The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-26

good radiance Of the institution as we shall
want. As far as the execution Of military
orders on the subject is concerned, the Of
ficers and men of the Federal army are
bound to carry them into effect. l am in
favor of such political action Of the Gov
eminent, as will Obviate the necessity Of
such orders. Do not misapprehend me-
believe the institution Of slavery is gone as q
permanent thimg-OUerthrOUn by the action,
of the Southern States. / believe in case of
q return to the Union, we would receive
political co operation so as to secure the
management Of that labor by those who
were slaves. There is really no difference.
in nv opinion, whether we hold them as
absolute slaves, or obtain their labor bv
some other method. OF course we prefer
the old method. But that question is not
now before us. tHa
We are, for the present, calling to the au
thorities Of Alabama and to the citizens of
other parts of the State, to heed what we
have felt, and that they need not feel. III
am to be considered an enemy to my coun-
ry for telling them these things, let it be
RO--let the sentence come. But that state
Of affairs will no longer exist. The people
Of Alabama say that the State was precipi-
tated-wrongfullv precipitated-out of the
old Union, and that they are willing 10 take
their stand in the old Union--that Govern.
ment in which they always found prosper
ity-whch gave them strength at home and
abroad. Since the action OF France does
any one think that an alliance with her
would have restored popular rights. Sc
cured States rights? Does any man say
so?
Since we nave been AZ war Napoleon has
sent his armies into Mexico. he would
not have dared TO 90 SO ii there had been
no dissolution OF our Union. Can il be
said that am less 8 friend Of nv country
than Davis and Benjamin, becauseI prefer
the old country with lis old Union and
Government 10 an alliance with Napo-
leon.
Davis. Is. r. Butler. Cale; Gushing. Blu
chanan and John Shdell sought 70 destroy
the Government. The Iirst act OF Butter ut
New Orleans was to seize the estate of Sill
dell. They housed together at Charleston.
and endeavored to overthrow the Govern
ment by overwhelming the political power
of the South. Judge between my patrio.-
ism and theirs. Mine lay here: theirs
there. / had no hand in breaking up this
Government They are responsible for the
blood shed in this unnecessary war.
= My cOuntrymen, has there not been
enough blood shed? Have not enough
widows and orphans been made? Or has
the poor heart O; man become steelea so
that it can look upon his manned and
| bleeding fellow man. the destitute widow,
and the homeless orphan without emotion?
Do not Manassas. Shiloh, Boston Noun
tain, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg. Perryville,
Donelson, Vicksburg, and the fatal field OF
Chickamauga satisfy the mad ambition Of
the land? 4 f#a stH
From the time left Virginia. our army
has been continually receding-the Union
army steadily MISUNDERSTANDING has
been continually lost. True our army has
stood and fought valiantly for it, but il
can not stand against superior power
What territory can now be said TO be with.
in the power or under the control OF the
Confederacy?
From the time this rebellion began up
to the present, Davis and Benjamin have
not had an idea that the States Of the South
could stand unaided by foreign powers
You hav'nt thought of that. but it is true.
That was the position taken by them at the
incipiency of the rebellion. Such is still
their belief. Without the assistance of
some strong power, the independence of
the Southern States could not be establish
ed. Hence, Slidell and Mason, now sent
to Europe AS a sort of ministers, before the
Confederate Government was clothed with
the semblance of power, before the block
abe was commenced, to form an alliance
with England and France, with instruc-
tionS to urge the Importance OF recognizing
the independence ofthe Confederacy. Thus
they hoped to get France and England so
mixed up with the affairs OF the Confeder-
acy that they would he obliged. TO assist its
maintenance. Ii the Southern Coniederacy
could achieve its independence with for
eign alliance, il would be destruction 10 rs,
the overthrow OF the very institution we
went to war for. What would We gain?-
Suppose that France should recognize the
COniederacy, what then! ! don't think
slavery is Eow OF much worth in Ala
bama. But no arrangement: made with
these governments would result in any
good 10 slavery. They might protrac. the
struggle for years. With what result?
Finally no territory would remain suffi-
Gent for an army 10 stand upon, the fields
of which would Eot have been devastated,
the houses burned, the material properties
all completely ruined and destroyed. Such
would he the legitimate results OF a strlg-
gle aided and assisted by these powers
Napoleon dare do nothing against their
views. A revolution would result that
would tottle him from bis throne. Those
governments are not in favor OF slavery.
France abolished it. England abolished ii.
But we will get no recognition. Europe is
going to war. Every effort is being made
to involve England. Then France will fol-
low. They will have their hands fun, and
as Howell Cobb said in a speech few days
since, ''they must fight it out themselves
The main point with US now is, what po-
litical course is best. have been asked.
What good do you expect 70 accomplish by
these meetings-such resolutions? II there
were no Confederate army, no United States
army here, we would be powerless. OfOur-
selves we can only suggest to our brethren
in other counties of the State what action
seems to US necessary and proper. Has
Southern Alabama ever refused to respond
to the voice of the people of the Tennessee
Valley believe they will listen to us
that they are now ready TO respond to our
call for peace. There are orphans and wild
ows OH their bleak hills, in their fruitful
valleys, and along their beautiful streams.
They have suffered as we have suffered
They need quiet rs we do. Their counties
have been called upon to contribute to this
terrible war, not as our own, but their en-
orgies have been severely taxed. They are
ready therefore to respond to our initiatory
proceedings to secure peace.
l heard it said, the other day, that our
friends south Of the river would hear Of
this meeting, and who we were that particle