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

in achdt section or clause Of the Constitution IS
the Nation or ats Cooernment required to SuGrGn.
tee protect the alleged properly Of Re6elsm those
they claim as tier S!cues?
We have asked this question in substance
once already, and have waited long for res
ponse, but there is none.
Why none?
If there is such clause or section, it must
be easy to point it out. Will some one attempt
to do SO? ,......
If there be any law of Nature or of Nations,
any principle CT comfy or usage Of war, which
requires US to treat loyal persons as the slaves
of Rebels and remand them into Slavery at the
beck of these Rebels some one can cite it. We
challenge its production?
The Pro.S!ayery journals can talk glibily
enough of the guarantees of State Rights and
slave property embodied in the Constitutions;
but they glide over the fact that these guaran.
tees uniformly contemplate and refer to States
in the Union and cbedient 20 its authority, not
States in rebellion and hostility to the Federal
authority. In NO portion Of our Federal pact
is there phrase, word, an intimStion, i'm
plying that persons or States in rebellion
against the Union are entitled to be upheld and
protected by that Union in holding human be-
ings in Slavery.
Is not the distinction here insisted on plain
and vital? Who contends that Rebel in Arms
against the Government is entitled to voice in
the conduct Of that Government? And if he
forfeits, by treason his right to vote for Mem
bers Of Congress, how shall he escape the for
fixture of his right-if be ever had q right
to be protected by the Government in holding
mis- fellow-beings in bondage?
When before did Government whose very
existence was peried by rebellion attempt to
hold its loyal subjects in bondage-to traitors?
When before did Nation battling for life ever
surrender loyal sons eager to serve it to trait
ors lighting to destroyit?
A simple Proclamation by the Federal Ex-
ecutive-"An you able-bodied men who are
willing to work or fight for the Union, repair
to the most convenient Federal camp, and
there grasp the ax, the spade or the rife as
shall be deemed advisable, and your liberty at
least shall be assured and protected" -woald,
within two months, rally at least One Hundred
Thousand new supporters to the National
standards. All these would be willing to do
whatever might be required of them-would
be patient aud willing laborers-and would
save our overworEed soldiers from much fatigue
in this hot, trying weather. Even though none
| of them was ever allowed to shoulder musket
| they would add immensely to the strength Of
our armies by saving the health and vigor of
the men. They scGnt to help US for nothing
but Freedom, yet they are not permitted. In
stead of this, thousands who would gladly fee
| from then, Rebel masters to our camps are de-
tered by knowing that our Generals send back
refugees to be whaled and gashed to deaths
door by their Infatuated masters. Therefore
our armies occupy Nashville, Norfolk, New
Orleans and Memphis, yet make little or NO
impression upon the slnveholding rural districts
by which those cities are surrounded
i Is this making War? Is it honestly aud
faithfully striving to put down the Rebellion:
Is it doing justice to the Nation, its authority
and its integrity?
1 Men and brethereh shall the Nation die p
Shall it not at least honestly and earnestly TT,
to live?-[N. Y. Tribune.