The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-10-19
[For the Hawk-Eye.
Have the People the Right TO Control the
0SOVeFDment1

[For the Hawk-Eye.
Have the People the Right TO Control TIA
lsovernment7
Our National Government was framed by tn
people and for the people. as the result Of lonl
and frequently painful experience under sepa
rate colonial existence, and then in an associa
ted form under the articles CT the old confed
eracy.
| During that period of hundred aid fit.
years, the necessity of an efficient Government
that would operate alike upon all the people
maintaining its authority, commanding the re
spect and obedience in peace and in war of the
| whole nation was fully demonstrated. All 9th
Or experiments had failed at one point or Other
until the present Constitutional Government
was adopted.
1t was, when made and put into operation
| and still is in the highest sense, the peoples
Government Their necessities and interests
| originated and brought it into being. Their
! sympathies. confidence, mon"y and arms have
sustained it They choose the servants to ad
minister it for the public good and the people
alone have the Constitutional, legal and moral
| right to say who shall administer it and how il
shall be administered to secure the end fol
which it was instituted-the greatesf good Of tht
shole people. For nearly century it has sur.
prised the civilized world with its beneficial Ell.
fscts upon all the interests shat constitute the
happiness and greatness of a Nation.
Blu, suddenly, as with an earthquake, its pro-
kvt hph nf
war. Why this terrible calamity! Is the Gov.
eminent radically defectives or has it been per-
verted, and by depressing instead Of protecting
its faithful subjects, provoked this war? Mel
Their of these is the fact. Probably human Wis
dom never formed Government experimenting
perfection nearer than ours, Its great practca
principle IL, that, while it secures equal rights
to all, q majority shall say bv whom, within its
Constitutional limits It shall be administer
ed, while the minority have all the rights and
privileges of citizens with the simple fast that
they do not administer the General Govern.
ment for the time being. And as TO It's having
oppressed its subjects, the opposite is the fact.
The ienieney--no to say criminal negligences,
OF the Administration, has deprecated its au-
thority, diminished pat'ic respect, weakened its
moral force and encouraged iaw;esspess and re-.
bellion. But who was corrupt and base enough
to tske advantage of either the weakness or
yickedsiess Of the Administration. to attempt
he overthrow and total ruin Of the Govern.
nenty And what motive could move them to
his .trocious outrage upon the peace and inter
sts Of the peoplef And how 10 shin terrible
outrage to be met and fully masteredi
These are questions which appeal - with .
,oice of thunder to the psople-the whole peo-
lie, whose Government, and With 1t their dear
ct interests, and most sacred rights arc Ill per-
led. The Administration will be imp0tentv
heir money, BY millions, will be - trash in the
National Treasury, and their armies may eight |
nd perish without reaching or remedying the
cal evil. unless the people, speak out-speak
through the press, speak in their conventions
nd public assemblies, speak in their Legislative
alls, speak through tbe pulpit-tLe opinion Of
aere politicians and the alfhearted 70 The
ontrsry, Notwithstanding, for Civi, Government
) Divine ordinance out eserywhsre.
nd in every vsy BY which public sensiment
aay be developed and concentrated on the
aain policy to be pursued IN sBbduiag rebel.