The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-01-12

of South Carolina was the cause of the South.
They had appealed to the fraternity and justice
of the North in vain and now they were voting
what was called revolution and were ready to
appeal, if need be, to the stern arbitration OF
the sword, and the ground would echo with the
tramp of armed men from the Capital to the Rio
Grande. .l... 5...4 @. .s.. d. -di -.a3 r5.ny
The South had proclaimed to the civilized
world that they had taken up arms because
person had been elevated to federal power,
which threatened their property, stimulated in.
surrection within and insurrection from without.
The Senator flom Kentucky doubts the right of
secession. Ere long he will see it thing ac-
complished. They take it up both ways at the
South, regular as in South Carolina, and irregu-
lar below that State, and there were armed men
to defend both As the Republicans declared 1t
treason, there stood before them as good a trai-
tor and as good a rebel as ever descended from
revolutionary loins. [Slight applause.l He
reviewed the demands of the South, and con-
tended that such demands were only for an
equality in the Union. Unless a government
gives protection it could not expect obedience
This was q reason for the armed men that now
sprung up everywhere. .Ea..r 10
p The Senators from New York and Ohio had
sworn to observe the Constitutional compact
but no oaths could bind them. They had higher
law. They take oaths and break them. A pro-
fessional perjurer bought for fifteen shillings by
an Old Baily lawyer would scarcely be less ia
grant, sr....a Z 1.-, --.a srf
He quoted the Personal Liberty bill of Yer
mont as an illustration of an act passed in per
jury, and continued his detail of grievances He
cited the tacit encouragement given to invasions
of the slave States by the declarations of the
Republican leaders He denied that blood had
been shed to establish the Constitution-noto one
drop. Many of the revolutionary patriots voted
against it. 1t was adopted in Virginia by 10
maj. in New York by 8, and in Mass. by 10. The
people of Georgia believed the Constitution was
the best form of government which could be dc
vised. -.. ....s H..aar
For himself, he did not share in the opinion.
Had he been in the Convention, he would have
voted with Henry and Mason against it. Every
tribunal of the government had decided in favor
of Southern demands, yet they were not yield
ed aud now the only arbiter was the sword
He argued that the Chicago platform had legal
ly declared that the treaty which acquired La. !,
aud Fla, as well as the decisions of the Supreme
Court, were void and no law. He himself was
willing to defend the Constitution with the hal
ter around his neck. ...'.,.- .
He quoted Mr. Lincons declaration that he
would vote to exclude slavery from the Ter
ritories the Dred Scott decision, notwithstand-
ing, SO they abandon the tribunals which thev
themselves had declared to be the arbter of
disputes between the States, and declared their
purpose to rule any how. They will outlaw
five thousand millions of the property of the
people of the South in the Territories of the
United States. Was this not cause for was?
He would not buy shameful peace-he would
rather have war Georgia was on the war path,
and she would have final settlement.
NJ h,s 4 Bat h., n, a..
of Independence referred to Slavery Act. Madi-
son and Jefferson owned slaves, held the sum
of all villainies, robbed the slave of his wages,
and at death left their slaves to their descen-
dants He continued quoting Vattal to show
that the people OF the North had violated the
courtesy due the South by international law
He urged the manner in which John Browns
raid was received in the North as a token of
Northern feeling. The people Of the South had
taken up arms to protect their ri ghs under inter-
nationl law and would never resign them unless
they were wrenched from the iron grasp of
free men,
He concluded by an eloquent summing up of
his speech, that if the South was denied her
rights she would invoke the God of battles, and
trust to him for security and peace.
Mr.. Bger moved that the Senate 60 into ex-
ecutive session: Agreed to, ayes so, nays %
Wednesday
Richmond, Va, JAN I.
Gov. Letcher's message in alluding to the con-
dition of the country says
''All see, know and feel that danger is mm-
nent, and all true patriots are exerting them
selves to save US from impending perils." s.
He renews his proposal in his last message for
a convention of all the States and says it is mon
strous to see a government like ours destroy ed
merely because men cannot agree about IA domes-
tic institution. 1t becomes our State to be mind
tu OF her own interests. Disruption is nevta-
BILE, and if considerations are to be formed, we
must have the best guarantees before we can at
tach Virginia to either.
He condemned the hasty action of South Caro-
lima, which has taken her Southern sisters by
surprise. He would make no special reference
to her course, had he not been invited to do so
by her late Executive, i'll uncalled for reference
to Va, for the present condition of affairs, and
il the Union is disrupted, upon them rests the
solemn responsibility. He alluded at lenght to
to end the strife. Will they do it! He awaits
their response. Not without apprehension, he
says, our action should be based on the wrongs
done our own people.
He opposes State Convention at this time,
and suggests,
lst That commission of two of the most
discreet statesmen visit the Legislatures of the
States which have passed personal liberty bills,
and insist on unconditional repeal, except the
New England States.
Sd. An equality in the States and Territories
mnst be fully recognized, and the rights of per-
sons and property adequately protected and Sc
cured. That we must be permitted to pass
throegh the free States and Territories unmo.
Tested, and if a slave be abducted, the State
where 1t Is lost must pay its value.
4th. Like guarantees that the transmission of
slaves through the slaveholding States, by land
or water, shall not be interfcred with
5th. The passage and enforcement of rights
laws for the punishment of such persons in the
Free States AS organized, or aid and abet in any
mode, whether in organizing companies with a
view to assail the slaveholdng States and to in
cite the slaves to insurrection.
9th. The General Government to be deprived
of the power of appointing to local Offices in
savcholding States persons hostile to their in.
terests or their institutions.
The Governor further says he will regard the
attempt Of the Federal troops to pass across Vir
ginia for the pun pose of coercing southern State
as ln act of invasion, and must be repelled. He
is not without hope that the present difficulties
will find satisfactory solution. Let New Eng
lallu anu western Ne" 1 Ork De cut OH, ana le,
| them form an alliance with Canada. The bal!
ance of the message pertains mainly to local af
fairs.
The Enquirer has long letter from Governor
Wise-hs leading propositions are for an i'm
! mediate call Of State convention a promp
resumption by the convention of all such power:
hitherto delegated to the General Governmen
as may be necessary for the State protection
especially the secession Of the forts, &c.
That having done so the State shall not de
! clare herself out of the Union; but suspend al
relations with the offending States till they shal
accede to such utimatum as the Convention
| shall submit. ... ~
New York, JAN 6.
The Herald's Washington correspondent say'
| the Border States Conventions plan of adjust
ment appears to have at fist met with consider
able favor and it was thought likely that tn,
President would commend 1t to the attention 0
both Houses of Congress, but the caucus of Re
pubicans, after full and free discussion upon tn,
merits of the Border States Programme, decid
ed adversely to any and all compromise whatev
er, and agreed simply to press forward the regu
lar business of the session, and then adjourn
| sine die .. .....