The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-13


| fou ndatiOn whatever, for the impression sought
SO be made by the Richmond disunion newspa.
pers that considerable change, in favor of their
very bad cause, has occurred in that State since
the late election of members to their current
State Convention. According to their state
ments the Old Dominion is all ablaze for immed-
late secession. Our observation was, principally
in the very county i'll which the change in favor
| of disunon is represented to have been greatest;
where we could not hear of single citizen who,
being for the Union at the date of the Convention
election, is now of the oligarchy-not one.
On the contrary, we found the people very
generally, utterly amazed, incensed and disgusted
at the atrocity of that usurpation as developed
by the means taken to confirm it in power--the
entire abrogation of popular rights in the seed
ed States, and the wholesale Misrepresentation
of the purposes and policy of the Government Of
the United States toward the South, made plain in
| its conduct since the Fourth of March.
| We found no man there with whom we con-
versed upon the subject who now fails to realize
that the question which Virginia is to decide, is
whether she will give up the assurance OF the
continuance of all the rights, privileges, liberties
and blessings which her people have enjoyed
through the Government of the United States up
| to this time, for the questionable condition of
citizenship under the despotism of Rhett, Spratt,
Cobb, Toombs & Co.
| Not man of them entertained the idea SO in
dustriously sought of late to be injected into the
Virginia popular mind, that the policy of the
present Administration is an aggressive one up
on the South. The result is, that the cause of
| the Union is far stronger at this moment there
than previous to the 4th of March, when the
course of the present Government toward the
South was uncertain, and was being most effect
lively represented.
The GOVERNMENT SHOWING ITS STRENGTH
The recent rapid movements of government
troops, the secrecy with which these movements
have been effected, leaving the destination of
formidable navy only to be conjectured by the
public, must convince the hitherto exultant
friends of secession and treason that the power
Of this Republic is not Frustrated, and that the
standard of rebellion cannot be raised with i'm
punity. s
| Under the recent administration Of James
Buchanan the government of necessity tell into
contempt, both at home and abroad. The revo-
lutionists erected batteries and mustered armies;
they insulted our dag and fred upon our vessels;
they forbade the administration of justice in the
name of the United States, seized the public
property, and in every way in their power hurl-
ed defiance in the teeth Of the lawful authorities.
Yet the government at Washington, far from
checking the rapid progress of rebellion, de-
clared it had no power to suppress it, and by its
vacillating and imbecile conduct strengthened
the hands of the traitors. Under such circum-
| stances the government could not command res
pect, while secession, by the very audacity of its
movements, won the admiration which boldness
and directness of purpose always claim.
| Since Mr.. Lincoln came into power there has
been with some disposition to eensure his SEEM
ing inactivity, and to complain that his Admins
tration, thus far, has been only continuation Of
the disgraceful policy of his predecessor. The
recent demonstrations in this port, however,
show that the Administration has not been un-
mindful of the honor of the country, but that it
has been collecting its scattered forces while, at
the same time, it has wisely concealed its pur
poses, and now, suddenly, We find the govern
mens with feet ready for immediate action
Whatever may be said to the contrary, we re-
gard this show of force as the best peace mea-
sure that can be adopted. So long as the gov
eminent is believed to be powerless, so long will
treason have its way and command the admira-
ton Of the Indifferent, But SO soon as it shows
itself sufficiently powerful to sustain the laws,
rebels will become scarce.-[N. Y. Eve. Post.