The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-16


Il That shesSecesDi0n movement 10 wholly politi-
cal, sptnSiHt odt Of no real grievances OF tho
southern people, but intended 20 keep certain
lsAdins politicians in power, ID more and more
evideaNN What were alleged ~ the grievances
Of the SoutA as The bealming Of the agitation
have bcen either removed or forgotten As to
the rescus OF fugitive slaves. Congress has
amended the law 70 make it more Efficient and
advised the state legislatures to repeal their
Personal Liberty bills As to the teritory ques-
ton, the South Carolina leaders themselveshave
pronounced 1t barren issue, because of ali the
unsettled territory of the United States that re-
mains, little il adapted to slave labor. Finally,
as TO the apprehensions of the interference Of Re-
pabiicans with slavery in the states both branch
e. Of Congress have passed bill for the intro
daction OF new guarantees of local independence
and security in the constitution. The bill Mr..
Lincoln warmly approves, as he does of an inflex-
ible execution of the Fugitive Slave Law, while
he gives every assurance to the people of the
South of his determination to deal justly with
the whole nation. His uttcrances IRE 60 expi-
cit, 90 clear, SO positive, so obviously sincere
and truthful, that nothing short Of phrensy can
resist their pu,suasiveness. q is ss - e
We shall look with much interest to the re-
ception of the Inaugural among the people of
the slave states II properly estimated, it must
have the effect Of quieting their fears and recon-
Cling them tc the new government That the
secessionists, who are determined, as Mr.. Yancey
used TO say, :. to instruct the southern mind and
fire the southern heart" win denounce the prom
Use to execute the laws as scheme Of war and
coercion, we have already evidence In oil the
border states they are trying to stir up the pas
sions Of the multitude by the widest misrepre-
sensations of Lincoln's meaning His pacific
| words are tortured into menaces, and his ap
pcals to the good sense Of the country are said
to conceal the worst designs. Virginia will Sc
| cede such terms, they cry; Tennessee will
fight against such doctrine; North Carolina can
not abide the exercise of force. In other words,
because Mr.. Lincoln, like all the Presidents that
have preceded him, says that he shall adhere TO
the obligations of his oath. and maintain the
Union and laws to the extent Of his ability, he is
charged with making declaration Of war. As
i well might the legislature who enacts law
4 against any crying evil, and the judge who un-
dertakes to apply it. be denounced as making
war upon society. t.i.,,.5f..
In the midst of the clamor, however, some
voices are raised on the side Of reason. Let us
wait, they say, until we see what acts of offence
Mr. Lincoln is disposed to commit. His words
are only general, and declare no specific meas
ures His hands are tied by the existing legis-
| lation so that he can moveno armies and invade
no states Moreover, he talks like an honest
j man, and his assurances have the stamp of sim
cerity. Could he have said less and satisfy the
demands of his own party? Might he net have
said more, and still be within the strictest letter
! of the law? las he expressed himself even so
decisively as Union men of the border states; as
| Andrew Johnson in the Senate and Winter Da-
/ Wis in the House; and can we blame a northern
man who exhibits . moderation greater than
! that of our own representatives? These and