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

Three weeks ago the belief that Mr.. Lincoln
intended to pursue . ''conciiatory policy" met
with the approval of 9 great part-perhaps q
majority-of Northern men. To-day the signs
of an energetic maintenance Of the Union and
the Government are received by an overwhelm-
ing majority Of men of all parties with open de-
monstrations of joy.
Three weeks ago the abandonment of Fort
Sumter was thought by part of the Northern
public good and possibly the best measure
To-day the belief that Major Anderson will be
sustained and Fort Sumter reinforced fills the
public mind with profound qualification.
Three weeks age the cant of small party
that the Border States would ''resent measures
of coercion" against the Southern traitors, still
obtained some credence with the North. To-day
ouly the Association for the Preservation Of
National Unity" and handful Of Conditional
treason-mongers remain to advocate a policy
which is suicidal to any government, and Border
State men themselves come forward urging the
necessity Of decisive measures to preserve the
Union. ar
Three weeks ago opinions were divided, and
it was an open question how the Union could be
best maintained To-day, every act Of Mr.,
Lincoln which looks to the assertion Of the
rights of the Federal Government and the
prompt punishment Of traitors, receives open
demonstrations of the general satisfaction of the
people. ..sif
Three weeks ago the nation was not less de-
termined to preserve the Union than it is to-day;
but men found at that time reasons for various
lines of policy-separate roads, all aiming to
the same point. To-day the progress of events
has consolidated the sense of the nation upon
one policy-that for which the administration, il
seems, has been silently and theoretically prepa
ring itself all the while. and which it is now
about to carry into effect.
The question of Union was settled by tho vote
of the nation in the last Presidential election
On the sixth of last November the people Of
United States were called upon to decide which
of the four candidates should be their Pres
dent, and which of four sets of principles should
guide the country for the next four years. Oh
the four candidates three came before the peo
pie Is unconditional Union men. Mr.. Lincoln
was pledged to maintain the Union. Mr.. Doug
las over and over again, during the canvass, com.
mitted himself to the unconditional maintenance
of the Union. Mr.. Bell, and the men who voted
for him, refused to recognize any political prin
ciple other than the Constitution of the country
the Union of the States, and the enforcement
OF the laws" On this one point Of uncondi
tional Union these three gentlemen, and the vo.
ters who gathered to their support, were of one
mind, differing only on such minor questions OF
policy as form the subjects of legitimate party
warfare,
In that election there were cast 1862, 10
votes, and Of these the three unconditional I'm.
ion candidates received 3,Si4,2l7, while Mr..
Breckenridge, whose position was one of non
. committal on this one question of Union, re.
ceived but S47,95S. That is to say, Mr.. Brock.
inridge and bis non-committal platform we're re-
pudiated by majority Of nearly three millions OF
voters, who thus gave an overwhelming decision
in favor Of 'the Union, the Constitution, and the
enforcement Of the laws"
Events which have come to pass since then
have not weakened the patriotism of the peo-
pie. The shameful treason of Mr.. Buchan.
an and his Cabinet succeeded for while in con.
fusing the popular mind. Men hesitated-not
in their love for the Union--bUt in their opin-
ions as to how it were best maintained. So ra-
pid we're the changes-so successful seemed the
treason-so weak seemed the Government care.
fully disorganized in every detail by those who
had sworn to preserve and maintain it--that
men stood awhile bewildered. But the nation
has recovered from ito irresolution; and to day
there is but one sentiment-faith in the Govern.
ment, and unconditional support of oil it's meas
uree which look to the maintenance of the Union
against traitors Of every hue.
This Government was formed and exists by
the will Of the people. The confederates Of
Montgomery are trying to ignore the will of the
nation, expressed five months ago By majority
of NIyee millions of voters All lovers Of liberty
and of constitutional Government will support
the Federal Administration in ito efforts to put
down treason and enforce the laws.-[N. Y,
Rveaisg Post SO
AHxnTY AND PREPARATlos.-There ID an nm
easy and anxious feeling manifested BY everybody
- ia ~ L. A.