The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-27

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II 1ell, and you were made to look with
compiacency on objects which not long
since you would have regarded with horror,
LOOK back to the arts which have brought
you 10 this state--look forward to the con-
sequences to which it must inevitably lead!
LOOK back to what was first told you as an
indueement 10 enter into this dangerous
cause.-the great political truth was re-
peated 10 YOU, that you had the revolu-
tIonary right Of resisting all laws that
were paipably unconstitutional and intOl-
erably oppressive-it was added that the
right to nullify law rested on the same
principle, out that it was peaceful RENEE
dy! The Character which was given to 1t,
mace you receive with too much conf
dence, the assertions that were made ofthe
unconstltutionality of the law and its OPP
pressive effects. Mark, nv felIow-citizens.
that, by the admission of your leaders, un-
constltutionality must be palDable, or it
VIII not justify either resistance or nulilfi-
cation! What is the meaning of the word
pdtpdote IN the sense in which it is here
used?-that whichis apparent to every one;
that which no man of ordinary intellect
Will 1all 10 perceive. Is the constitution
atty OF these laws of that description Let
those among your leaders who once APP
proved and advocated the principles of
protective duties answer the question, and
iet them choose whether they will be con-
sidered as incapable, then, of perceiving
that which must have been apparent to
every man of common understanding, or
as imposing upon your confidence and en-
deavoring to mislead you now. In either
case they are unsafe guides in the perilous
path they urge you to tread. Ponder well
on this circumstance, and you will know
how to appreciate the exaggerated language
they address to you. They are not cham
plonS OF liberty, emulating the fame of our
Revolutionary Fathers, nor are you an op-
pressed people, contending as they repeat
| to you, against worse that colonial yassal-
age.
You are free members of flourishing
and happy Union. There is no settled de.
sign to Cypress you. You have, indeed.
felt the unequal operation of laws which
may have been unwisely and unconstitu-
tionally passed, but that inequality must
necessarily be removed. At the very mo-
ment when you were madly urged on to
the unfortunate course you have begun, a
change in public opinion had commenced.
The nearly approaching payment of the
public debt, and the consequent necessity
OF a dimunition of duties, had already
produced considerable reduction, and
consumption in your State. The impor-
| lance OF this change was understood, and
| you were authoritatively told that no fur
ther alienation of your burthens was to be
| expected at the very time when the coun-
| try imperiously demanded such a modifi-
cation of the duties as should reduce them
to just and equitable scale. But. as if
apprehensive of the effect of this change
in allaying your discontents, you were pre-
| cipitated into the fearful state in which
you now find yourselves.
| have urged you to look back to the
means that were used to hurry You on to
the position you have now assumed, and
! forward to the consequence it will produce
Something more is necessary. Contem-
| plate the condition of that country of
which you still form an important part!
consider its Government uniting in one
bond of common interest and general pro-
lection so many different States-giving to
all their inhabitants the proud title of AME-
! RICAN CITIZENs-protecting their commerce
securing their literature and their arts
facilitating their INSTRUMENTATION, de-
Tending their frontierS-and making their
name respected in the remotest part of the
earth! Consider the extent of its territory,
its increasing and happy population, it's ad-
vance in arts, which render life agreeable,
and the sciences which elevate the mind!
See education spreading the light of reli-
| gion, morality, and general information in
to every cottage in this wide extent of our
Territories and States! Behold it as the
asylum where the wretched and the op-
pressed find refuge and support! Look
on this picture of happiness and honor, and
say, WE, TOO, ARE CITIZENS OF AMERICA
Carolina is one of these proud States, her
arms have defended-her best blood has
| cemented this happy Union? And then
add, II you can, without horror and re-
morse, this happy Union we will dissolve
| this picture Of peace and prosperity we
| will detace-this free intercourse we will
| interrUpt-these fertile fields we will de-
luge with blOod-the protection of that glo-
rious flag we renounce-the very name of
Americans we discard. And for what, mis-
taken men! for what do you throw away
these inestimable blessings-for what would
you exchange your share in the advan-
| tages and honor of the Union? For the
dream Of separate independence "a
dream interrupted by bloody conflicts
with your neighbors, and vile depen-
dence on a foreign power. If your lead
ers could succeed in establishing Sc
paration, what would be your situation?
Are you united at home-are you free from
the apprehension of civil discord, with all
| its fearful consequences? Do our neigh
boring republics, every day suffering some
new revolution or contending with some
new insurrection-do they excite your en-
Wy? But the dictates of high duty
oblige me solemnly to announce that you
| cannot succeed. The laws of the United
States must ;be executed. I have no dis
power Oh tuc SuUJeCI-Iuy Outy
is emphatically pronounced in the Consti-
tuition.
Those who told you that you might
peaceably prevent their execution, deceiv-
! ed you-they could not have been deceiv-
ed themselves. They know that a forcible
opposition could alone prevent the execu-
ton of the laws, and they know that such
opposition must be repealed. Their object
is disunion: but be not deceived by names;
disunion by armed force is TREASON. Are
you really ready to incur itsguilt? Ifyou
are, on the heads of the instigators of the
act be the consequences-on their heads be
the dishonor, but on yours may fall the
punishment-on your unhappy State will
Inevitably fall all the evils of the conflict
you force upon the Government of your
country. 1t cannot accede to the mad pro-
ject Of disunion OF which you would be the
victims-its first magistrate can not, if he
would, avoid the performance OF his duty
the consequence must be fearful to you,
distressing to your fellow citizens here, and
to the friends of good government through
out the world.
LIFE IN THE REBEL CAMP.-A captain
who lately served in the rebel army under