The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-17

2 proposed amendment to her constitution.
: Your obedient servant,
JAMES HARLAN.
j. B. WEBER ct al
) German Republicans of
Dubuque, Scott and Des Moines Co.'S.
low
Union Of the Opposition.
Although the Old Line Wings were terribl
horriiied at the sectionalism," and "fanati
cism of the Black Republicans in 1856 an
greatly concerned about the Union, in case the
succeeded in the then pending Presidential elec
tlon, We are pleased to see that these appreher
sions have now been measurably quieted and the
brought to look upon /" Black Republican
principles with considerable favor. Con6nn
slavery to the States where it legally exists i
not such fauatical matter after all. Here i
what the New York Commercial Advertiser
tOld Line Whig) says:
There appears to be growing disposition on
| the part OF the two main sections o, the Oppo
sition to unite their forces and their interests
before the Presidential campaign OF 1885,
This is perfectly in accordance with the dictate.
OF wise patriotism. 1t is the course recom-
mended by Ex-Governor Hunt, in the statesman
ike and patriotic address delivered at Hope
Chapel, during his late visit to this city, and
more recently urged in several influential Re
publican journals. When We speak of the two
main sections of the Opposition, we by no
means lose sight of our Old Line Wing friends,
but include them, as we think is fair, with the
Americans, with whom they wholly cooperate.
Keeping this in view. the course to be pursued
seems to us indisputably clear. By a union
We can accomplish what We all profess to
desire, the defeat of the Democracy by the
election OF President who will restore the
national government to the purity and econo-
my which distinguished its better days; and
We really do not see any impediment to such
union.
The objections which at oue time seemed TO
constitute barrier to such unity cannot be said
any longer to exist. When the Republican
party was first organized, they perhaps tell into
an error common to parties originating in
popular impulse. They perhaps promulgated
their platform without due consideration OF the
Interpretation which their opponents might put
upon the language Of its declarations. Very
pertlnacious!y were they assailed as an abolition
party /; as foes TO the South and as prompted
by determination to abolish slavery even in
the States where 1t exists by State law. But
the Republican party has 0utlived these misrc-
putation as d man of candor, will any longer
bring such an accusation against the Repnb i
cans. ln State conventions, in the columns of
the leading Republican journals, ana in Repub
lican Legislatures, such sentiments have been
openly disayowed, and the disavowal is entitled
to the fullest cre dence. Oi course there NAV
be individuals IN the Republican party who hold
abolition sentiments, there are in the Amerl-
can and Democratic parties numerous persons
who hold ultra pro slavery sentiments. But no
party is to be held responsible Tor the individual
opinions OF all who choose to associate politically
with it. 1t is TO be judged by lis platforms, by
It's official declaration, by its promulgated tenets
AID taking these as a guide, Repnbllcanlsm
stands acquitted of all the charges that have
been made against it on this " vexed question !"
OF slavery. The party, speaking as a party,
has repeatedly declared that it has no purpose
Of interfering with slavery in the slave States
in any manner whatever, either by the action of
The federal government or by popular agitation.
1t takes in tact the old Wing ground, the non
extension OF slavery into the territories Of the
Union. Even the New York Tribune, while
holding its peculiar views OK slavery, yet speak
ng as Republican organ, openly declares -
. We have no idea that the federal government
ever will or should undertake to lntermeddle
with the existence OF slavery in any State Of this
Union. We ask the government simply to let
slavery in the States alone protecting the vic.
ability OF its mails and that personal liberty
which the federal constitution guarantees TO
avery citizen, leaving the overthrow OF slavery
o the natural growth aud diffusion OF intell- |
,ence, humanity and religion. That the federal
government should cease to be the active cham
,ion and propagandst OF slavery, whether in |
is domestic or foreign policy, We do urge and
10 ant ifAn
,ect to CO." And further:
"Nor do we ask or desire the prescription of
lave-holders or pro-slavery men by the federal |
administration. If they insist on prescribing
Is, why then they raise an issue which we must |
meet, and the hardest tend of. But we are
quite willing to return to the policy OF the early
residents, under whom no mans opinions res |
,ecting slavery were made test OF his fitness |
or office. Now, it is notorious, no man is per-
nitted to hold office who is ia any manner an |
opponent Of slavery.
what the Republican party unitedly de. |
nand and insist on, is such a chance in the po- |
icy OF the federal government as will render it |
10 longer patron and partizan, but an opposi. |
ION OF the inture extenti0n of slavery. We |
INSIST that in future it shall act with regard TO
lavery extension in the spirit which induced |
Jefferson to devise and Washington to sanction |
70 iIbctuiNuVh III tuS IcueThl tcTtltOflcSs anu |
General Ia, lor to favor its exclusion from Cali
orna. So much, in essence, the Republicans |
must and will insist on. How many OF the other |
wing OF the Opposition will object to it! In
cher words, how many Of the conservative |
Wings desire that the federal government con-
inue to be employed, as it has been through |
he several Democratic Administrations since |
y ler's apostacy, as an agency tor the propaga-
ion and diffusion OF human slavery"
This is putting the Republican doctrine in its |
trongest light, and we ask calmly what is there
n 1t that any true patriot, be he citizen OF the |
sorth or Of the South, can reasonably object
o? II is the old Wing ground OF non .exten.
ion Of slavery; nothing more and nothing |
sss; and We hold tkAt our American friends |
therefore, cannot tiud fault with II. Nor is it |
-ir TO plead that, these distinct avowals not
there Is around the Republican
rgaDization an aroma Of other and more radical /
on this subject, which repels conscr-
atve men from its ranks We repeat that
he circumstances in which the party bad its /
riein, perslstentIy misrepsessuted by it, enc
nies, unsvoidabiy gave il temporarily that re
utatiOn.
A Bro Rise CoMIsG.-Tbe Dubuque Herald
{ Tuesday says: