The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-02
THE.HAWK-EYE


~-& nO0&BCkONs
viaiaia takes her position Of remaining IN
shs Union, but still furnishing I'D 70 thoss
stases which claim TO BE- out sssuming che die
tatstihip Of the 0ovsrnnsnt ~ declaring that
the seeding States ought not 70 = eosrced into
allegiance, end thas shs win resist any attempt
at such coercion. The universal tenor Of her
acts = the Legislature and tie Convsntion are
- one q them exprsnes, that ,'svirginia sster-
asss hsr declared purpose Of resistance 70 CO.
sreioa, and pledges herself to meet force BY
force, - nainaain sAss Ass psiAeiplss Il the
Constitutes, snd uphold the rights 81 tie slavs-
holding StAssA. Her constant fear has been Of
coercion, lsst tAs government put forth it,
strength - crush rsbellioa. to0i .as sda
But W are never told precisely what coercion
DsaaA Hitknsas. hat The General Govern
nsas b doing wrong BY organizing an army to
mako IN aggressive war upon he people Of any
State, Why W freely sdmit and NJ. Lincoln
plainly sxprssssd - much, in his speech At Indi-
annapolis, that such an act would b. contrary TO
the spirit Of eur institutions, and would be care
fally avoided. 4 civil war b not the proper
method Of restoring harmony. It should only
take place for defence, 70 resist any treason,
any attack, II the South should have the folly
TO eompsncs Il To conquer the people Of
eouth Carolina into passing resolutions Of At
sachnent 70 ths Union, ws should never support,
for II successful, Il could only b at the eoss Of
much life and money, and worse rebellion
would arise - soon - the force vas withdrawn.
But If the legitimate administration Of the
Government according to the laws and customs,
10 coercion, Virginia will have to submit There
can b no choice for Mr.. Lincoln, except to
meet the contempt which Mr.. Buchanan receives
but claiming the laws to be in full operation,
without making any effort to enforce them. He
hsworn TO support them, and must do it. 1.-THE
people choose TO dissolve the Union, and to re-
cognize the Independence of the Confederate
States Of America Mr.. Lincsln, like the rest of
us, must submit, for the people are suprems.-
But until they do 90, he can only know that he
has been chosen TO execute the laws-has sworn
TO do 20, and cannot avoid the revenue laws in
South Carolina any more than in Massachusetts,
There can be no omission, while the seeding
States are claimed as part Of the Governments
without acknowledging that the Government is
worse even than under the Articles Of Confed.
Grafton with plenty Of power TO pass laws, but
no power to execute them. The whole nation
would be ridiculous humbug. If Boston should
Gust the present Collector Of Customs and put
in one Of her own, the President would send
force enough to restore order, and We should oil
commend him. II Charleston does the same
thing, and 10 q part Of the Union, the duty must
be as plain. The reply that Instruction there
has assumed large dimensions, is no::answer, but
should call forth for more determined exercise
of authority, unless we admit the weakness Of
the government to protect itself.
Mr.. Lincoln can have no discretion. He must
execute the laws, As mildly as possible we hope,
consistently with firmness, and the rights of the
government, through the thirty -four States, until
some competent authority makes different ar.
rangement. If Virginia resists this constitu-
tional exercise Of authority, she is only in re-
bellion as dangerous IS the more open rebellion
Of South Carolina, and should not be permitted
to dictate what shall and what shall not be done.