The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-07


Private armed vessels carrying letters OF
msroue are in effect national vessels. They are
not let loose against mere unarmed commerce
for its destruction. They are to be the pickets
Of the great naval armada of the nation. They
are to procure Information, convey intelligence,
annoy the enemy, cripple his resources, attack
small armed ships, assist in maintaining block.
AIDES, and in this way materially aid to enforce
peace. In the revolutionary war, as we'll as in
the war of lSl2-lS, American privateers At
tackled and destroyed armed vessels Of the Brit
ish Navy. Will We say that it may never be
done again?
Il is said that We can readily secure all of the
that might be derived from the pas
sage of this bill by authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to purchase all of the vessels he choos-
es and receive them into the regular Navy. To
this reply that the proposition is wholly i'm
practicable. In the first place, il would put in
the hands Of the Secretary # the navy the power
to determine the policy of the Government and
the means of carrying that policy into execution
In the next place, the Secretary of the Navy
does not possess, and We cannot bestow upon
him, the means to purchase, to fit out, to man,
to officer, to repair, and to control such . num-
Der of vessels as might be desirable and probably
would be required for this service. 1t will be
~
strate this. Why, the pay of the agents alone
who would be required to successfully conduct
business of such mssnitude, would soon bank
rupt the Treasury. Not moee Improbable ia
thr proposition to authorize the Secretary of the
Navy to hire vessels to be used % war ships for
Z limited time.
To the suggestion that bounty or reward
for the capture fan enemy's vessel should be
offered. it is certainly sufficient answer that
such proceeding would be against the law of
nations, unless the vessel making the capture
bore commission from the nation to which
she belonged, and If she bear commission,
che would be neither more nor less than let
ter Of msrque. .7laHa
For myself am not prepared to abandon
our well.settled national policy on this subject
stand by the traditions and the policy Of our
fathers. lam unwilling to impose upon the
people represent the burden of supporting in
time of peace such naval establishment as
will be adequate to properly protect our COM.
merce in time Of war, and at the same time to
inflict such chastisement upon the enemy %
will insure speedy and honorable peace. I
regard the present proper time to reaf6rm our
national doctrine on the subject of maratime
rights.
lam aware that this bill confers extrsordi.
nary powers upon the President. It grants
no power, however, that I am not anxious to
bestow upon him. Iwish to confer upon him
ample means to restore the Union and to de.
fend the national honor abroad, and will
hold him and his immediate constitutional ad.
visers responsible for the manner in With that
power shall be exercised. II he shall WELD il
feebly. If he neglects his best opportunities, il
he dallies with treason, if he crouches before
in If &a$
the responsibility or Of the disgrace shall be
traced to me- Before leave here on the 4th
of March next, intend, so far 81 my vote
will do it, to deposit in the hands Of the Presi.
dent every means and appliance for overcom.
ing the rebellion that I can give him, and in
the name Of the people demand Of him SUCCESS.
I believe that suceess can be achieved, and the
country, history, will hold him and his Cabi.
net responsible for failure Yf
I 1t is said by the opponents Of this bill that
the so-called Confederate States Ihave no
commerce, and hence there ID no necessity for
the passage Of this act TO this I answer, that
that they have already on the ocean q large
number Of fast steamers, and are now building
in England feet of vessels designed to break
our blockade of their coast. The vessels owned
by them, and by parties in Europe in completely
with them, can already be counted by the score.
But frankly own that that my purpose is to
declare principle which shall have general -
we'll - special application. wish to SAY to
the world that, however much other nations
have changed or may change their policy on this
subject, We will adhere to ours. If the Presi-
dent shall find himself environed With new diff.
fculties, involved in new complications, wish
him to have the power to "let slip the dogs Of
war against any new enemy that may declare
against 10.
In voting as shall, I am satisfied that shall
reject the sentiment Of the people Of Iowa and
OF the entire Northwest. No matter what others
may tell you, Senators, be assured that the
people OF the upper valley of the Mississippi
river are loyal to this Government. That ioy
atty is confined to no party. Since have held
. seat in this body have never, 30 far az can
recoilect, even alluded to party organization
of any kind. ! only allude to them now for
the purpose OF absolving, SO far q may be
able, the Democratic party of that section from
the charge of disloyalty to the Government. It
embraces dissatisfied, revolutionary, and disloy.
81 members, who have, in some instances. se-
cured control Of the party organizations lint
the great mass of that party are patriotic. law
abiding men. Nisled, think, many of them
are. q they think am, but treason has never
found Judgment in their hearts. They scorn
the idea that they would consent to dissolu-
ton of the Union and when the issue shall be
fairly presented to them, disconnected from the
idea that this war has not been prosecuted with
sufficient vigor BY the party in power, they will
cause the wave Of political oblivion to sweep
over those who are attempting to dupe them
into concession and compromise with treason
This much, Mr., President, is due from me to the
mass of the Democratic party in Iowa, who have