Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-07-16

The O1 tnance 81 FreeAosn.
~ Or 6ses 81 1851.
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We are indebted to the perusal Of this valua-
BE pamphlet % Dr. John 81 Rauch Of this city. |
The venerable author Is one Of those prscti- |
cal abolitionists when ne delight to honor There
y probably no man now liring who Is more COM
peteat 70 give an authentic history of the great
Ordinance Of Freedom Mr.. Coles in his youth
was private Secretary to Mr.. Jefferson and ac-
cofnpanied him to France inthat capacity, when
that distinguished statesman was minister to-
that country, in the last century. At an early
period Mr.. Coles removed to the Territory Of
Illinois, and there gave liberty to number Of
slaycs whom he brought with him from Virginia.
Few public Jnen have maintaineda higher char
acter, or served their country to better purpose
he was chosen Governor Of Illinois in 1922, An
effort was then in progress to change the Con-
stitution Of the State and bring in slavery. This
effort Governor Coles resisted personally and of
fcially, and with voice and pen-a noble exam
pie to all Governors. His earnest opposition
to slavery had made him leave his native State
virginia. and he now felt it his highest duty to
enlighten the people OF Illinois, and prevent
their making it slaveholding State. We can
believe him when in the evening Of life he says
that it has ever since afforded him the most de-
lightful and consolng reflections, that the abuse
he endured, the labor he performed and the
anxiety he felt, were not without their reward.
Mr.. Coles, traces the history Of the. Ordinance
from its inception in the mind of the author Of
the Declaration ofIndependence, the elder broth
er of the Ordinance, whose kindred political
features, as Mr.. G. justly says, no one can fail
to see. The Ordinance was passed with great
er unanimity than the Constitution ITSELF
There was only one vote against It in the old
Congress, and that was from New York. Della
ware, Virginia, North and South Carolina and
Georgia gave it their entire votes. Mr.. Coles
traces the uniform course Of the Government in
re-enncting and extending over wider regions
this benevolent Ordinance. He shows that
through sixty-seven years, from 1851 to 1854,
eight different Congresses and six Presidents
enacted and approved laws to this end No
similar measure ever received such signal and
repeated proof of the appreciation of the peo-
pie. -
We commend this pamphlet to the thinking
aud conservative minds of the country. Let
| those who honor the memory of the Fathers OF
the Republic, and who think their principles and
their virtues worthy to be retained by their sons,
read this valuable historical sketch, and confirm
| their loyalty and devotion to Freedom and their
country.
It is cheering omen that this patriotic pub
LEGATION proceeds from the State Of Pennsylvania,
and from Society numbering among its MEM
| bers the most honored names in that Common
| wealth It is fitting too that lie who in his
youth was associated with Jefferson should now
| come to the defence of his principles, when they
| are treacherously assaed by s. Arnold Douglas
and those who follow in his wake. May the
voice Of wisdom and of age prevail over head
long ambition. If Pennsylvania will give her in
| Auence to the restoration of the Ordinance OF
l7S7-and ofthis we take the pamphlet before
| US as a promise-she will confirm her title as the
Keystone State, and receive the thanks of mil
| lions. - s
The closing words of Governor Coles are
worthy the serious consideration of every lover
of his country Let them be duly pondered,
and let every good citizen of Iowa, which owes
everything to the extension of the principles Of
the ordinance, apply the proper corrective on
the fourth day of August and on the fourth day
of November at the ballot boxes
Says Governor Coles
.sTo cool and dispassionate observer, who has
knowledge of the enlightened origin the great
popularity and beneficial effects of the Ordinance,
it seems to be incredible that it should have been
repealed and especially that it should have been
denounced as violating the great principles on
which our government is founded. Yet such
has been the fact, and what adds to the aston
ishment is that this has been done by men pro-
Tossing to be of the Jefferson school Of politics.
In conclusion, will say, the wisdom, expe-
diency and salutary practical effects of the Or
dinance, could not be more cleary shown than
by contrasting its operations with; those of
its substitute. Under the Ordinance from 1851
to 1854, the Territories subject to it were quiet,
happy and prosperous. Since its principles
were .repudiated in 1854, we have had nothing
but contention, rotsand threats, if not the awful
realities Of civlwar, which painful state OF things
has been brought about by the substitution Of
the legislation of 1854 for that of 1887, long
consecrated as it had been by time, and by the
appreciation of the greatest and best men of our
country" A CITIZEN.
For the Hawk-Eye.