The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-18
The Copperhead Platform.

We have already announced the candi- i
dates nominated by the virtuOus and pa Y
triOtic peace-On-any-terms-n no party party
at their recent orgies at Des
Moines. To complete the record we ap-
pend the platform on which these candi- j
dates are placed before the people. We I
think it unworthy word of comment. 1t IL
il quite sufficient to mention the fact that
Stilson Hutchins, j. X. Hornish, III. ii.
Trimble, p. Cad Bryan, Ed. 81. Thayer,
were on the Committee which reported it.
We all know the sort of filth which flows
from such sewers, and here it is:
PREAMBLE. I
The Democratic party has ever been, and
vet is, law abiding party. 1t asks noth-
ing but it's rights under the constitution
and the laws. It resorts to no violation OF
either. 1t has right to all the guarantees
erty contained in our fundamental laws,
and it will surrender not one of them. 1t
has the right to discuss public measures,
and will discuss them. 1t has the right to |.
propose and advocate that policy which it
deems best for the nation, and it will exer-
else that right: It has right to have its
policy passed upon by the people at peace ace
maintain that right. If found in the mi
nority it yields obedience to lawful rules |
of the majority; if it be the majority itself,
it claims that its lawful acts be respected. |
Whether in a majority or minority it obeys
all laws that are in force. Those that it |
1ence, but by legitimate repeal. Those
that it proposes it seeks to carry, not by
force, but by legal enactments. And wha
does in all these respects it demands, and
has right to demand, that all others shall
do. They owe the same obedience to the
Constitution and laws that the Democrats
owe. They have the same interest to
fai h
erty, to be secure in their houses, persons
and property, that democrats have. 1t is
neither their interest nor ours that despo-
tism or anarchy should prevail; and if
they wish to avoid both, let them see to it
in time that they give no occasion for either.
We will do our duty, but let them reInem-
Der to do theirs.
In view of the circumstances that have
brought us together, we hereby resolve:
RESOLUTIONS.
/. That the will of the people is the foun-
dation of all free governments. That to give
effect to this will, free thought, free speech
and free press are absolutely indispensa-
BILE. Without free discussion there is no
certainty Of sound judgment; without
sound Judgment there can no wise govern
ment.
2. That it is an inherent and constitution
al right of the people to discuss all meas
ures of the government, and to approve or
disapprove as to their best judgment seems
right. That they have right to propose
and advocate that policy which in their
judgment is best, and to argue and vote
against whatever policy seems to them to
violate the Constitution, to impair their
liberties, or to be detrimental to their well
fare.
3. That these and all other rights guar
anteed to them by their constitutions, are
their rights in time of war as well as in
time of peace, and of far more value and
necessity in war than in peace. For in
peace, liberty, security and property are
seldom endangered; in war they are ever
in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may
concern, not by way of threat, but calmly
and firmly, that we will not surrender
these rights, nor submit to their forcible
violation. We will obey the laws ourselves
and all others must obey them.
5. That there is manifest difference be-
tween the administration of the govern.
ment and the government itself. The gov
eminent consists of the civil and political
institutions created by the Constitution and
to h the people owe allegiance. The adj
ADMINISTRATION are but the agents of the peo-
pie, subject TO their approval or condemna-
ton, according to the merits or dement's OF
their act.
q. That we are opposed to theprosecution
OF the war for the purpose of carrying out
the emancipation proclamation ofthe Presi-
dent of the United States-and if the Fed
eral administration expect united North
to attend its efforts to suppress rebellion,
it must not only come back to the object OF
the war as set forth in the Crittenden resO-
hutton adopted by the House of Represen-
tatives in July, 1861, but it must in it's deal
jngs with the people of the States, infringe
upon no one single right guaranteed to the
people by either the State or Federal con-
situations.
Z. That we declare our determined oppo-
sition to a system of emancipation by the
States upon compensation to be made out
of the treasury Of the United States, as bur-
densome upon the people, unjust in its very
nature, and wholly without warrant of the
Constitution.
g. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the Presi-
sident of the United States whereby, under
The guise OF military necessity he has pro.
claimed and extended-or asserts the right
TO proclaim and extend-inartial law over
States where war does not exist, and has
suspended the writ of habeds corpus, is I'M
warranted by the Constitution and its ten
dency is to subordinate civil to military au
ahority, and subvert our system offree gov
eminent.
9. That we deem it proper further to de
clare that we would hail with pleasure an(
delight any manifestation of desire on III,
part OF the seeded states to return to the
allegiance to the government Of the Union
and in such event we would cordially an,
earnestly cooperate with them in the resto
ration of peace and the procurement of thei
interests and rights.
10. Ttat the soldiers composing our M
mics merit the warmest thanks Of the ma
ton. Their country called, and nobly di
they respond. Living, they shall know
nations gratitude; wounded, nation
care; anddying, they shall live in our men
cries, and monuments shall be raised
teach posterity to honor the patriots an
heroes who offered their lives at their coul
try'saltar. Their widows and orphans sha
be adopted by the nation, to be watched ov,
and cared for as objects truly worthy n,
TONS guardianship.