The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-18

piring. and the consequence IS TO assure
their own political extinction. At least
do not believe they will. They Will pro-
TESS to be true friends OF the Union anu q
/ think they will,-even say they are in
favor of submitting an amendment 10 Inc
Constitution touching the abolition Oh
slavery. (not, perhaps, saying that they are
in favor of that amendment). But it should
be remembered that the party is not emf
nently a party Of principles. 1t Is chleny
party that seeks the enjoyment OF power
and piunder. It has been (still isl pro,
slavery party because that interest oHered
it large assurance of power. 1t is peace
party lat hearty because of its sympathles
with the slaveholding interest. But chiefly
it has now two objects In view: lst, 10 gel
power; I'd, to defeat this Administration.
Almost any way to accomplish tnese 9u r-
poses, they are ready to adopt. Many leaders
think they see in the adoption of Fremont,
and substantially Of his platform, way,
and the only way, to success. Hence the
effort, and the present prospect. The real
peace, the genuine pro-slavery copper
head influence, is, however, SO strong and
SO bitter, especially among the leading
representatives of the press, that vene-
ment struggle will be necessary to carry
the project. But I hear Of some favoring
it whom the country would not suspect as
likely to give adhesion to 1t.
RetrOspectively considered, what Gu
rious aspect this would give to public af-
fairs. The Republican Union party, in
cooperating Gerrit Smith and Lloyd Garri-
son, and making fight fight avowedly
for the purpose, among others, OF termlna-
ting forever the institution Of slavery. The
Democratic party taking our candidate OF
1856, on q platform more anti-Slavery than
that upon which he stood, or even that
upon which Mr.. Lincoln was placed in 1850!
Time works wonders. Time works chan
ges. And it works with amazing rapidity
in these serious days.
Looking at things thus retrOspectively,
the temporary President Of the Baltimore
Convention comes up 10 my mind-Dr.
Breckinridge. Doubtless few patriots read
his noble speech on taking the chair with
out a feeling of applause and extreme sat
isfaction. Among other notable things, he
said he was in favor OF the extinction OF
slavery that he had always been hostile
to it; and that il was the cause of the re-
be!lion. That he is in favor Of its extinc-
ton now, no one can doubt. That he was
formerly hostile to it, at least in any deci-
ded and active sense, is an impression that
is left upon the mind OF no one, / think,
who has marked his career and influence.
II he was theoretically opposed TO II, there
will be found few who ever heard of or sus-
pected the fact. And l very distinctly re-
member reading lis letters in the National
Intelligeacer, during the early days Of the
rebellion, in which, while he discussed,
with remarkable ability, the state Of public
affairs. and suggested plans OF conciliaiioD,
he denied that .avery was the Cause OF the
rebellion. He has been carried along so
fast that ne iorge;s. AS calG and rejecting
man as he IS, he forge;s, fails evidently
to appreciate, his own state OF mind and ac-
tual arguments three short years ago. But
he is right now, and as a ble as ever, while
his words and his spirit now have a fire
and a power to touch the public heart and
its awakened judgment, that they never
possessed before. he is, perhaps, fair
type Of the average progress OF the coun-
try, which, since the spring of 1851. has
moved three centuries in as many years.
Iowa