The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-18
TILE aHAWK-EYE
"Wednesday Octobe,. Is.
The Observation-Disclosures Law.

The Observation-Disclosures Law.
The whangdoodles Of the hahony party who are
sheddiug whole rivulets Of tears over the Presi-
dents violation Of the Constitution, and bowling
upon every street corner, by day and by night,
are invited to read the following from Daniel S.
Dickinson, of New York, loyal and true Dem
ocrat:
Constitutions and laws are to be observed in
al its civil polity, and ordinary exigencies even
in war; but among the frst rights and privileg-
O. and highest and hottest duties and obligations
Of Government is the preservation Of its own ex.
istence. Constitution, law, freedom Of speech,
liberty of the press-usurpasion, tyranny, &c !,
are words easily prated, and even patriots can
be taught them. But men should krow that the
instincts Of Government, as of an individual
when assaulted, are sel-defense. The father
and protector Of dependent family who should
fail to employ all his energies when assailed by
murderer or bandit, and instead thereof proceed
to recite from law book, would, if slain, rank
with suicides in the sight of God and man; and
. Chief Magistrate who should fail to protect bis
Government against foreign or domestic foes,
armed or unarmed-whether avowed or silent
whether welding openly the implements Of
death, or insidiously acting as the advocate and
apologist of rebellion-would himself be guilty
Of treason, and would deserve impeachment, con-
viction, and execution. TGreat applause. J.
Those volunteer Is opponents or oracles of con-
stitutions and laws, should at least understand
the subject they are discussing should know
that in times Of peril to the nation, martial law
inheres in the very essence and existence Of ev-
cry Government 40 great necessity, and may
be and should be asserted when requisite for the
presel walton of ito life and being. A war.of re.
bellion is fearful and alarming reality, and is
neither to be run away from nor Quoted by re-
citing boarding.schoo homilies It demands
and should receive every element of power which
slumbers in the bosom of the nation When
Lord Wellington, upon an exigency, proclaimed
martial law. on being asked what it was, replied
that it was the discretion Of the Commanding
General. tCheeraJ Military Law is the Law for
the government of the military forces of ma
ton Martial is more rigorous still, wider in its
application, and is defined by Smith, an early
and eminent writer. in his English Republic"
lions as follows:
''Martial law is the law of war, that depends
on thesust bat arbitrary power of the King. For
though he doth not make any laws but by COM
mon consent in Parliament, yet in time of war,
by reason OF the necessity of it, to guard against
dangers that often arise, he useth absolute pow
er, so that his word is law. When, in time of
extreme peril to the State, either from witlom
or aoiin, the general safety cannot be trusted to
the ordinary administration, or the public well
fare demands the adoption or execution Of extra
ordinory measures, it may become necessary to
declare the existence Of martial law"
The President has no such power as civil
magistrate in the ordinary administration of the
Government, but, in time of conspiracy, re-
bellion, and war, as Commander-in.C Chief, when,
in his judgment, the public safety demands it, he
possesses, and may and should exert if necessa-
~, Is much power as the autocrat of all the Rus.
eias, for the purpose of preserving from destruc-
ton the Government confded to him. [Great
.h-."'rs 1t is power dangerous and liable
to abuse-shOuld always be exercised with eau.
ton, and only in times of danger; but in such a
period it is the Governments salvation and rock
Of defense. [Cheers
Ihe course OF the President in arresting spies
and the apologlsts OF rebellion-in suppressing
tressonaoie presses-in suspendiDg the habeas
S.P"s, INV AZ AoJiuS lis uduu upon the alQerS
and coLtorters and abettors of treason and con.
spiracy, entities him to the admiration and thanks
Of every good citizen. Let assessing whet their
knives-let spies and traitors and pimps and 10
formers scowl and gibber and whisper discomfort
because the freedom of speech" is abridged =
let conspiracy and treason plot at their Internal
conference.-the politicians scheme and elonga,e
and contract their gum elastic platforms to suit
emergences-!et trimming, balancing Joseph.
Surface candidates indulge in ground and lofty
tum6Ing TO divert popular attention from the
true issue-let pestilent newspapers, engaged in
stimulating rebellion and sowing broadcast seeds
OF disunion and revolt among the people in the
name OF the liberty of the press" spread abroad
their ill-concealed hatred of the Government of
their fathers, because it fails to minister to their
depraved Wishes and when all this has been
done, the action of the President in these meas
ures. though probably not free from mistakes
and errors, will be approved by hon at men and
IN the sight OF Heaven, and will, when rebellion
shall only be remembered for the blood it has
shed and the wrongs it has perps.rated, ''stand
the test OF talents aud of time"
SuRPR'sISG.-Tie papers are stating that