The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-22
WEEKLY HAWK-EYE

BURLINGTON WI
[Cries of "NO! noYJ Such are the men
who travel about the country making
speeches, talking to crowds Of street bang
ers, causing disaffection in the masses, dis
tracing those who do not read and think
for themselves. denouncing all engaged in
the war rs Abolitionists, disoouraging en-
listments, counseling resistance to con
scription, seeking out and applaudins and
concealing deserters, telling all who would
enlist that if they 60 into the army they
will be violating the Constitution" and
using every means in their power to aid
treason and prop up the failing energies OF
the rebellion. Whatwonder that q few SOL
diers desert3 They would throw every OBJ
stacle in our path-wOuld deoimate our ar
my if they could. Such are the men-il-
lustrious examples-who, some of them,
raised regiments; in three months they,
with their men, were all at home again
all had run away-had had enough Of the
war-{laughter]- land all the results Of
these damnable heresies and evil counsels.
[Cries Of "That's 3d." you're right"
It is also objected that Congress has passed
Conscription act. That the Conscription
law must and will be enforced. We find
men Directing to everything. These same
men, to show their consistency, turned
around and advised resistance to the en-
rollment or draft. They raised mobs, in
duce and succor riots, and still declare
themselves for the Constitution and the
law. / want to talk moment in regard to
this Consumption act: It is no new thing,
as some would suppose from the clamor
raised aboutit. Governments have always
supposed they had the right to call forth
citizens to swellthe ranks of an army to re-
sist invasion, to prosecute war, or putdOwn
rebellion. The principle is right and be-
longs to all governments. We concede
readily that every man has an inherent
right to defend, with blows, with arms,
natural or artificial, thesanctity of his own
person; to defend his family, home, lands,
and property of all kinds. Ifa person as
saults, he..slays him-we do not ask with
what particular arm he performs the act:
ton, but may, even to the death, assert the
right given him by God Almighty to pro-
tect and defend himself from all who may
attack him. This same right goes with a
government as with individual. People
form government, and. the same God
given rights applying to men are applica-
BILE to governments, whether in the Consti-
tuition or not. 1t is only this right that our
Government is defending, asserting
right to call forth and demand the servi-
ces of every man to assist in defending the
Government from all assailants, protecting
the Union, and seeing the laws faithfully
executed. The President is also Command
erin Chief of all our forces. And how are
we to obtain the men? Are they all to
rush to arms, voluntarily, las it WERE
Many have done so--they have nobly an
swered the call for volunteers. If all we
poaIaG Inn hat would no ho
of the law? But they do not. Haste is
needed to strike the rebellion while it is
weak, before it recuperates. And what is
to be done in case they do not conner /
suppose you would have us lay down our
arms, confess we could do no more, and
meekly wait for JEFF, Davis to proclaim his
new Confederacy? [Laughter.] Wait and
let our Government 60 to pieces? You
must have the men. The law has been
rybody-what law does? They ought to be
willing to go. They owe the Government
all, they are indebted for everything to it
life, property, protection-and those who
will not 60 in such q cause are not worthy
to be called a citizen of the United States.
But this Consumption act. Men in some
places are told to resist it. Secret societies
are formed, q key of gunpowder and half a
dozen muskets are secreted in somebody's
barn, or under somebody's haystack, to be
used in what? Resisting the draft when it
comes. Why do they resist it? (Cry of be-
cause they are afraid of being shot.] You
young men-all who love your country
will fight for it, either as drafted men or
volunteers. When the draft comes you can
go as well with it as without it. 1t will not
weigh you down. You can't carry it with
you, or need not. 1t is just as easy to be
dragged out to be shot as to go Of your own
free will and accord, and the man who is
drafted and shot is entitled to the same
credit as the one who was not drafted. All
serve q common heritage, q common coun-
try. The man who dies upon the battle
field, the flag of his country waving above
him, is both a brave and gallant man.
[Cheers.l
I'll tell you how the war is unconstitu-
tional, and with whom. 1t is 80 when jeff
Davis is mortally hurt tits when his cause
does not prosper. They want our Govern
ment crushed-they want jeff. to succeed.
True, the law does not exactly suit some
very good men. 1t will do to discuss that
in the future. But that is no objection to
its execution. The object now is to save
time. take the good there is in the law
country we can afford to talk about better
laws. Those who discuss it now and loud
ly declare against its cOnstitutionality, are
those who will take a trip to Canada or to
Europe, before the draft takes place. Some
Of them have got friend there now, whom
they would like to see-late from Ohio.
Laughter, and cries of "that's so."] They
don't want to say they are for JEFF. Davis
and in favor of dividing the country. But
they try to prevent our increase Of force,
with which to crush him out, and should
their efforts prove his success, would not
their conduct be actually as criminal as
though they had gone for him with arms
in their hands or openly avowed his cause
in the South?
1 am emphaically for the law, and for
enforcing it to the letter, for raising enough
men to suddenly wipe ont rebellion, and
JEFF. Davis and his whole crew. What will
be the cry of those who are forced into the
war, when it is all over-as it will be soon
and the rebels are whipped, and these
conscripts come home again2 OF course
they will say, Eyes, aided in it, bst did
1t under constTGiat and b. oon.psllsions'-
Not bit of it. Laughter.] Each one will
be equally proud that he had hand in the
glorious achievement.
They say that old Abe (that's what they