The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-01-19

The waning strength of the South Carolina re-
bellion is resuscitated and given greater impor-
/ tance by the accession Of Florida, Alabama and
Mississippi, with the absolute certainty Of soon
receiving Georgia and other States. so that dis
union begins to assume rather formidable dimen-
sions How shall it be met? By concessions
which admit it to be right and ty allowing the
doctrine that an unreasonable minority shall
rule; by altering the Constitution, and placing
in it new provisions utterly subversive Of, and
contrary to, its original design ;-or by firm
stand on the part of the majority for their Con-
stitutional rights, and the re-establishment for
the first time of the losg neglected principle
that our Union is compact binding upon all,
in which the voice of the majority rules, and
from which the secession of any part is simply
rebellion and war? Which policy is the best
aud safest for the future? What assurance has
the North, that if she should be frightened int
any compromise such as is demanded, such com.
promise is to bring any permanent peace p
What assurance is there that it will not share
the fate OF the final adjustments Of 1920 and
1850? If we grant that slaves are property,
and can be taken into the common territories un-
der the protection of the Constitution, are we
safe, few years hence, from some deduction
from that concession that they can be
carried into the States likewise, as Douglas
Kansas Bill was deduction from the ComprO-
mise of 1850? Or are we certain that the Cot
ton States will not demand the reopening of the
slave traffic and secede in the event of its re-
fusals These are questions to which the past
history of our politics furnish such an answer as
may well DETER and excite suspicion in, the
North.
Our position,-the position of the Republican
party,-is not to obstinately refuse the rights of
the South, but to place the North and South On
| an equal footing. We do not ask that the Fu-
| gitiye Slave Law shall be obstructed in Massa
chusetts, but while we insist on its firm admins
tration there, we insist as strongly upon the en-
forcement of laws against theSlave trade in South
Carolina. And we tell the seeding States that
though we would sacrifice much to preserve the
Union, yet we have tried compromises long
| enough to prove their worthlessness, and that
they only serve to aggravate the evils which they
seek to avert. And we tell them that however
much we might be willing to conciliate, as is
| shown in the general disposition to repeal the
Personal Liberty Bills, even though they are not
shown to be unconstitutional, yet our honor is
at stake to refuse to be driven from right and
| well-considered principle by threats or fear.
obstinate and unreasonable in their wrong doing,
they are well whipped. Moral suasion, which is
weak enough, at best, with child, becomes i'm
moral NONSENSE when brought in contact with
Wiliul aud persistent disobedience. Mr.. Buchan-
| an, being bachelor, is not aware of that. Ii
be had been, he would soon have put a stop to
the tantrums of the disaected sisters of his pub
lie charge. A hint or two from other directions
Of the country have at last put the idea into his
head, and he says he is about to act upon it
We hasten to do him all honor for the patriotic
determination; but We really think it takes him
great while to cut his switches.
The dscrdelly folks stirring up continu-
al rumpus; and the President says he is going to
stop it, but keeps very quiet and very shy. The
insurgents daily committing new acts Of
treason, in defiance of his power-the public
property is rapidly being swept into the hands
of the rebels-.he public treasure has been
seized-vast riots called conventions are being
perpetrated-the life and liberty of citizens are
assailed-the flag of the country is insuted from
the mouth Of federal cannon and he is getting
ready at terrible rate, but doing nothing
Every day that passes in this executive idleness,
is an additional shot in the locker of the insur-
rectionists Every day the pride of their inso
lence rises higher, until, at last they dictate to
the nation course for the prosecution of its
commerce, the conduct of its ports, and even
the management of its defences The pages of
history fail to show case of such impudent
high treason, or one fraught with such weishty
consequences to the world. Yet our executive
is SO busy getting ready, that he hasn't time to
begin
1t is ridiculous to talk Of coaxings and COM
promises. The wayward children have gone be-
yond the reach of emollients. If they are above
the authority of the government let them 60
|
them their portion of the inheritance. If the
integrity of the Union can be sustained, let it be
done efficiently, and at once.
The Tribune Almanac for 1861, states
the popular vote for President as follows: Lin
coin l.s57.6lo; Douglas 1,s65,s76; Breckin-
ridge s47,953; Bell 59O,63l. Lincoln over
Douglas 49l ,634.
THE POSITION OF LoUIsIANA.-The New Or
leans Picayune, which has fought valiantly
against the immediate Secession, i'll its issue OF
the 9th gives up the battle as lost. 1t saws:
The vote in this city pre6gures the result in
the State. The chief hope of the tavorers OF
united Southern action, As opposed to immediate
disunion, Was In carrying tine city tor the cooper
ationists. The canvass 0f votes, which shows
twenty immediate secessionists to five CO opera
tionists "a majority of fifteen in the convention
from this parlsh-settlcs the point, that Louis
lana will be with the seeding States rs fast al
the forms of making the enactment by ordinance
can be got through at the convention Oh the
!, 23d.
! There are tens and hundreds of thousands t
: whom this conclusion brings profound regret
: and gloomy tOreboding tor the consequence
5 in the future, who in it only one OF thos
cruel necessities, which, while they decide th
judgment and strengthen the resulution, ne yer
= theless fill the heart with sadness
r There is Eothing in this spectacle which do
/, not grieve the patriot. There is hardly sac
;, rifce consistent with honor and safety tina
ought not 70 have been made to avert the Dc
plorabIe evil But no chance is left; we ar
l. constrained to accept and acquesce in the hars
!, necessity of the fact, and to deal with it as bes
"a we may, so to maintain our social institution
= to keep pubic honor unstAined, to preserv
u peace and order, and to provide tor the publ
defenses against all quarters.
v While coniessng some anxiety lest the Mort
should attempt coercion, it arrives at the concls
q sion that the power Of the United South, an
# the pre-occupation of the North in taking mea
'e ures for the protection of its own finances. whe
secession shall have been accomplished, will pr
vent any force being employed.
-O