The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-28

ana earth that We will not permit our liberty {,
be destroyed. Immense spplause.1 There ara
many things connected with the administration
OF the Government and of the var that do not
meet my appreciation. In my Congressional
course IN the past two years, have differed
widely in many measures Of policy with the Gov.
eminent But - to I'll those which were de-
signed to put down the rebellion, gave It my
honest and unfolding support differed With
1t on its emanciPaton measures and those which
we're Of political character But because Of
this difference, and because Of the bad manner
in which our campaigns we're conducted. Il mono
the less sbated my ardor to save the country
and save the Union. The Administration vas
Of the Republican school in politics; was
Democratic. This gave no reason to EN-.
brace treason or sympathixe with trsi.
tors II il had, I should have degraded nv
name and dishonored my country. think Il
was bad policy 70 do many things connected, es.
pecially, with the slave question; but because of
this, no man can throw into my teeth that
committed, in word, thought, or deed, an act Of
disloyalty And challenge the nation to point
me to an official act which leaned toward trea-
son. had, have, no sympathy with those vile
men who, in their madness, not only level their
shaft at the Unon but at the heart of every loyal
man in it. Ny sympathies are all with and for
my country. Applause This is the doc
trine which must ultimately prevail throughout
the North The influence of bad men will daily
grow less, and in q few months you will hardly
see the man bold enough and wicked enough to
say that he was ever on the side of the rebel
lion. 1t may not be safe for him to say so, if he
have the moral depravty to think 60. Gentle
men, it is your duty In these times to encourage
and strengthen public opinion. Our brave col.
diers are undergoing the dangers of the field
they are doing battle like men for the cause Of
American liberty. Let the voice from the
whole North pour daily into the camp-and let
it be the voice of encouragement, of honor, of
praise. Let the soldier, when he retires at night
upon his straw pallet, feel that, Notwithstanding
the storm may rage without, and the cold chillS
make his flesh culver, and the forebodings upon
his mind Of the fearful struggle for life on the
morrow, there are warm and sympathizing
hearts for him at home, who pray for the sue
cess of the holy cause which called him forth,
and that there are hearts there also leaping in
exultation at the hope of saving bleeding and
up to his great task. This shall fire his heart,
and put strength in his good right arm. This
shall lead him to the battle under the belief that
if he falls nation shall mourn at his grave
Applause And this sentiment, spread broad
cast over the land, shall drive to their hiding
places, in confusion and shame, the creatures,
called men, who stand ready now to shout over
the enemy's victory, and laugh over the dead
and the dying who gloriously fell upon freedoms
battle. One would think that the deep cut
gashes Of our Soldiers, sending forth their
hearts blood, would blanch the hardened cheek
of treason. 1t does not Their dear brethren
who make them ''are chivalrous people. They
have sustained great wrongs, and they are the
very salt of the earth. 1t is an abolition war
let Abolitionists fight it'll" And this is liberty
of speech! And for the suppression of the uts
tersnce of such heresy great constitutional
principle is violated. Many men talk and exc
cute treason with impunity! [Applause.] If
they prefer the despotism Of JEFF Davis, let
them seek refuge under his arm. Renewed ap>
plause. have made up my mind that will
stand fast by the old flag, and when it goes
down have no other object to live for, for
would prefer death to despotism and chaos
Aud this assuredly will follow the downfall Of
the Republic. With the loyal States the ques
ton now is, shall the war be carried on with all
the power of the nation-or shall We surrender
the Government and the country into the hands
OF traitors? That is the question. One or the
other of these alternatives is inevitable. There
Is no reason for wise and good man to doubt.
In fact, he who stops to doubt, 10 half way over
to the enemy.