The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-22
To SOLOMON sruaoEs, Esq,
Chicago. Ill,


A BIT OF HisroRY-THE SECESSION PLor.-
Among the rebel documents found by our forces
mt Fernandna was the following letter from
Youlee, of Florida, late United States Senator,
giving the results of the conference of the South
ern Senators which was held at Washington on
the 9th Of January, 1851:
"WAsHISGroN, Jan. z, 1861.
Ny DEAR SIR-On the other side is copy OF
resolutions adopted at a consultation OF the
Senators from the seeding States--in which
Georgia, Alabama Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas,
Mississippi and Florida we're present.
The idea Of the meeting was that the States
should go out at once, and provide for the early
organization Of a Confederate government, not
later than the 9Th of February This time is
allowed to enable Louisiana and Texas to par
tieipate. 1t seemed to be the opinion that it
we left here, force, loan and volunteer bills
might he passed, which would put Mr.. Lincoln
in immediate condition for hostilities-whereas
by remaining in our places until the 4th Of
March it IS thought we can keep the hands Of
Mr.. Buchanan tied, and disable the Republicans
from effecting any legislation which will strength
en- the hands of the incoming Administration.
The resolutions will be sent by the delegation
to the President Of the Convention. have not
been able to find Mr.. Mallory this morning =
Hawkins (the member from Florida) is in Con.
necticut. | have, therefore, thought it best to
send you this copy of the resolutions. In haste.
Yours truly, d. L. YULEE.
Joseph Finegan, Esq. CSovereign Conference),
Tallahassee, Florida"
The resolutions referred to in this letter read
as follows:
Resolved That, in our opinion, each of the
Southern States should, as soon as may be, secede
from the Union.
Resolved That provision should be made for
inn. rn.yo. - IL
seeding States, the Convention to meet no later
than the 10th Of February, at the city of Mont
gomery, in the State of Alabama.
ResoLued, That, in view of the hostile legisla-
ton that is threatened against the seeding
States, and which may be consummated before
the 4th of March, we ask Instructions uoletter the
delegations are to remain in Congress until that date
for the purpose Of defeating such legislation.
Resotyed, That a committee be and are hereby
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Davis, Slidell,
and Mallory, to carry out the objects of this
meeting.
1t will thus be seen that this remarkable let
ter, which broathes throughout the spirit of the
conspirator in reality lets us into one of the
most important of the numerous secret conclaves
which the plotters of treason then held in the
Capital. 1t was then, as it appears that they
determined to strike the blow ard precipitate
their States into secession. But at the same
time they resolved it would be imprudent for
them openly to withdraw, as in that case Con-
gress might pass force, loan, and volunteer
bills, which would put Mr.. Lincoln in immediate
condition for hostities." No, no that would
not do. $50 much patriotic virtue they half
suspected, half feared was left in the country
On the contrary, "by remaining in our places
until the 4th of March it is thought We can keep
the hands OF Mr.. Buchanan tied, and disable the
Republicans from efiecting any legislation which
will strengthen the hands of the incoming Ad-
ministfation." All what tragic back ground
full OF things unutterable, is there
1t appears, however, that events were faster
than they, and instead Of being able to retain
their seats up to the 4th of March, they we're
able to remain but very few weeks Mr. Davis
withdrew on the 2lst Of January--just fort
night after this consultation But for the
rest, mark how faithfully the programme here
drawn up by this knot of traitors in secret SEES.
sion was realized. Each of the named States
represented by this cabal did, "as soon as may
be, secede from the Union"-the Mississippi
Convention passing its ordinance on the heels of
the receipt OF these resolutions, on the 9Th of
January; Florida and Alabama on the 18th
Louisiana on the 18th, and Texas on the lst OF
February; while the Organization of the Con-
federate Government" took place at the very
time appointed, Davis being ilaugurated on the
18th of February.
And here is another plot of the traitors just
brought to light. These very men, on with.
drawing from the Senate, urged that they were
doing 80 in obedience to the command OF their
respective States. AS Mr.. Davis put it, in his
parting speech, 'the ordinance of secession hav.
ing passed the Convention of his State, he felt
obliged to obey the summons, aud retire from
all official conn"xion with the Federal Govern
ment" This letter of Mr.. Yulee's clearly re.
vea!s that they had themselves pushed their
State Conventions to the adoption of the very
measure which they had the hardihood to put
forward as an imperious Summons" which they
could not dsobey 1t is thus that Treason did
its work. National Inte'ligencer.
The MAN WHO SAT UPON THE POWDER
During the engagement the gunboat Valley
City was fighting two Rebel boats at once
working her guns at both sides, when she'll
entered her port bow, passed into her magazine,
knocked the head off a half-barrel of powder,
and ayn1nHed in MI; Oh chi