The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-05-11
The virginia Treason.


that the mother OF States should fall into dis
| reputable old age, causing her large family OF
States to blush for their maternal parent! To
think that at her time Of life she should throw
| herself away cheaply! Even if Secession
were to be done, she has done it in the worst
possible manner. There is nothing OF the dig
nifty OF the act of a sovereign State. 1t was
the sneaking of dark-lantern conspiracy -
Yet Virginia is the author of the doctrine of
State Rights. Ii has been her peculiar hobby.
1t has undermined our Constitution. But when
she comes to exercise her long talked of State
sovereignty she slips 1t of ike a thief making
over stolen goods to receiver. She shoyes it in
to jeff. Davis bands with her stolen properly,
as if afraid she would be caught in the fact.
There is nothing in it ike the act of soyer-
egn people demanding their rights. They have
asked nothing of the Government of the United
States, nor given ii any opportunity to grant or
refuse. Even admitting the doctrine of State
Rights to the fullest extent ever claimed by
Virginia Abstractionist, and even granting the
right of State Secession, yet Virginia has not
seeded. She has given nc notice to the United
States Government that she hes dissolved her
connection with it. On the contrary, her pro-
ceedings have been secret. She has given the
United States no opportunity to permit her to
secede peaceably. She concealed her Ordinance
OF Secession by oaths of secresy, and made war
upon the Government. She has given the Uni
ted States no alternative, but insists on the ar
bitrament of arms.
By her own law, she is yet in the Union, and
must continue so until the people have voted to
secede. If we take Virginia Secessionists on
their own doctrine, they are traitors to their
own State, as well as to the Government They
have sold and transferred Virginia to Jeil Davis,
while she is yet, by her own laws in the Union;
and they have levied war upon the Government.
Tried inpartiaHy by Virginia laws, Gov. Letch
er and all his gang would be condemned to be
hung. Virginia has no State officers. There is
nothing there that even the most ultra States
Right Secessionist owes any allegiance TO.
However it may have been with the Confeder-
ate States, with Virginia the Government has
had no option between peace and war. She has
not waited to try the moral effect of the seces-
sion of a State which has hitherto held SO com
handing position in the Government, to the
Confederate States She has not permitted the
Government to recognize her Secession, but she
covered it up with oaths of secrecy while she
made war upon the Government, and called on
the Confederates to join her in the capture OF
Washington. The Government was to be cap
tured before her Secession was known, and be-
fore according to her own laws, ii could take
place.
According to her own law providing for her
State Convention, the State has not seeded, nor,
admitting the right of Secession, can she secede
legally, for no legal vote can be taken under the
Of an armed force. The Govern
meEt viii accep, her own position and will treat
her subject to she Union. Her Secessionists
have preferred to become traitors both to their
own State and to the Union. The Government
will treat them as such. They have allowed the
Government no choice but war, and it will ac-
cept the issue and pursue il to their hearts con-
tent. They have chosen the part of secret con-
spirators, and they will BE- recognized ns such
The State will be parsed Of them by the halter,
unless they cheat the gaiiows by voluntary ex
lie. The State Government yet exists in the
onion, and the Union men of Virginia will be
be sustained in administering it.
cincinnati Gazette.