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


It has been one of the pecularities of the rev.
olution in which We are now engaged that the
people Of the Confederate States have been
kept in profound ignorance Of all debates oy
their representatives concerning their AFFAIRS.
Secret sessions, which at first were exception
al. soon became general. The original motives
for secret sessions, we suppose, were patriotic.
The Congress had put q govern ment in motion
in which it had confidence 1t thought that
secrecy would add energy to the government,
whilst it would conceal all differences amongst
its members. Hence, although there
we're no little distrust and dissatisfaction at
the election of President Davis to the Pres!-
dency, the election was put forth as unanl'
nous. If the government had proved TO De
what Congress expected it to be, the policy OF
Of secret sessions might have been adyanta-
reous. Action without the pr.monition Of de-
bate would be more efficient. But, unfortun-
ately, the ADMINISTRATION proved to be non-act-
ing governmental government without ener-
gy. Secrecy, instead of increasing the energy
Of the government had directly the contrary
effect. 1t covered up the nefficiency Of the
administration, and, by shielding it from re-
sponsihility, took away that stimulus to activ-
ity which the people and the public press
could have created 1t was plain that secret
sessions in Congress under such circumstan
ces. would only increase the ineticiency of the
government. They ought to have ceased
But instead Of ceasng, they were made more
secret than ever. Another motive for secrecy
in it's debates was superinduced. Instead Of
supporting the government in its energy, Sc
cret sessions were continued to cover it in its
weakness. If open debate should take place
in congress, the course of the administration
its collisions with Congress-its inactivity
its twenty vetoes-its usurpations-w0uld
be matters for discussion, and would raise up
opposition to reform the ADMINISTRATION
Such opposition the friends Of the adminstra
ton styled faction" And how many public
men were willing to destroy their hopes Of
promotion by being classed among the "ene-
mics Of an administration endowed with i'm
mense patronage, popular, jealous and vindict-
ire-and thai too without credit or support
from the people! To keep down faction"
therefore, in their vocabulary, secret sessions
must be continued. On the other hand the
only means of infusing energy into the govern
ment was TO lay il bare, in its responsibilities
10 the people, by open sessions. 1t is this in
the Yankee Congress (the only remnant Of lib
erty left in their government which has given
the vast energy they have displayed in the
raising and conduct Of armies. We, in the
Confederate Congress covered up the weakness
and inetfciency of our government by secret
sessions, and thus fostered and nurtured its
incompetency, as it left US unprepared for the
mighty invasion we saw our enemies, for
eight months, gathering for our destruction
1t at length burst forth in the expedition to
Hilton Head, the invasion of North Carolina
and fall of Fort Donelson, Nashville and New
Orleans. The secret sessions of Congress, as
much as any other cause have produced the
sad condition in which the Confederate States
now lie and suffer. The publicvoice is sti1ed.
small body Of men-many Of them aspirants
are subjected to Executive drill, and act 10
obedience to Executive dictation, without crit
icism by or responsibility to their masters, the
people.
The army now follows the example of Con-
gress. An correspondents of the press are
turned out of its lines. The people must know
nothing OF its blunders. A proud and victori-
Gus army courts publicity. 1t is only those
who have no glory to display who seek secre-
cy. Retreats and inactivity are not agreeable
matters of narration or discussion. In all
despotc governments, free and open debate,
and free press, are the most intolerable.