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


are the paragraphs in the message OF the Gov
ernor of New York devoted to the question
secession:
The complications which environ the question
of speedy adjustment of existing national oil
6culties, ire not the results of any new and un
expected causes, but are the slow growth OF
generation. The events of the past year, among
which is the significant disruption OF thu
Charleston Convention in April last, have servet
to produce more general conviction thai there
exists an active and influential class.of politi
clans at the South, deliberately conspiring t.
DESTROY the American Union, and to constr uc
from the ruins Southern Consederacy. Will,
many have believed that the frequent manifesto
lions of discomfort among our Southern brethren
had their origin in real or fancied wrongs on thu
part Of the North, and have been willing to give
a sympathetic ear to those complaints, they ART
not disposed, now that it is more apparent tina
secession has been contemplated for years, t
encourage an attempted destruction of the Gov
eminent upon mere declarations, unsupported by
evidence.
But do not question the sincerity of all who
threaten secession; on the contrary, accept
the declarations of many as those Of earnest ano
determined men; and while l have faith tina,
time will essentially modify their views, change
their purposes and prevent them from rushing
madly to inevitable destruction through the
paths of treason and civil war, ordinary prudence
dictates that this patriotic Commonwealth should
not hold position of apparent indifference, anC
that we should deliberately consider our rela
ton to the questions of proposed secession, al
we'll MS the duties which such an event may force
upon US. Believing that as this Confederacy had
its origin and contamination in mutual sacrifices
and benefits that it is based upon a solemn
compact to which the whole people of the
United States were parties, and by which all are
firmly bound and that this compact provides fol
peaceful redress of fundamental grievances
it is clear, that without disregard of mutual
engagements, no State can voluntarily secede
from the Union. A separation of one or more
of the States though called secession and claim.
ed to be lawful under rights enormously supposed
to have been reserved to the States, can, never
theless, be practically nothing else than dsunlon,
and, so soon as it shall take its needtul form and
proportions, must reveal itself in the character
of treason which it will he the high duty of the
General Cover nment 10 arrest and punish. The
laws of the United States must be executed the
requirements of the Constitution must be obey
ed. If the National Government is to exist its
power must re adequate to the enforcement OF
its laws in any of the States of the Union, and
under any circumstances. To permit or to ac-
quiesce in reasonable conspiracy against the
national authorities, is to confess that our Gov
eminent is an absolute failure. The people of
the State of New York, in nv judgment, are
not prepared for such an admission; on the
they will give to the Federal authori
ties, in the adoption of all wise, just and neces
sary measures tor the enforcement Of the laws,
their ca nest, faithful and constant support.
A SENSIBLE Souri, CARoLISIAN.-The Phila-
ielphia Express publishes the following extract
rom letter received by private hand, written
by leading citizen of Charleston to citizen of
You ask me for my candid opinion Of our con-
dition, and will venture to give it to you. |
could not publicly utter the sentiments of this
letter without risking my life The leaders Of
the Convention. like their prototypes of the
French Revolution are beginning to be terrified
at the fruits of the seed they have sown; but as
yet the time for reaction is not here. The
people have been infatuated through the efforts
Of the politicians, and now, like Partisan mob,
arc pushing their captains and lieutenants into
the very midst of the danger. 1t makes my heart
bleed to hear our glorious Union assailed, as l
DO every moment, and to see the Palmetto flag
floating from fortresses built by the money of
the whole people, shortly, too, it is possible, to
be turned against their Government. What may
bring these men to their senses is the tax system
they have adopted. When per capita sum is
evied upon negro slaves, those who began and
have driven forward this miserable business will
feel, in their own purses, that which is now af-
icting men in my situation. They will lie
brought 10 their senses; for it stands to reason
that we can no more maintain permanent mil
tary force without an immense and burdensome
taxation, than we can eat our own cotton; or
rade with Europe with Uncle Sans feet in our
,arbor.
1t is impossible for this state of things to con-
inue without collision-and when that comes,
] ID help our people! The rivalry between
Charleston and Savannah has always been great
int that which was merely commercial competi-
ion and jealousy before secession is now dread
and anger When our port is closed, Savannah
nay be kept open; result that is not unlikely,
that large number of moderate
men are returned to the Convention which is to
assemble in that city.
l think the Republicans in Congress can afford
to come down from their elevation-particulary
IN view of the condition of those in the Cotton
States who, like myself, look upon the entire
course of the fire eaters with horror When we
nave been fully surrounded by starvation, tax
ltion and other troubles, it may be too late to
turn the tide now surging on all sides. Amy
thing practical from the Republicans would be
lsed with excellent effect.
send you copy of the Charleston Mercury,
rom which you will see that every line ridcu-
ing or abusing the South is transferred from
Northern papers into its columns. Much as |
,ave read of foolish conduct, have never seen
'nything so silly and childish as that of the men
Who control our Convention. They are not
statesmen; they are lunatics, and seem to have
10 thought Of the morrow. Their whole design
9 one of haste and hate, and even you, who have
our opinion of our fre-eaters, would be sur
'rised to see how much more indiscreet and in
experienced they are than you have believed
hem to be. These men appear to forget that,
ihile they may prevent an American man-of war
rom crossing our bar and coming into our port,
nd enforcing the United States laws, they at
he same time exclude all commerce from U.S.
he suggestion made few days ago, that the
ntrance to the port should be destroyed, is a
,art of their foolish policy. If, like the Russians
t Sebastopol, we fill our harbor with obstacles,
We therefore not only defy the Government,
tut starve ourselves. Our people seem to be on
froc, and probably when they get sober will
lsO get sane.
The Mississippans, as well as some in this
State, Alabama and Georgia, lock to successful
ecesson as way to escape the payment of just
ebts.
What shameful position for an honest man,
md an American to take! How can such peu-
,Ie obtain credit from civilized Europe, when
hey refuse to fulfill their just obligations to
heir own cnuntrymen?
The late stiffening Of the President, and his
.vident determination to support Anderson has
treated undoub,ed alarm in the camp of the
eaders of the Convention. l want no war, for
&c man would suffer more. or could afford to
suffer less than he who pens these lines; but it
Is clear that unless the Federal Government
shows its teeth, and tells these men that it will
enforce the laws made in pursuance of the Con-
stitution, they will 90 on until they wrap the
whole of the Gulf States in general confagra-
ton.
l forbear describing what our condition in
South Carolina would then be. How would they
get on in Georgia, with minority inside party
in favor of the Union, suspected by The majority,
and all their movements watched, not to speak
of the other horrible reflections, that the negroes
themselves may catch the alarm, and that thou
sands heretofore dependent upon the North for
supplies of produce, pork. beef, &c, will be I'M
able to get these necessaries of life? 1t is my
daily prayer, however, that, as the storm APP
proaches, aud seems to be inevitable, some good
man in the Republican party will rise up in his
place in Congress, and, ut the risk of losing his