until their ruin is con-
| summated.
We do not assert that the democratic party is
void Of patriotism, but 10 believe that il is de-
luded and deceived-that their leaders have too
often betrayed their trust-that they have adopt
ed policy which leads inevitably 10 unimagina-
bic disaster and ruin. The acts Of the demagosue
have, with them, acquired supreme control
Falsehooc has usurped the place Of truth, and
reason has been driven from her fair domain
Error, with her countless forms, has led them es-
tray, or selfish ambition has bound them to her
iron car. The leaders smile al the folly of the
multitude that follows, forgetting that the whirl-
wind they have created, if il sweep others to de-
strlction, will inevitably carry them along. For
time all seems to 60 well with them. The
strength and virtue Of our Constitution cannot be
destroyed or dissipated in moment But the
poison once infused into it will certainly have its
| effect. The consequence may be delayed but it
will surely overtake us.
II is against the settled policy of the Demo-
Gratis that we would chiefly wage our warfare
Men and measures are but things of day and are
soon forgotten or thrown aside. Principles are
immortal. If good, they grow brighter by con-
slant cxercise-if bad, the more consistently and
perscveringly they are practiced the worse it vii,
be for mankind. We believe that the Damocra-
cy are already far from the true, Constitutional
path--that they have, unwittingly, been deceived
| by their more popular leaders. If the question
is"Unon or D;s-unon," we must still contend
against them. They are the fathers of all the dis
union sentiments which have, as vet, been thrown
| out to the world. From their own ranks they