Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-02
OUR AIM AND OBJECT.
BURLINGTON:

cd in the accomplishment Of single object. To Sc
cure II, we have not paused to discuss collateral
subjects which seemed intimately connected with
IT, We have kept these in the back ground. SO that
we might be the better able to keep distinctly in
view and the more speedily obtain pubic &C
acknowledgement of, and full and hearty acauies-
cence in the great ulimatum Of our desire. This
course has subjected us to the endurance Of bitter
invective from those who should have been our
friends and Of semi-praise and commiseration from
those whose applause we can never purchase at
the expense OF endorsing either their inveclves OF
patriotic men, or their mode Of operation in carry
ing out the ends they profess to aim ut.
The single and great object that has thus engag-
Cd our attention has been to SETTLE for ALL and
secure for all practical purposes, the great pivot
point Of hberty-the freedom Of discussion. and in
connection with il, the freedom Of the press. We
consider that this object has been gained. Theo-
setically, il was acknowledged before--but hence
forward 1t is to be tangible, practical. On all
hands il is now acknowledged as the right OF ALL
wha. was, within two short months ago, asserted
to be treason-and we have the documents to show
this--is now no longer counted such, but priri-
iege awarded to every freeman by the Constitution,
both of State and Nation.
This discussion has given prominence to the
fugitive slave law which calls for remark. No law
has caused SO much excitement, since the admis-
sion of Mis- sou,i, asthis. Both in a political and
moral aspect, it has heen completely dissected.--
While some have declared its continued existence
would destroy the Union, others have been as con.
6dent that its repeal would have the same effect
Neither Of these express our own belief. The
Union viii stand long enough to outlive the neces-
sity of such law. Both parties must be patient.
Time, intelligence, free discussion. and above all,
the Providence OF God, will work out the cure
Who would have dared, fifty years ago, to have
said that in twenty years from that time the Afri
can Slave Trade would be abolished and all engaged
. IN II be counted piratesp Yet it was done. All
nations agreeing thereto.
While we believe the main object Of aboltionists
% Be praseworthy, We avail ourseif Of this oppoi-
tunity to speak freely in regard to their movements
We do this, because late course, in battling for
free discussion, has led some to count our full
cooperation with them as a party. In our indi- |
vidual intercourse with few, recently, we have !
showed them that this could not be. We have been
thus explicit. because some have proposed to aid
the Hawk-Eye, in the anticipation that il would be
subservient TO their methods OF warning against |
slavery. To all such we have told the same story.
II their papers are an index to their course, that
course u neither in accordance with tss.c, our
policy, o. our principles. II sometimes amounts |
- Tyranny, and frequently defeats its object. It
Vas but the other day were gratuitously attack
ID By the abolition paper At Mount Pleasant, in
way thst-if the editor had possessed much inhu- |
snce-might have hindered our accomplishing tina; |
which he has been vainly attempting to accomplish
ever since he came to the state. Whatever were !
his motives, he need have fears OF any attempt
On our part to surplant him either as leader or a.
a organ OF the Abolitionists. We consider him, |
however. as unfit for both. He seems to lack wis
dom, discretion and beaevolence-three prime |
requisites in promoting the cause OF humanity.
We have not noticed him before, but viewing the
professsd object as praisewo,thy, we would sec
such appropriate means used as are likely to &C.
compish il. Aman with his comhativeness-so
quarrelsoms ~ to permit no man to do any good
unless II be squared by his compasses-cannot be
. remunerating leader in any party. While whg
papers are opening the door to enable his party TO
become useful, he would shut it in their face and
thus hinder any good being done. While the Mount
Pleasant Observer has taken high and commenda-
BILE ground for free discussion, the True Demo-
crat has endeavored to paralyze its usefulness by
thy editors about that. We have never before no.
ticed his paper since ne had charge Of it; we pre-
sumo he will use what we have now said as . text
for many subsequent numbers. Whatever may be
his course, we hardly think he will be able to pro-
yoke reply from us. Our object in noticing him
at all, was simply for illustration.
Bur we have worse things to bring against ADOLF
ton leaders than those recorded above. There are
to be found al over the land. men who dislike the
fugitive slave law and would gladly see it so modi-
6sd Is 10 answer all the claims ofiustice and hu-
manity. Many OF these are in Congress. They
are in the minority. They see that any motion on
their part to accomplish their desire would only
stir up strife and agitation and accomplish no good
renewal Of the agitation would, in their estima-
ton, only tend to put farther of the hoped-for mod
theation OF this law. They have therefore thought
host not 10 make any proposition on the subject,
during the present session. Their dislike Of the
INV unauestioned, and their wisdom, under the
eareomstancss, unquestionable. We arc speaking
u wniSs. inere Is, however, ono man in the
House who has tried to sgitste the question. The
manner OF his doing is so disgusting and 20 dis
reputable. as to cause the cry Of shame to come
upon him, throughout the land. He is a leading
aooiitionist. They are all opposed to Daniel Web
sS's wv VIC VIII venture 10 say tnot MS malicious
and hsndish attack upon this statesman will do
more for Daniel Webster, than could be done by
ne highest eulogy from his mos. influential admi-
rsrs. That leading aholitionistis JOSHUA r. Gin
ossss Of Ohio. During his speech, ne uttered the
following:
stSir, was about to make some COMPARISONS, but
pefnaps tney may be regarded az indicate. On.
ring last Summer two distinguished gentlemen of
the same name occupied much Of the public at,en
tion. One was said TO have committed murder.
and the other to have procured the passage OF this
law. One was hanged for his crime, the other, for
his efforts, taken to the Executive Cabinet. One
destroyed the life Of an individual, the other con.
trihuted his efforts for the passage Of this law,
which must consgn hundreds, perhaps thousands,
TO premature graves. sir, cannot speak for 9TH
ers; but Tor myself would rather meet my final
Judge with the guilt Of him who has gone his IL
nal account than Of him who sits in yonder cabi-
netss
Neither the archives of this or any other coui-
Try can show parallel OF indecency, exaggcration
and wicked antthesis equal to the above.
Such specimens--and they are but specimens
dictatorship in any party enough TO sink it low
IN the estimation Of good and patriotic men. But
when professedly engaged in the cause Of human
isy how can they escape beng censured as hypo-
critics in the view Of the masses. Mr. Giddings'
whole speech is said to have abounded in foul and
violently uttered language against the President as
we'll - against Mr. Webster. His speech was not