The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-19

al. After the Revolution, the States, being
bound together only by temporary asso-
ciation, were all leagued together, but were
entirely independent of each other. When
the Revolutionary War concluded, they
were at liberty, If they thought proper, to
exist side by side, as so many independent
sovereignties. The Revolutionary War
had given them the right so to exist. The
Articles Of Confederation which bound
them together during the war, ceased with
the war, therefore each State was indepen-
dent to act for itself. An this time slavery
existed. The Constitution of the United
States was formed, being nothing more nor
less than great treaty or stipulation be-
tween the independent States with regard
to their future conduct. When the Consti-
tuition was framed the fact of slavery ex-
listed, and consequently it did not depend
for its life upon any act of Congress-. conse-
quently no act of Congress can deprive it
of its life. When the Constitution was
adopted slavery was recognized in it's dou-
BILE aspect. 1t was recognized even as an
article of foreign commerce, and solemn
stipulation was placed in the body of the
Constitution that the slave trade should
not extend. Where? Beyond the adop-
ton of the Constitution? Not at all. But
that the African Slave-trade should not be
stopped for twenty years. Mark that. For
twenty years from the adoption of the Fed
eral Constitution up to the year 1909, the
Government having gone into operation
twelve years before the conclusion of the
last century and eight years of this centu-
ry, made twenty years within which it was
porting fresh slaves from Africa. Now
where can Congress put in this amend
ment, limiting the duration of the African
slave trade? Why did they not put in an
amendment limiting the duration Of do
mestic slavery in the States? Because
they had not the power to put it there. But
If 1t was sin, then was the time for the
Abolitionists to have prevented the sin
from entering the new Government. Here
was the Garden of Eden. The Constitu-
ton was about to be formed. We were
about to start upon new state Of exist
ence. If slavery is a sin, now is your time,
before the fatal fruit thereof shall be pluck
ed. But they did not even make propo-
sition. They never otfered-never preten-
ded to have right to interfere with slave
ry. Now, you will observe that the tend
ency of the population of this country has
been regulated by the climate. The great
fact that two races existed on the continent
is fact which existed before the Govern
ment. In the course, OF time it was found
and in order to make way for white labor,
they sent the slaves South and sold them.
The South was willing to receive black Ia
Dor, and thus both parties were gratifed,
one making its choice of white labor and
the other making its choice of black labor.
Now, suppose there had been no South to
send these niggers to, suppose there had
ter of course they would have had their
negroes among them, and the places now
occupied by millions of white laborers
would have been occupied by million OF
free negroes. It is curious that the Aboli-
tionists want to reverse this state ofthings.
They have seized upon this war as the in
strumentality by which they can best re-
bring the free negro back. and to make
room for him, send as many of our people
down to participate in the war and be Kill
| led. -, :,
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.
Now, my friends, never justified this
| rebellion, nor did 1 ever justify the inter-
meddling spirit that gave being to this re-
the cause Of the war. say it is not. They
say slavery ought to be exterminated.
say il ought not. [Appiause.l Slavery is
not the cause of the war. 1t is the inter-
meddling of other men with other mems
! business.
DIVISION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD
| SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
| Well now, my friends, i have told you
that never justified this resort to arms,
because believe if one more appeal had
been made to the public sense of the North,
(, the Democratic party would have acquired
sufficient strength to have averted this
disaster. Since the world began, no great
er misfortune has happened to mankind
than the unhappy breach in the Democrat
ic party, which ended in letting these
rogues into the Administration of the Gov
ernment. [Applause.] While the Demo
cratic party stood united, it had succeeded
in preventing attempts to get up disunion
issues for forty years, from the first intro
duction of it into the councils of the coun-
try The Abolition party seized upon the
breach made in the Democratic party to
acquire power. IA :,
HARD LYING AND SPECIAL PLEADING.
The Abolition party came into power.
How7 BY vote of the majority of the
American peopleY No, sir. They came
with one million majority against them,
but the constitutional forms admitted OF
the President taking his seat notwithstand-
ing. Why was this majority against him
so great? Because of the Chicago plat
| form and the obligations it required of Mr..
Lincoln, 1t was declaration of war and
hostility against the people of the South, as
being the owners of slaves. That plat
| form was the true origin OF the war. When
they announced that platform and placed
| their candidate upon 1t, the South saw
their safety consisted in resisting his cleo
ton at the polls, and the whole fifteen slave
States voted in solid body against him.
Now. Mr. Lincoln, be it remembered, came
IN as the first candidate upon a sectional
question. tApplause.l All other Presi-
dents had been elected by votes given part
ly IN the North and partly in the South,
parity in the East and partly in the West.
! Mr.. Llneoln was the first sectional candl-
date who has ever succeeded in obtaining
power, and that he succeeded in obtaining,
having million less votes than the votes
given againsthim. II ought to have been
admonition enough for Mr.. Lincoln to see
that fifteen States, contiguous to each 9th.
er, having common interest, had voted
against him. That was not sufficient proof
Of the danger to which the Southern peo-
pie felt their rights to be exposed. He
know very well that his election was a
purely sectional one; that not single