The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1864-05-28
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAWk-EYE.

BURLINGTON WE
@The telegraph informs us that Cop
perhead Horatio, the creature who dishon.
Ors New York as its Governor, has direct
ed the District Attorney to procure indict-
ments against the parties concerned in sei-
zing the Offices of the World and Journal
Of Commerce, he...papers who gave public
ity to the Infamous forged proclamation.
The procuring Of such indictments are of
very little consequence to any but those
against whom they may be found, and
only of consequence to them because they
will impose the trouble Of appearance and
defence. The Governors order is Of no
other use than to warn the people Of his
baseness and the peril to the country Of
such reptile in his position.
Take the view most favorable to the pa
pers. Assume that they were, in fact, en-
tirely innocent of actual completely with
the scoundrel author Cf the forgery, and
that it was printed by simple inadvertence.
Take for truth that the editors and propri-
etors knew nothing about it until they saw
it next morning,-theiro own statement and
apology. What then? The thing was
printed, published, uttered" by these
papers. 1t was base forgery, and they
were guilty of palming it off on the public,
50 far as any one besides themselves could
know about the actual fact, until the mat
ter was Investigated. How was their guilt
or innocence to be ascertained7 Were the
authorities to credit their mere professions
Of innocence, when they had the forgery
before their eyes, and which there was no
question that they had sent to the public
to work what harm it could? Does any
one trust the man who il known to utter q
forged note in that wayf Having done the
act, being detected in the act, the next
thing to be done was to ascertain whether
it was done with guilty intent or inno-
the law. 1t was one calculated to injare,
the nation, to injure our arms, to demor-
slize the army, to aid the rebels, to endan-
ger our interests abroad, in q word, it was
NEST outrageous act of treason. Besides
it was not published by those who have
the reputation Of good and law-abiding cit
izens. It was only an act in strict confor-
nifty with the character, opinions and an
tecedents of the two papers. 1t was no
worse in its nature than the doctrines they
constantly teach and profess to hold would
lead all men to expect Of them. They con-
stantly seek to obstruct the measures and
denounce the motives and purposes Of the
Government It was just as natural to
assume that the act was done with the
most infamous motives - it is to believe
that known forger, when he passes
forged bill, knows 1t fraud and utters il
with guilty intent. .sH
But who ever heard any one make com.
plaint Of tho arrest Of an ordinary forger
under such circumstances? The only diff
ference In the two cases 10 that the act
committed BY these papers, was infinitely
worseand more malignant and internal than
any other kind Of forgery can possibly be.
It did not affect mere individual. Il was
not measured by any sum Of dollars,
however large. 1t was q blow at the ma
tons safety. It was meant to imperil it.
It was calculated to do moro harm than IN
army Of rebels. In all its aspects it was
damnable. Those who did 1t deserved to
be hung on the arst lamp-post. Such .
fate would have been mercifuL
Yet Horatio wants the men indicted who,
to ascertain who were guilty Of the infa-
nous outrage, arrested those who were the
apparent authors and took possession of
their offices! He has no word of condem-
nation for the forgers. He is only anxious
to punish those who, in obedience to or
ders, seize upon the persons and instru-
ments engaged in giving currency to the
fraud. Horatio has time to think of his
"friends" but none to waste upon his coun-
try! He is worse than Nero, who is said
to have 1ddled while Rome was burning.
Nero's worst offense was indifference to =
great calamity. Seymour is not satisfied
with our calamity as it is. He wants to
increase and magnify it. The nation seeks
to maintain itself against peril. Seymour
would ''indict' its agents because they
sought to do their duty! Supposing they
were al wrong, that their acts were illegal,
that individuals suffered damage from
them, put any construction on the arrests
vou please or can, and still Horatis's or
der u OF, piece with the forgery, mani |
Ieses tho same motives and purposes,
marks him as Copperhsad, seeking in ev-
sry way he can devise 70 create new din
'ulties, magnify old ones, and By every |
possible mode to aggravate the distemper
which SO sorely af1iict the country and
people. There was no call, nor even an |
apology for his order. 1t IL bit of pure |
md gratuitous malice. II any man has
been wronged the Conrts are opeuto him. |
He can seek redress civiiy or criminally,
without the advice, cr aid Of this super
Governor. The matter does not |
'oncern the State Of New York nor it, |
Governor. For the latter to msddle with
+ Il only to prove that he IL unfit, not |
aAarsay for his position, but to breathe the |
M whore loyal men and patriots dwell.-l
He should 60 to JefE. That Is the side on |
which he fights. sS .4..s3r..