The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-21

IL Y II IL V>'
But the independence, and, with it and
through 1t, the prosperity and eminence of
Ireland, as self-ruled and self-sustained
nation, was dearer to him, and the more
comprehensive and nobler object of his as
pirations and great efforts.
In the same spirit was it that the Irish
born citizens of the United States assented
TO the Slavery existing in the South. sub
hitting, without complaint or remon-
STRANGE, to this anomaly in the Republic,
ana 10 the end that these vast States sho'd
consolidate, and be one and indivisible.-
What their love and ambition for the coun-
try OF their adoption prompted, their oath
OF citizenship enforced. They had either
to accept the Constitution, from which that
country derived its national functions and
authority, in all its parts, and in its COM
plete lntegrity-with all its imperfections
as well as with all it's excellencies-or else
stand aloof as aliens, availing themselves,
IL IS true, OF the liberal advantages it boun-
teonsly offered, but contributing nothing
70 It's political security and growth-the
foundation and framework on which, ard
within which, it's marvellous activity and
enterprise were set in motion, and its con-
sequence and renown, spreading them
selves year by year abroad, were reared.
SO long as the South, notwithstanding
Its very peculiar institution, remained
ting to the ma ority, when the majority as
serted themselves legitmately IN elections
which varied the magistracy or general
policy of the nation, and yielded its duty
and good faith to the central authority
not an lrishman invested with the fran
chise, or otherwise possessed of any polit-
ical influence, would have cast avote or ut
tered word to disparage or endanger the
rights of property to which the South spec
tally laid claim, and which, indeed, were
not so much concession under the Con-
stitution as a vital inheritance, without the
recognition ofwhich there would have been
no Union. ..s f,.
Breaking the compact, however, setting
at defiance the legally expressed decision
last Presidential election-forcibly seizing
the National property-the first to proceed
to hostilities- laying seige to and reducing
the National forts-compelling the Nation
al Government to call forth the military
power of the people-plunging the country
intoagulf of blood, and almost overwhelm-
ing it with taxation-laying waste the
commerce of the loyal States Wherever it's,
bucaneering ships discovered it on the high
seas-every citizen who looked upon the
Slavery existing in the South as a flagrant
Inconsistency and mischevous error in
the political system, if it was not, as some
pronounced ii to be, a most odious and
pernicious violation of the moral CODE felt
released from his obligation to tolerate
what his humanity and conscience had
long condemned. ...
The humiliation ofSlavery in the South,
however, was not the primary. nor, indeed,
tie remote or Interior object OF the war
which the National Government was driv-
en- to wage against traitors and insurrec-
tionists of the South. AT first, and for
some time, this war was prosecuted with
/ In CIT pln If st,<f Nnfsn oil
authority wherever it had been deposed,
of recovering the National property wher-
ever it had been seized, and compelling the
observance Of that good faith to the trust
ees and administrators of the National do
main and revenues-the condition on
which the National protection was afford
ed. the National resources applied, and the
National prestige extended to every men,
Der, State, or Territory of the Union.
But, as the war went on, new develop
ments occurred, and among them the
emancipation of the slaves in the revolted
States became a military necessity, which
| none but the rebels in arms. or the meaner
and more malignant rebels in conspiracy
| with them at the North, We're found unwil-
ling to admit. Thus the memorable logic of
war compels the justice which fidelity to
the Constitution solemnly withheld, and
| the Rebellion of the South emancipated all
| true Republicans from their completely
with an ordained system of bondage,
which, as have said before, was not only
| in conflict with their humanity and con-
science, but falsified the spirit and neutral
lied the glory of Republic, which other
wise was unexceptionable and incompara-
| BILE. 80
| Thus purified from Slavery, the Nation
al boundaries and property reclaimed, the
| National authority re-established, the Ma
tional flag flying proudly from every wall
| g., IL
| down, the Republic of the United States
will be reconstructed, and in its reforma-
ton will be stronger, worthier, nobler than
ever. All the blood, all the treasures, all
| the agony it has cost to preserve it from the
| fate Of Mexico, will render it the more val
liable and irresistible in the future; and,
admonished by the recollection of the per-
lis into which it was plunged by the ambi-
ton of those who would have divided 1t
for their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and splendor,
| the politicians, as well as public men
| of higher stamp, will be careful to avoid
a recurrence to those exasperating prac-
tees from which the disunionists furnished
themselves with the only arguments that
seemed to justify their treason. There will
be sounder, manlier, and fairer life
thenceforth-a life of justice, courage and
dignity, instead of life of pickering, cor
ruption, scheming, and vulgarity, as here
tofore-visible and dominant in all public
places, from the Ward Committeeman tc
the Halls Of Congress.
Ineed not say to you, it will ever be to
me kindling recollection, that, at the head
of my noble little Brigade, have stood
true, on many fiercely fire-swept field, tc
the Government of the United States, and
all it represents and holds in trust. The
basest Of the base would we have been, hao
we stood by and seen without emotion
without blush, without striking blow tt
save it, that munifcent and gracious Gov
eminent, despoiled, crippled, shorn of hal
its consequence, of the dutifulness anc
homage due to it, and made the laughing
stock of the slaveowners and cattle breed
ers of Europe generally, and Ireland par
ticularly. Thank God! that disgrace ha:
been averted from our race by the splendid
conduct of the thousands of Irish soldiers
who have fought in the Federal armies
and who, in upholding with their strong
arms the honor and authority of the Gov
eminent to which, on ceasing to be exiles
and becoming citizens, they swore allegi
ance, prove themselves worthier of better
and brighter destiny than that which ha.
for a winter of centuries shrouded the lane
of their birth in dense mist of misery anc
"