The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-03
Washingsen Correspondence.
WAsH1xoror, Nov. 18th 1864

One Of the Richmond papes says that, in
the death Of James HI. Hammond It re-
CARDS the South a. having lost its ablest
intellect. There 10 not much doubt but
that the remark IL strictly true. MIR.
Hammond did not appear to be . particu-
shone in . manner that he did not. In
whatever public documents he gave to the
world which were calculated to bringing ont
the force and vigor of his intellect, he LEFT the
marks Of great man. He was an extreme
States Rights man. He believed in the
constitutional right Of State to secede,
for what 1t considered adequate cause,
ton guarantees, Of which act the State it.
self was to be its own Judge. He believed
1t WAS right and proper for the Weather
and better educated class Of community to
rule the State. He belonged to the Demo-
cratic party, but he attached himself to it
because It was the most convenient organ
ism through which to maintain the stand
ing Of slavery and to promote the interests
of that institution. The ideas of Democra-
cy. he detested. So, when the Democratic
party was overthrow, seeing that its
serviceableness to the cause Of slavery
WAS at an end he had nc tears to shed. and
felt supreme indifference. He believed
that slavery was right; good and whole
some institution, in fact, that it was di-
vine. And he gave to the world, in reply
toa celebrated British appeal upon the sub
was more satisfactory to the South gener-
ally than any other attempt which was
ever made. So that it win be seen that he
WAS good exponent Of the ideas, interests
and feelings Of the leading intellects of the
South. But yet he never has spoken q
word Ia favor Of the present rebellion
From the start It has proceeded without
him. He made no particular effort against
for the reason that he saw the moyement
was inevitable. And al these prominent
leaders, who knew him well, who
looked up to him % superior in intellect
and sagacity, and with whom he wa
agreed IN doctrine, have received no word
OF aeststance or encouragement from him.
On the contrary, il he could have prevent
prevented it, do not believe there wouid
have been any rebellion, or that . SOLITARY
State would have seeded. And for the
reason that his intellect was eminentlv NJ
gacious and practical. Though he believed
that slavery was right, he saw clearly that.
IN this country at least, It was not to an.
dure. He saw that It could not survive
extensive and prolonged civil connection.
to extend the institution were caicnIat . 4
to weaken its security. He considered
genera! and persistent efforts to secure the
null and particular enjoyment Of its consfi.
tutional privileges and immunitiea a cal.
culated to shorten its tenure. He recorded
II . the true policy Of heslavsholiinR In
teFest 70 fenAin nom Efforts to contend II:
% seek 10 consolidate and solidify the in.
sntulon, with AZ It: interests, influence
and power. within the limits Of it's then
present existence, and make . stand for
lte maintenance, ON the basis of its con-
stitou0nal rights, where it then was. and to
prolon8 II, - 1t was, on that basis, until II
was compelled to give way, without mate
rial harm 70 any one, before the allow and
gradual influence Of such causes "a mil
itated against 1t. He thought that such
Poncy ~ GaIcuiated 70 maintain It longer
than any other, and when it passed awav
it would pNss away with the least harm t.
any class or any interest. And he thoueht.
moreover, that BY pursuing such po7icv
the assaults upon it would be likely 70 ~
weaker than Of any more ambitiou: nolicv
was pursued; that his countrvmen wonid
generally recOgnizeits constitutional right
to exist In such an attitude, while its pesce
as we'll as Its security, and permanence
w would thereby be most certainly assumed.
This was his view, not as regards his ideas
of its rights, Of what ought to be conceded
to It, but a. Z practical man, as regarding
what was a:tainable.
In the light of events subsequent to the
close Of his public career, no one can ques-
ton the soundness of his views, in point OF
policy, while the comprehensiveness and
forecast of his intellect is made manifest.
But this is why he stood aloof from the re-
bel!ion, and his associates in doctrine are
Obliged TO note his going down to the grave
confessing his greatness and the soundness
Of his social and political philosophy, yet
unable to point to a paragraph in support
Of their great undertaking. He believed
with them, In theory; but he was large.
minded, sagscious and practical. They
were narrow minded and fanatical.
Since election is over, and the majoritiee
were SO large as to foreclose all projects Of