The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-01-03
January LIST, 1863

To morrow, the first day of new year, in
all human probability, is also to be the date
of new era. Unless q change has taken
place in the mind OF the President, of which
We have discovered no indication, he will pro-
claim freedom to all those held in bondage in
those portions of the Union which still per.
sist in their treason and revolt.
1t has always been evident that the Presi.
dent was not willing to resort to this means
for breaking the back Of the Rebellion, if it
could possibly be avoided. He hesitated long,
before he intimated that it was one Of the mis-
siles he might be compelled to launch against
the traitors. This intimation produced no eff
feet upon their leaders. Next he gave them
notice of his purpose, but also deferred the
time of executing it, for a period amply sufi :
cient to enable them to lay down their arms,
and return to their allegiance, and become
good and peaceable citizens This, also, they
have disregarded. They still persist in their
perverse and Internal treason. They have
spurned the only possible mode Of averting a
now inevitable change Of the social relations
among them, and refuse, again, to acknowledge
the authority of the Union. ..t ~ 'e-
Probably the President did not. expect them
70 Law down their arms. If he credited their as
sertions, he could not have anticipated that they
would do 90. But he presented them the oppor-
tunity. He gave them due warning. He an.
nounced the alternatives. They have made their
own choice: If he now performs bis promise,
they have no ground of complaint If he issues
such proclamation - he has indicated, and in
it's operation hereafter, it chances to bring peril
to the traitors, they must ascribe it oil to their
own insane persistance.in rebellion, which must
be crushed. Other means of bringing them to
their senses have failed. They have proved in.
accessible to reason. They have spurned kind
ness and forbeafance. Since nothing else will
reach them, who will ssy that the axe should not
be struck at the root Of the tree which has pro-
duced such fruits
CH.1srnAs IN TIE HosPIrALs.-At st. Louis
and Cincinnati, a. well Is At Washington, We
notice that the wounded and sick soldiers in
HOSPITALS were not allowed to imagine them
selves forgotten by loyal and philanthropic peo-
pie. We have already published . brief account
Of the abundant supplies and attendance fur
nished At the Capital. At St. Louis and Cincin-
natl, the same result was accomplished by the
voluntary contributions and assistance of the
citizens of these vicinities. We presume that
in all the hospitals in the North, the soldiers
found similar preparations made for them, and
were enabled to pass Christmas as comfortably
and cheerfully as the nature of their wounds and
condition of their health would permit. We
hope so, assuredly. If any are entitled to
merrier Christmas than others, it is certainly
those who axe engaged in battling for their
country and the rights Of man.
INTERNAL REvENUE.-One Of the New York
napers estimates that at least twelve million
dollars will be collected in that city alone, I'm.
der the Internal Revenue Law.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIoR.-The Chicago
Journal saws that the friends of Speaker Grow,
are improving the holidays with an effort to
.ecure his nomination to the position of Secre-
tarv Of the Interior, vacated by the resignation
Of Secretary Smith. II they succeed they
fnrtber propose to urge Schuyler Colfa1, of
,-a;.,o for the vacant Speskership.