The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-05-03
For the Burlington Hawk-Eye.l
THE DRRUNCT STATES.

FLOR the Burlington Hawk-Eyel
THE DKFUNCT STATES.
G. DUNHAx-Dear Sir:--I would say few |
words about Mr.. Thomas speech in Congress,
published in your paper Of the Esd instant.
assume that loyal people cannot &C: without
the light of our Constitution. 1t has been our
constant light, and the source of our political
otto as to look at, and int the Sun, (by the
light Of which we do our daily work,) We would
be but dazzled and blinded, and do very little
work by it. To look into the sun, is not to
"work while the day lasts" but it is idly to
strike our feet into mire, and against rocks
Traitors will not perish this way, hut zoe ,ciH,
and our Constitution shine only for traitors, If
it shine at all.
Let US never mind now what Mr.. Burke
says-it don't apply to us-and besides, what
any man says, who has not had the light of the
Constitution, cannot be considered the best au-
thouity in our case.
We do not propose to shock the civilized
world, nor excite their indignation, any more,
notwithstanding that all Republicans, always do
this very thing, whenever and wherever they
defeat despotic designs.
We propose to hold our National Govern
ment to its duty of providing Government, and
order over the whole arena of the Ma
ton, thus preserving its own nationality. and
the rights Of the inhabitants who support it.
Where State Societies are formed upon Ma
tional territory, order is established-on the re-
must provide Government directly, for the
different portions o: it, which is called Terri
to,ial Government.
We propose to e-settle the territory occupied
by the eleven defunct States-that our Nation
administer upon their esta,cs-the interests and
property be distributed to loyal hands-nnd
until State is reformed, Territorial Govern.
mcnts provided for these portions Of the Ma
tional Territory.
There is no question in my mind, but that
and will be.
Of all men in the land, the loyal ones will be
the last to deny their attachment to the Consti-
tuition and it is in no wise disgraceful to them.
But the question to which We are coming, it
seems to me, il, who are to be tdred, and who
are to be protected in this Nation, which has life
and Constitution left Who is to pay the cost
of this rebellion, endangering its life? How is
this Constitution and life Of the Nation to be
maintained through our present circumstances?
Is it by protecting loyalty, or protecting dis
loyalty to the Nation Is it by entailing an
everlasting debt upon loyalty, or by entering
upon the estates Of interstate disoyalty. Are
the patriots of these times to be protected, or
to be taxed Are we to be taxed for to gal
vanize defunct States into mechanical life, and
work them as partners in Government of the
the country, which they would only degrade?
There ia no constitutionalty or spirit in this
nation for compelling State to remain State;
and it cannot be done; for the moment we in
stitute sucn a proceeding, We assume the gov
eminent over it, the same as any Territory that
has no State organization.
This being according to the forms OF our
Constitution, and former practice. cannot see
why we would wish to do different in the present
CASE, or Why We would wish to make an excep-
ton at this time.
see that Mr.. Thomas is AZ fond Of assertions
as the rest Of u.s. He says that it is not consti-
tutional for States to 60 out of the Union--"no
door to go out,"-and therefore they cannot 60
out Now submit it to Mr.. Thomas, what we
are to do, when we are powerless to prevent it,
and they are call abroad" door or no door.
think he would say with US, We must do our
plain constitutional duty-we must take care Of
the Territory thus evacuated by State govern
ments, and re-establish governments there which
would be territorial, and provide for the re.
formation Of States on these Territories.
Tho existence of State society, on any
Territory Of this nation, is the result of the &C.
tions Of those composing that society, under the
permission of the national Constitution.
The General Government can neither create
or destroy State. It can hold and govern its
territory az territories, and when State society
is not in existence upon that Territory, it is the
duty Of the National Government to take charge
Of the Territory, before or sitter the existence
Of State society thereon. Our National Gov
ernment cannot hold up q State, and compel Its
existence, and In case Of incapacity in the Ter
ritory for government, the duty Of the General
Government 10 equally plain. If Louisiana was
inundated and the inhabitants swept of, al e1-
cept five persons remaining, It could no longer
maintain the character and society Of State
the State Is destroyed, and the Territory which
It occupied, calls for the care and aid Of the
General Government
Rebellion has now destroyed these States. has
disfranchised them = BY pestilenoe, or food, or
any other judgment Of God, and further than this.
the legal rights Of these rebsllious inhabltan.s
on these Territories are not now = good a.
wore the rights ef the aboriginal tribes that
Inhabited thsss Tsrritoriea