The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-06-28

the war into the ensmy's country. When ~
| seat OF government was removed to R;chmooJ
| on the extreme limits of the Confederscv tho.
supposed that IL was . part of . forward No.
ment to rescue Washington and MARYLAND from
the grasp Of the North. But though mistaken
IN this, their confidence WAS not vet shaken. AZ
ter months Of delay the battle Of Manassas vas
won BY scratch, and the people and the gov
ernnent were sd infatuated with the result tba
they imagined the war had ended. For eieh,
months our army was kept standing on the bank,
" Tue fosomac, as If for no other purpose thar
70 give the terrified Yankees an opportunity "a
come over and propose terms Of peace. Amnls
Tune was given President Davis to cloat over hi,
dream OF union between the Southern and
northwestern States to be presided over nv him
sell. In the meantime the Yankees were making
the most gigantic preparations for our subiues.
ZION IN the spring campaign. They were pruning
the army OF worthless officers, organizing hun.
ofeds OF thousands Of troops purchasing i'm
mense quantities of arms and munitions from
abroad, besides putting the machine shop. of the
north to work night and day in the manufa cture
of the implements of war.
what was our Government doing all this time!
The President was listening to the syren song Of
peace at the North, when the evidence was he
fore his eyes that there was no peace; laughing
to scorn every proposition for the advance Of
the army, or for purchasing and manufacturing
adequate supplies of arms and munitions to be
ready for the enemy. The disasters which fol.
lowed were the necessary consequence of want
Of preparation. The people at first blamed the
Generals, and as they were better informed be.
gan to question the efficiency of the Admins
tration, who in turn charged all its errors to the
Provisional Congress. This opened the door to
food Of light. The members of that body
threatened to expose their record to show that
they had done everything and more than was
asked, and stated that Mr. Davis Secretaries, by
whose recommendation money can only be ap.
proprated, were more bent on making q little
reputation for economy than supplying sinews
OF war. It was also found that the Navy would
be total failure unless Mr.. Mallory should be
set aside by competent officer. His nonina.
ton was at first rejected and afterwards con.
firmed by the Senate, because the President
dictated his appointment. Our Navy, which
started out under such brilliant prospects, and
distinguished itself by some gallant feats, is asst
going to the bottom of the ocean in consequence
of the persistent obssinacy of Mr.. Davis hold.
ing or to his Secretary against the wishes and
interests OF the country. We would not cast
doubt upon the patriotism of the President
All bis feelings and his hopes are with the South
in this great struggle. He is only an illustra.
ton of the fofsy of the one man power.
We have adverted to these disagreeab!e facts
in our history only to draw useful lesson for
the future. The proposition for dictator must
be based upon the superstition of the incapacity
OF the people for self government-a suppose
ton which has been faisifed throughout this
var. If the popular Intelligence had dictated
the policy OF the war, we should have avoided
many of our misfortunes. We have suffered
some of the evils Of man-worship, and should
profit by it. No doubt there are gentlemen
VITO think they could administer free govern.
ment safely without any restraint upon their
power. Especially is there tendency among
military men to usurp all authority in themselves.
But fortunately for the Southern people they
have Constitutional Government, defining the
auties OF their agents and reserving sovereign
power in themselves. The Constitution may be
detective in some respects, but there is consti-
tutlonal mode to remedy it. This is certainly
safer than to put all power into the hands of
some arbitrary man. There are few if any
w ashingtons in our day, and it would be ex
ceedingly imprudent to trust any untried man
With supreme control, when we have all the
forms Of regular government 1t is in time
Of war, when danger is most imminent, that des.
potism takes root in popular systems. Let us
be on our guard against every encroschment
upon the liberty of the citizens as guaranteed in
me constitutions OF the country. Because we
have trusted too much to the head of the Gov.
and not enough to ourselves, let US not
De guilty Of the absurdity of rearing dictator
over our heads to crush US at his will. The peo-
pie have it in their power to make their Gov
eminent as vigorous as they desire without sur
'endering any Of their prerogatives. 1t is their
luty to do it in order to prosecute this war as
uccessfully as possible. We have never allow.
ID ourselves to doubt the result. But We should
ieep distinctly in our minds for what we are
lighting
EXECUTION OF ANDREWS.
Yesterday evenings train from Chattanooga
brought to this place TO be executed, Andrews, |
he leader of the engine thieves, under sentence
# death, convicted by court.martial of being !
py. he was carried out Peachtree street road, |
by three clergymen, and escorted |
~ guard. A considerable crowd followed to
witness the execution.
he WIS q native of Hancock county, Va,
'orn in 1929, brought up by pious Presbyterian
PARENTS, who now reside in Southwestern Mis-. !
ouri. A good portion of his life had been spent
D Fleming county, Kentucky. He had no fam.
y, but was engaged to be married during this |
month.
He said he was induced TO attempt the steal
ng of the engine under promise Of large re.
Yard by the Federals, and the privilege of snug
ling through from the North It, 900 worth Of
GODS per month; that he did not intend to burn
be bridges, but to take the engine TO the Fed
rals; and that he was not an enemy to the Con.
ederate Government or people.
He seemed to be very penitent-was composed
ntil he came on the scafold, wien slight ire
nor was perceptible.
These statements we're made by the Rev. Mr..
cott, at his request. Rev. Mr.. Conyers offered
p feeling prayer. Rev. Mr.. Conner admins.
cred few seasonable words of counsel. The
hree then took leave of him, and he was
aunched into eternity
Thus ended the life of this daring adyentu-
er, who, according to his own confession, was
laying into the hands Of both parties in this
7ar, to make gain-always however, in the con-
dence Of the enemy; but who was convicted of
eing spy.
MI. Scott believes he was not a man of much
bility-had but little cultivation, and was
ictimized by shrewder men than himself.