The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-03


so long that he is quite able to take hand
at their tricks.
| CONCEsSIoAo WHICH MAKE TREASON Re
SPECTABLE.--The present leaders of thu
Democratic party would be glad to paral
lei their opposition to the war of defense
against rebellion, with the opposition t.
the last war against Great Britain, and the
war upon Mexico, although they have ex.
hausteu the resources of the language anG
of talsehood to heap vituperation upon tina,
opposition, and make it infamous in oul
traditions. Some of the speakers al d wri.
tiers on the side of the Government are in
clined also to place this reasonable aid tc
rebellion on par with that opposition to
| wars which We're a matter of choice to u.s.
and We're not required by national preser.
walton or honor, SO that they may seize up
on this old store of vituperative ammuni-
ton founded chiefly upon falsehood, and
! turn 1t against the Confederate Democratic
party.
| We could not better please them, nor
worse disable cur own moral position, nor
more effectually break down moral dis
tinctions between rightful political action
and treason, than to place the present Dem
| ocratic paNy in parallel with the oppo-
nents OF an unnecessary war, for which the
country was wholly unprepared, who COM
prlSed the majority of those who had per-
lied life, fortune and sacred honor for the
country's independence, and whose oppo-
sltlon was from a regard for the welfare and
preservation of the Republic; nor with the
opponents ola war for aggression, invasion
and conquest of neighboring Republic,
which, besides its wrong to Mexico, was
intended not for our national welfare but
as preparation for national dissolution.
These wars with foreign nations were OPP
.lonal with the Government and the people
VINO control the Government, and Of course
were matters for deliberation and political
action subordinate to the Constitution
Enforcing the Constitution and laws is not
matter optional with the Government nor
with the people. There is no more polite
al right to oppose the enforcement of the
Constitution and laws against instruction
than against murder or piracy. Is rebel
lion crime? Then, any who oppose the
execution Of the law against this crime be-
come accessories.
Congress has power to make war and
conclude peace, therefore the people whose
delegates compose the Congress have the
right to deliberate upon making war and
concluding peace, and to govern their pc.
lltIcal action by their opinions. But nei-
ther the Administration nor Congress nor
the people have the right to permit the ma
tional dissolution by rebellion.
The people have the right to oppose or
advocate any policy within the line of le-
gitimate governmental action under the
Constitution; and they have the right to
advocate or oppose amendments to the Con-
stitution in the legal form. But the people
have no right to advocate the overthrow Of
the Constitution and Government by rebel
lion, nor the permission OF it, and all who
do this after the overt act OF treason has
been committed by the leyying OF war
against the Government, are guilty of trea-
son. The people have the right to support
the constituted means for national preser-
walton they have no right to cripple them
to permit the national destruction. Free
dom of political action does not make free
dom to instigate, aid or abet crime.
We sink moral and political distinctions,
when we raise reasonable aid and comfort
to rebellion which threatens the national
existence, to level with patriotic opposi-
ton to foreign wars that were undertaken
from no regard for the national preserva-
ton or honor; and all the denunciatory am
munition that can be derived from turning
the ancient Democratic stores Of vitupera
tion and falsehood against the present DEM
ocratic party, will be but a feeble compen-
saiion for the turning of moral and politi- |
cal principles topsy turvy, reviling the best
Patrlots and statesmen, living and dead,
ana placing the just and patriotic course of
'ne great majority of the intelligent people
Oh the nation on level with treason
"nich talnts the air, and pollutes the earth.