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

" In answer to sundry inquiries and com
raaints, and 70 - urssorrespondencs kpor
.hesuAf Pct lis psoper to 90 that the Daily a~l
Eye = Slraya Eiased and as;lel n TING ssery
l'saa hat leaves Barli, on. It is9nifsgmly
mailed BY O'Clock I. m. We never Miss mail.
And the Semi-weekly is always in the Post or
fee in time for the earliest mails, leaving here
Wednesdays and SATURDAYS The Weekly is
mailed Friday evenings in time for Saturday s
mails. And We are confident that the Post Mas.
ter here attends punctually to his duty.
U-The invitation given by the President Of
the United States to the insurgents at the South,
to band together in order more effec.ually to
carry out their treason, caps the climax of the
horror and disgrace of his administration It's
said that he has taken the ground that, while he
cannot admit the in ependence Of South Care
lima alone, he can recognize the government of
combination Of three or more States. This is
nothing less than pledge on his part that, If
any two States cooperate with South Carolina,
he will acknowledge the independence of the
new confederacy,-thus by his own personal
act effecting dissolution of the Union We
cannot see by what logic the President arrives
at his conclusion that an act which is unlawful
or void on the part of one State is lawful or val
id on the part Of any other If three States
can secede, one State can secede. II secession,
in any case, is possible, our government is a
nullity, and Mr.. Buchanan is private citizen,
having no right to acknowledge the independ.
ence Of any community. If there is any virtue
IN our political system-if the principle upon
which it is based is true, the right of any one
State to destroy that system is absurd and nei
her the President or any other officer can ad
init its possibility. As long as we have a gov.
.rnment, any attempt to destroy it is treason
md gratuitous endorsement, in advance, OF
that attempt, is nothing better. ....
The sympathizers in the presen. revolutionary
movement cry out against coercion, as horrible
outrage Of the rights of the revolters. We are
inclined to think that the United States has as
good right to coerce South Carolina to a faitl,-
ful performance of her duties in the confederacy,
rs tndt otate ms 10 cOerce the 0ther States TO
acquiescence in her departure. Coercion, one
way or another, is virtually accomplished, if, on
the question of dissolution, there is one dissent.
ing voice. Where, then, shall it be: Shall the
people of the United States control the interests
of the country and the machinery of its govern
ment, or shall that power be placed in the hands
of South Carolina? If that right exists in the
General Government, it is the duty of the Exc
cutive to enforce it. With what grace then, car
the President make gratuitous promise to aban
don the main principle of the government; and
assert, in his official character, the nuity of the
power by which he holds that office9
This is, We suppose, one feature of the pro
gramne by which he proposes to carry out the
pledge he made a few days since, to preserve anG
defend the integrity of the Union. This is tn,
manner in which he expects to maintain til,
honor of that country for the perpetuity of which
he called upon US to offer up our prayers.