The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06
BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1864

correct principles. It attempted to rise
above the Government. and had it-succeed-
ed, negroes or their masters would nave
controlled the Government; nut III max
ing the attempt to control the Government,
the mighty car Of State has moved forward.
and the institution has been crushed. and
thanh, God for it. Applause.
Now upon this negro question. and
know the saving IS something banded
about that you are always prating and say
ing that the negro is deal-if he is dead
why repeat ii 50 often? Is there man
here that has observed this thing but what
knows that the institution Of slavery in
Tennessee is dead? have had some come
come 10 me and say. ''Gov. Johnson. are
YOU in favor OF immediate emancnation?
tell them, yes. .'Do you want 70 turn me
negroes all loose upon vs.? What Will you
do with them?'' Why, sir, reply, as far
ready taken place. Where are your ne
groes? .'They are running about some
where Says I.'"wnatdo you call that?'
TLanghter.l They seem 70 oe turned
{ loose.
The institution O: slavery u turned into
travelling institution. and goes just where
il pleaseS, Now il is said tina. the slaves
never can be free. and the argument is,
that because they haye been in slavery 200
wears. they are united to be free men, and
: shall not he permitted 70 enjoy the privili-
.. ges Of ireemen; butby way OF making them
competent, it is proposed TO keep them IN
slavery fifteen or twenty years longer. In
the first place, it would not do 70 have them
+; free, because they have been slaves: and
in the next place, they should be kept in
|, slavery 10 qualify them for freemen.-
! tLaughter.l
Fellow citizens, let US be practical. We
= were proceeding TO pu. up the State gov
~. ~.
. Legislature, Governor, and other things,
!. that constituted the State heretofore. But
J. the institution Of slavery. There it lies out
I there; will you take il back? Leave the
: disturbing elenlen, there, say. Il is now
= out, and 10 put the State III motion, start
!. the machinery and .eave negroes out OF the
question. TApplause.l Then the conclu-
:. sion is, that in fact negroes are enlancipa-
= ted in Tennessee to-day, and The only re-
!, manning question Tor US TO settle as prudent
!" and wise men, is IN assigning the negro his
new relation. Now, what viii that oe
There are no more negroes today than
e there were Yesterday there UeinG no more
u negroes free than there were slaves. Ihe
= same space VIII contain them IN one c0ndl-
q ton as i'm another, and the STAKEHOLDER ..eed
Y not he alarmed with the fear that negroes
e will lie increased faster than they Were ne-
IL fore. Then the negro viii De thr0Wn upon
e society, governed by the same laws tha,
l. govern communities, and be compelled <
s. iall back upon his own resources. and those
= resources that al other human tengs ~
-e The God of nature has endowed him witt
ie faculties that enable him 10 enjoy the re-
'e suit OF his own labor. Political freedom
ef means liberty TO work, and a. the Same
o. time enjoy the product Of ones labor. De ht
u white or black, blue or gray. red or green
70 laughter, and if he can rise by his owl
~ energies, III lhe meme ot Goa let him Use
% In saying this. ~ not argue that Tie ne
~ Iva Co M
n, at al. There are degrees among whit
IA Iuen some are capable. others are not, bl
II because we find interiors among ourselves
q. shall every inferior man be assigned 70 sla
q very? III the negro is better fitted for n
e. inferior condition Of society. the laws Of ne
=, ,ure viii assign him there. My own con
% vicIion is, that III less than five years ate
De this question is settled spon the principl
ey of hired labor. the negro's labor Will b
- more productive than il ever was.
sc How Is the thing 10 be lnne2 am fre
ne 10 say that am for The Convention, afte
de adopting some rule thai viii exclude di'
hg loyal and admit loyal men. Under +
AZ Constitution, the people have right I
n meet and appoint delegates. On Tie oth'
- hand, the President oi the United State
y, through his agent. has a right by procl
ed nation 10 say 70 the people: ION such
lat day elect 50 many delegates 10 take I'M
on consideration the reconstruction OF II
" State. AS remarked before, some tim
lpe we may DO irregular things for the sake
W getting back law and order. Il might
ow irregular in starting, unt when the Col
ePS vention get together, they have right
!; change, alter, Of abolish, their Goyer
y, ~ lnent in their own way. ! am disposed
.e .eo think that the people, If they were togethe
III. III. would be inclined - remove the ti.hculti
OF under which we labor. ! am willing
: : ~ trust them. ! believe they are honest, AZ
io'i especially 50 in governmental affairs.
tne And even Judging men hy se.t-inte-est
2 y am willing 10 lrus; them. because il IS
me their interest 10 have the best goyernme
snd they can get. and they vii! have i. ] {
, ~ not see why {, Convention could not
n'l trusted as Wei as Il Legislature. Who
n prepared here tonight - hesitate 70 ads
eni the great principle that man is csFab.e
peu governing himself?
ice; thank God have always relied up
OH one thing, that there was grea- princ1I
at. of right lying al the foundation Of
cat things and that truth IS mighty and "
llu- prevail. Right is going forward: truth
Us iriumphng; justice II becoming pal
ece mount; slavery is going down.
I !: o. o. plause.l And now, proclaim il. the III
llcn has come, God being my helper, am vi
), not OF ing to do my part, and am wiling to wi
OF uI, nv political career in The .snal sett
We ment Of this question. The time has col
sti- when the tyrants rod shall be broken a
: , ~ - the captive set Tree. Renewed applaus
leit Then. now is the time TO strike; and he
ICED a .owarfl who desires to remain inac.i
ms: and will not come forward 10 the altar a
n worship. Continued applause.] y
ine while right IS tr;nmphing. they talk abe
tns compromising this question. Comp
len- mise! Compromise with what? Comp
ere, mise great principle! VIII you ha
m truth compromise with falshood? will y
, all have right to compromise with wrong? "
10 you have virtue compromise with vice
ere, / say, No. In the compromise Of rie
n with wrong, right IS the loser; IN the co
ont promise Of virtue with vice, virtue is alwa
her uviolatad M comnromisn-nn
ma comnromise with traifors while thav ,a
and arms in their hands IChaors Ian
ard maniac mon this nuastion INIT fool
,gao ,gsnt voted, attached and welded to great pr
lha' ciples.
say, then, remove the evil obey
laws Of Heaven, and always reach a ris
lrth conclusion AS un have com man cel