The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-23

Jefferson in support of this view seems Il
me unanswerable. He observed that, i
one State claimed the right to secede from
the rest, the others would have equal RICH
to secede from one State. Besides, let III
ask how the functions of the Federal Gov
eminent could be performed if, at any mo
ment and at any time, the States compos
ing it might break off at their own pleas
ure and caprice? Say, for example, tina
the secession Occurredin the midst of a wal
gotiating q treaty. How this would tenC
to paralyze all united action and leave the
Union a mere rope of sand! I quite con
cur with those American writer's who speak
OF this right of secession principle as no,
only dangerous but immoral. think that
we are bound to give them credit for the
sincerity of the apprehensions they have
become contagious, and spread political
pestilence throughout the land. If num-
Der OF States secede, others may do the
same. Nay, States themselves may be dis
solved by the operation of some principle
and the bonds of society being loosed, il
may relapse into anarchy and barbarism.
They have had before their eyes, as a war
ming, and not without reason, the condition
of the Spanish colonies of South America,
now independent States; and they natur-
ally shrink back from the edge of that
| whlrllng gulf of anarchy and confusion
into which order, law, civilization, even
christianity itself have gone down. That
the Southerners were themselves conscious
| OF medltatlng crime when preparing to
secede is evident from the secret and very
| treacherous manner in which their prepa-
rations were made. Let it be remembered
that the leaders in the rebellion had the
reins of power in their hands during the
Presidency of James Buchanan, and for
| four months or so after the election of Pre-
II L
theSouth has controlled the Union all along.
| Well, how was this power used when it
was about to close? Why, by public rob-
berry complicated with the grossest treach-
cry and perjury; for these men had sworn
allegiance to the Federal Government
| Great applause.l By degrees all military
offices We're filled by Southerners, or those
who held their principles. Military stores
and arms were gradually moved South
ward, the military forts and dock-yards in
the South were placed in the command of
men who were in the secrets of the conspi-
| racy-an army was organized and every
thing put in readiness to maintain the Sc
| cession by violence and bloodshed. An
able but disingenuous English advocate for
the South affirms that the SecesSionists had
no reason to suppose that their withdrawal
from the Union would bring civil war;
Indeed! How then shall we account for
the immense military preparations p
Whence the secret treachery? Why not
ask the separation by treating in a peacea-
BILE way? When the cotton States separat-
ed from the Union, Mr.. Lincoln, in his in
augural address, assured them that he did
not contemplate waging war against them,
| or employing the forces of the United States
to coerce them into submission. He sim
ply ayowed that, in obedience to his oath
to support the Constitution, he should take
measures to collect the duties on foreign
| ,%r<s~ ~-l~x =
Union TO the possession of the public pro-
perty. What was the answer to that rea-
sonable proposal? TWAS heard in the roar
of the cannon that bOmbarded Fort Sum-
ter. They knew right well what must be
the consequence of their ambitious project,
and upon them rests the guilt of all the
blood that has been shed in this frightful
struggle. Hear. And these are the men,
forsooth, with whom so many of the high
minded and enlightened people of this
country are not ashamed to sympathize.-
But it will be said that the Northerns are
also to blame, as they should have seen
that the maintenance of the Union was not
worth the blood and treasure expended
upon it. 1t is easy to say so now; but who
could have foreseen at the first the despera-
ton and endurance which the Southerners
have exhibited? If, then, the separation of
| the Southern States be, as we believe, I'M
constitutional and criminal-if it be, as it
has been demonstrated to be, base politi-
cal conspiracy, cOncocted and executed by
men smarting from the effects Of disap-
pointed ambition-is it possible to conceive
of any cause or motive, real or ostensible,
that could be held to justify this perjured
treachery, or cOnSecrate q great crime into
virtuous patriotism? And yetan immense
host of English Southern sympathizers
have been found to undertake the task of
not only accounting for, but justifying the
ha0 hnn
signed for this. A common opinion is, that
| a conflict between the North and the South,
on the questions of protection and free
| trade, formed the real ground of secession,
The North is q manufacturing country,
whereas the South has no manufactures,
but subsists by agriculture, raising for ex-
portation immense crops of cotton, rice,
sugar, and tobacco, by means of slave la
| Dor. 1t is, therefore, obviously the interest
of the Northern to obtain the highest price
for goods of his own manufacture. And,
for the purpose of securing this, he is anx-
| ious to have duties imposed on those for
eign manufactures that might compete
trary, having no fear of competition, is for
his own interest a Free Trader. Well,
then, it is alleged, that conflict of interests
| led to Secession. Even the Morrill, tariff,
imposing high scale of duties on foreign
goods, is referred to as proof Of this. But
| no allekatlOn cOuIQ De more grOundleSS.-
What are the facts? Why, that the South,
ever since the establishment of the Union,
have been its political leaders. They had
the question of Protection or Free Trade in
their own hands. And the Morrill, tariff,
| so unfavorable to our manufactures, was
passed after the contamination Of the Sc
cession, and when the Southern members
had retired from Congress. Besides, the
Western States, who are producers, need
manufactures cheap, &c. So much for the
Protection theory. Then, it is alleged that
the North had, Of late years, by means OF
immigration from Europe, become so much
more populous-and, Consequently more
powerful in the political scale-that the
Southerns were elected from office, together
with the power and patronage it involves,
without any prospect of restoration. What
makes this more calling to the naughty
Southern planter is, that he has been accus-
toned to rule and to look down with con-
tempt upon the New Highlander as beneath
him, both as regards breeding and social
station. The Abolitionist agitation became
also increasingly violent in the North, and
tended no doubt, greatly to embitter and
| fha winds Of Snufhorr ol,,,o