The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-19

TER PRESIDENTS MEssAGE-The plan
presented by President Lincoln in his An
nual Message for the restoration of the in
surgent States to the authority and rights
abdicated by their rebellion, will attract
the widest attention both in this country
and in Europe. Hitherto the attorneys Of
treason on the stump, and in the journals
OF the loyal States, have urged the useless
cuse for persistence therein. IF they
should withdraw their support from the
rebel leaders and return to LOYALTY and
fidelity, you will nevertheless con fiscate all
their property and divest them of every
civil and political right: so why should
they? What is to be their motive-their
inducements" The President has answer
ed the question and silenced the cayil.-
Every person now within the territory of
the Rebellion, with the exception of two or
three thousand of its more conspicuous and
determined chiefs, may secure a full par
don tomorrow, and be restored to ali his
former privileges as loyal citizen Of the
United States, with his property intact
(save that which may have already been
sonfiscated and sold, on the easv condition
OF his swearing allegiance to the United
States, and to abide by and acquiesce in
the acts Of Congress and Executive Procla-
nations affecting the status of slaves, $50
long and SO far as not repealed, modified:
or declared void by Congress, or by de-
cision Of the Supreme Court" Here is re-
qulred no assumption of the universal eff
cheney and irrevocable validity of those
acts and proclamations, but simple agree
ment to respect and abide by them, and
each OF them, until the same shall be inval-
dated either by Congress or the Supreme
Court of the United States. How can any
who mean to be loyal at all, object to these
conditions? Ninety of every hundred OIL
the rebels may be restored to every right to-
morrow without sacrificing or relinquish-
inn INV so1o -
nine-tenths of the residue are required to
relinquish nothing but their right to op-
press and sell their fellow men. We be-
Heve tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas
may be recognized and restored to the I'm
ion on this basis at an early day, and that
the residue will gradually follow.
Henceforth it can neither be tr1lthftllly !
nor plausibly said that those who have
once been rebels have no inducement to re-
turn to loyalty, no hope but in the triumph |
of Disunion. They may come back to-nor-
row and enjoy every political or social
privilege and advantage enjoyed or claimed
by any Of US. We proffer them equality
and content them?
The country must now realize that
naught but Slavery obstructs the way to
Peace and Reunion. In no metaphoric or
poetic sense, the Union and Liberty are
henceforth inseparable. They will either
AeyOaCo Al q COuIuOu uellVeTduCc ana tr2- |
umph or till the same bloody grave.
OF course, the master-spirits of the re-
volt sotu not be conciliated. They have
staked their all upon the cast, and must |
stand the hazard Of the die. But what pos
sible motive will a Shareholder have
for persisting in rebellion after receiving
due notice of the issuing of this Proclama-
ton? Merciless hands may still scour the
region cursed by the revolt, and drag every
man and youth into the rebel ca.nps-often
by the help of bloodhounds; but to what
end shall the n-slaveholding conscripts
remain and fight? What they risk and |
lose by contumacy is obvious; where is the
counterbalancing gain? Depend on it, this
Proclamation, if seconded and sustained I
in the loyal States, viii go far to break the
back of the Rebellion.
In Europe, it will be even more general |
~ efficient. The fendish maeyolence be-
trayed by the Secession oracles is rarely or |
never exhibited IN Europe through quota |
tions from the Journals; yet none can fail
to realize the regretfnI tenderness and |
kindly charity wherewith the rebel mas
SEES are contemplated by the President
Though his official terms of service has |
been rendered anxious and troubled by |
their treason, he has never ceased to regard |,
them as deceived and misled, and to de- |
sire their speedy return 10 loyalty and
eace. The more influential British and