The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-09-30

ade, the calling out of the volunteers,
and almost every measure taken by the
government for its protection, as uncon
stitutional, therefore Mr.. MAHoNY con-
sders he owes no allegiance TO the gov
eminent. JEFF DAVIS and his friends
also take the same view. They claim
the constitutional right 10 secsde from
the Union, and contend that they are
acting wholly in accordance with the
Constitution in their opposition to the
government. Both Mr. MAHoNY and
JEFF DAVIS are therefore laboring TO
overthrow the government through what
they term constitutional channels The
one makes secession constitutional, the
other makes all efforts against secession
unconstitutional, and therefore both are
united for the overthrow OF the govern
ment
Mr. MAHoNY had defended the seces-
sionists by declaring, on May 90, 1861,
that
No people on earth are so insane as to rebel
against q government which affords them Sc
curity and protection.
He had also, at the opening of the re-
bellion. advised the recognition Of the
Southern States, as witness the follow
ing, under date of March 28th, 1861:
Were we in Mr.. Lincoln's confidence, we
would advise the opening of negotiations at once
with the seceders, and endeavor to make such
treaties with them as would secure to all the
States a free interchange of commodities among
them, free of commercial restrictions, and if
possible uniform rate of imposts by both gov
ernments upon commodities of foreign growth
| and manufacture. Several matters of not less
Importance might be made the subject of treaty
stpulations, and when this was done, the sep
arate existence of the seeded states be recog-
nized de jure,
Mr.. ADAMS most effectively comment
ed upon these and other stronger eviden-
ces of MAHoNY's reasonable proclivities,
and embelished and enforced his speech
with his apt and humorous illustrations.
He was loudly applauded.
JAMES BURT, Esq, was then called
out, and made beautiful little speech
His competitor, Judge WILSON, had de-
sired that there should be no public can
vass between them, and he was not de-
sirous of opposing his wishes. Mr.. Will
SON, he had learned, however, had been
in this community and elsewhere, and
had freely solicited votes on personal and
other grounds. Mr. BURT then immedi-
ately passed to consideration of The du-
ty of citizens in the exercise of the great
prerogative Of suffrage He commended
that it was the bounden duty of every vo-
ter 10 cast his ballot, not for men, but for
a principle. 1t was not men that the vo-
ter should desire TO place into office, but
principle which he should strive to en-
graft upon the policy of the government.
1t is incumbent, then, upon the voter to
know what principle, what doctrine, the
candidate represents, to accept or reject
that principle Or doctrine, and to vote for
or against the candidate as the exponent
or the opponent of that principle or doc
trine. lie enforced this excellent, this
statesmanlike proposition, in speech
finely worded, and calmly and foreibly
delivered. Nothing could have been in
better taste, and nothing more effective
We have heard Mr.. BURT twice, and
each time our estimation Of the man has
gone up wonderfully. lie seems to us
just such man as intelligent men could
listen to by the hour. He gets down to
the groundwork, and discusses underly-
ing principles-discusses them calmly,
logically, naturally, and without over
straining or apparent effort. Understand
ing thoroughly the principles and theory
of jurisprudence, well-read, as he is re-
ported, upon statutory law, he cannot
fail to make most excellent and critical
Judge. He was most highly regarded
as lawyer in western New York, has the
Experience of the practice OF a long life,
is an estimable man in daily life, and
seems to US every way worthy of the Dig
nifed position for which he is named.
He has all the candor which Judge VIII.
SON lacks he has none of the arts of the
politician and demagogue which Judge
WILSON in SO great degree possesses.
For the interest and credit of the dis
trict it is to be hoped that Mr.. Burt may
ha olaotad