The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-31

the country is being shed in a war that the
victims did not bring about" The people
deplore the war, but they are held by the
neck ; the military power has got them un-
der its heel. You cannot, therefore, make
peace with them. The only way is to keep
tightening the cords around them, to get
them SO broken that the conservative peo-
pie of the South can help themselves. This
they will not attempt Until we throttle the
military power. Then they will turn to
the leaders and say: "Wehave had enough
of this and will give it up.' Accordingly,
I see no hope except in prudently and
steadily crOwding upon them as we have
been doing, and the termination of the
struggle at last will be in accordance with
the great interests Of our country and the
world. Applause had hoped within a
year we could have accomplished the re-
duction of the rebellion. 1 will say, in
conclusion, that, had we received the for
ces eight weeks ago that we ought to have
had, we would have broken the back of the
rebellion before now.
The REBEL HOPE IN THE RESULT OF
THE ELECTIoNs.-Tke political changes and
commissions Of the United States must ever
be subject of interect to the Con-
federacy. The subtle and invisible in
huence OF q great coterminous country will
inevitably percolate, TO some extent, thro
the barriers of frontier lines. Should that
country be permanently consolidated I'M
der centralized despotism, the political
and military state of the Confederacy can
not fail to be affected by it. We will be
compelled to stand continually on our
guard against Il power hostile to us, not
merely by territorial interest or malignant
hate, but by n radical difference of organic
structure. Hitherto the problem of self
government has been worked cut in free
dom from disturbing causes. The ocean
separated as from the political system OF
Europe, and shielded us from attacks
which greater proximity might have rem
dered easy, and the interests Of despotic
government suggested as polite. IT Re-
publican government, on the other hand,
should be re-established among our neigh
bors, and constitutional checks be placed
in the path Of aggression, ourattention will
be less distracted by external dangers from
internal progress.
Considerations of this character are, of
course, doubly powerful during the pro-
greSs of the war. 1t is mainly 10 political
revolution at the North that we can look for
any termination OF the struggle short of the
utter exhaustion of that aggressive power.
The controlling faction OF that country is
irrevocably committed to the prosecution
of the war, both by their principles, if that
respectable name can properly be applied
necessities OF their position. Their tenure
of power is determined at onceby the adop-
ton OF pacific measures. 1t is, OF course,
necessary that Il conclusion shall be reach
ed, but the .uggles of desperate politicians
may stave OIL, for a considerabl period, the
inevitable catastrophe.
1t is then to the dethronement of the pre-
sent rulers of the the United States that we
must look for any Immediate prospect Of
peace. The opposition party, it is true, has
not been like the Black Republicans in the
support of the war. The differences be-
tween them have been merely on questions
of detail. The broad principle of coercion,
and the subversion OF the structure of equal
ity, which was the only conditional or
possible form of union, was equally main
tanned by both. The South can make no
discrimination. One is the courteous, high
minded man, who takes the purse Of his
victim, and bids him polite good morn
ing; the other is the terociOus cut-throat, to
whom murder is rather pleasing addition
to the somewhat insipid occupation Of SIM
pie robbery. The Democratic party, how
ever, as it thought with more business up
on the nature and tendency of the causes
which eliminated in war, and as it was re-
luctantly drawn into the vortex of an es-
cape from a puzzling dilemma, SO may it
now exhibit greater discernment in ::appre-
ciating the true condition of affairs, act with
more discretion in endeavoring to find an
outlet from the dangerous position in which
they find themselves.
There lis, no doubt, a considerable body
in the United States who are sincerely de-
sirous of peace. They may AS yet, shrink
from the avowal; they may fear 10 confront
the force OF popular feeling, and may have
scarcely shaped their own views into tan
gible form. If, however, a political change,
opening wide field Of discussion, and Civ
nCr fnr f,f oh n
occur, we may expect to see peace party
speedily formed, and rapidly acquiring
strength. The newcomers into power will
court their influence, and may eventually
be controlled in their policy by them.
The elections which take place at the
present time are of special Importance
Not donly o two of the most powerful States
the Lincoln dynasty, but the question of
freedom of election is to be determined
Every influence will be brought to bear up
on them. 1.-THE immense appliances of cor
ruption at Lincoln's disposal can succeed
in swaying the result, or military power
can crush the popular will, there seems to
be no barrier to his assumption of per petu-
al authority. The October elections are
then not only to be taken as confirmation
of present power, but as an earnest, and an
index of continued dominion. If Valland-
igham should triumph in Ohio, apart from
the bitterness OF the rebuke to the Admin
istration, it will demonstrate that their
power to stiffie public sentiment has passed
away, and tina. they may reckon upon see
ing in the future the blaze of opposition
burning vigorously in the purified atmos-
phere.
The previously expressed opinions OF
Vallandigham, the consistent tenor of his
public conduct, and the ability ne has
shown of comprehending and appreciating
the nature of the times, warrant us in be-
lieving that he would, however 10th to
abandon all hope of reconstruction, accept
dissolution as an accomplished fact. His
superior Ermness and tenacity of purpose
might, perhaps, receive little of that
"good courage" of Governor Seymour's,
which, like Bob Acres should have been
put TO immediate useto prevent its wasting;
| or like his. "oozing out of the palms of his
hands, The combined influence of three
powerful aud coterminous States would
prove almost a match for the Washington
Government, and might force it to enter
tain propositions of peace.
The discussions which would inevitably
take place would also weaken the Admin
istration and impair its vigor in conduct
ing the war. There might be danger that