The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-01

- Ass A Truth for Democrats.
The active Democratic party leaders Of to-
day are the smallest kind Of small Try, lntel-
lectually or otherwise.
There is scarcely one Northern Democratic
statesman Of mind and reputation, but tnat Is
a strong Union-War man, and opposed to the
present partisan Democratic movement-eitn-
er himself in the army helping to hight the
country's enemies, or giving his hearty sups
port to the Administration and its war meas.
ures at home. The only exceptions we know
Of are James Buchanan and Jesse D. Bright
the former Of whom is responsible for oil our
woes, and the latter was expelled from the Fed.
eral Senate for disloyalty.
Where are John A. Dix, Benz. F. Butler
Daniel Sickles. John Logan, J. A. McClernand
and other Northern Democrats Of that high
standard Of craftsmanship? In the Army Of The
Union. Where Andrew johnson, Joseph Holt,
u. N. Stanton, Daniel 8. Dickinson, John A.
Wright and all other former Democratic leaders
in the loyal States, who have distinguished
themselves as men Of political or statesmanlike
ability? They are Co. operating Nth the Adn'inis>
trdfson at Washington, heart and hand, to save
the nation and crush its enemies. There il
where you would find Stephen A. Douglas were
he now alive His truest friends and most
faithful representatives-Hon. Joseph A.
Wright, Of Indiana, Judge Larrabee of Wiscon.
sin, John A. Logan, John A. McClernand and
Judge Scates of Illinois, are now :" in for the
war" battling for the Government and the On.
ion, and supporting the Administration .
Washington which represents the Government
with all their might. And yet some of the con.
temptible smsll-fry demogogues, who now 70
housing about to pick up crumbs of comfort
to throw to the enemies Of the country, pre-
tend to be Douglas Democrats! Could the
I" Little Giant" speak from his grave, he would
blast them with burning words of reproof for
their perfdy.
None but the smallest and most despicable
class Of small-fry politicians in the North are
now engaged in making . partisan war upon
the Administration. 1t is too cowardly, trait.
orous, perfdious business for any man Of
great mind or noble soul to engage in. All the
great Northern Democratic statesmen and pa
triots are supporting the Union, the Admins
tration and the wor, while such infamous po-
litical gamblers and tricksters as Fernando
Wood Of New York, Vallandigham Of Ohio,
Voorhees, of Indiana, Jim Allen Of Illinois and
their followers, who are too cowardly to 60 to
the war and too traitorous to prove themselves
patriots at home, are making war upon all men
who by their acts, prove that they are honestly
and earnestly in favor Of crushing the rebellion
and saving the Republic .-[CRicsgo Journal.
Parsons on Curtlss
To the Editors of The Boston Daily Advert1er:
There are three questions concerning the
Presidents Emancipation Proclamation. Ones
has he constitutional power to issue it has
civil, political or administrative act! The
second, was it expedient? The third, has he
constitutional power as Commander-in-Chief
to issue it, at this time, as military act
These questions are perfectly distinct. One
Of the most common and fruitful causes Of error
upon all subjects, is the mingling of questions
which are distinct in themselves, but so near
each other that they confuse each other.
Judge Curtis mingles these questions so en-
tirely, that no study Of his pamphlet enables
me to see clearly as to much Of his argument
upon which of these questions it is intended to
bear. .s. ..--. .. .....
Let us seperate these questions.
am sure that the President has no power to
emancipate single slave, as civil, political
or administrative act. ~
Was it expedient leave this question to
the President. For he is honest, he is capable;
he has considered the question long, carefully
and painfully, and in all the relations in which
it can present itself. However wise l may be,
or Judge Curtis may be, on this subject the
President must be wiser, or all rules Of proba-
bility fail.
AS to the remaining question, have not the
slightest doubt Of his constitutional power as
Comm to issue the proclamation
as military act.
If Halleck, when before Corinth, might have
sent force hundred miles to catch and bring
into his lines hundred negroes with the wag"
ons, horses and provisions they were bringing
to Beauregard. the President and Commander
in Chief, sitting in the center, with wider views,
wider necessities, and wider rights to meet
those necessities, may if he can prevent the
whole mass of slaves from laboriDg TO feed the
rebellion: He may, if he can, by the danger OF
instruction, or of starvation, or o: the loss Of
property, dishearten the Rebels and drive their
armies home.
To say otherwise would be to say that he
might strike at rebellion, but must be careful
not to strike away its cornerstone.
Can he do it in fact? This question touches
the xrediency of the measure, and this leave
to him But it does not touch his military
right to threaten it, and do 1t if he can
Judge Curtis speaks much andeloquently OF
the Presidents right to inflict penalty and
punishment" and the rights Of the rebels to
| the protection Of the law.
Rebellion has no rights. If rebellian means
anything it means the remuneration and de-
struction of all law And therefore is accursed
before God and man. aa
No Rebel has any right, regard to which
should weaken or obstruct any military meas
ures needed to subdue the rebellion.
Judge Curtis's argument would give the Cons
stitu.ion and the law to the Rebels, as their
sword to smite with and their shield to save
them, and leave it to us only as fetter
Then he tells us the innocent must suffer with
the guilty. This is true, and it is sad. But
when the mingled fire and hail Of Gods venge-
ance run along the ground, they pursue no
devious path that they may leave the homes OF
the innocent unframed; for national suns
bring national calamities, the innocent suner
with the guilty. This may be one OF the mys-
teries of Providence it is, at all events, fact.
And what has been will be.