The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAWK-EYE

and purposes, as part OF the Constitution"
The Slave States, by the adoption Of Con.
stitution which granted to hree-fourths OF
the States this absolute power Of amending
the Constitution, gave up forever every
C0nstitut ionaf right to complain about such
an act.
The reform Of the Federal Constitution
against slavery is not only right, but it is
also necessity. Might the conflict be-
tween freedom and slavery, before the
outbreak Of the rebellion, be irrepressible,
or not, it was in all cases thereafter IRENE
diable. It is against humun nature, that
both forms Of society shall ever again CO.
exist in tranquility under the same Gov
ernment Was it formerly already hard
for the people Of the North, to tolerate sla.
very with all its guarantees as an inheri-
lance of their fathers, now they, in no case,
when it is indelibly stained with the blood
Of their brothers, tolerate it. But are peo-
pie who deem such an amendment to the
Constitution superficial; who say that sla-
very will die by the mere influence Of the
war, or if not, then all events by the Emsn-
cipation Proclamation, or some law or
other by Congressional enactments. The
influence Of the war Is Of purely physi-
cal nature, and has purely physical results.
It impairs slave property, and destroys it
to certain extent, but it neither impairs
nor destroys the legal right to such proper
ty. According to our opinion, the war has
exercised no more influence upon the prop
erty in slaves in Tennessee than upon that
in horses and it has no more right to rem
der this property in Tennessee impossible
henceforth than the other. E.as.
The Emancipation Proclamation leaves
even slavery in the Border States express
~ untouched, and its validity a. to the
other States is an object of the most serious
doubts.
II has not been sufficiently shown, a.
yet, how the war power upon which the
manifesto is founded, has effect beyond the
physical ranges Of this power, or how it
can Outlive the war from which IL arose.
Even admitting that the war power, in case
Of necessity, could put an end to the legal
all living horses within its range, it is hard
to be perceived how q mere paper edict
could have such an EFFECT beyond this Ok.
tent, in the one case any more than in the
other. Likewise is it hard to be perceived
how such an edict could exercise such eff
feet everywhere and in all future.
This constitutional amendment is the on
" sure and legitimate way to put a general
and permanent end to slavery throughout
the whole Republic. 1t ought likewise. TO be
supported by two great parties. The Re-
publican party is bound by the fact it would
be the final and perfect disposition of the
anti-slavery policy, which, from the begin
HlnS, mas 1OrmeO part OF nef strategy, TO
support the same. The Democratic party
ought to accept it, because all objections
which she raised against other methods,
were Of constitutional nature, because
slavery has justly forfeited all friendly sup
port of the party, by, it, treason committed
upon the country, and because it would be
her certain and positive ruin, to thrust her.
self between the institution and this meas
ure. It is q mere illusion to shut the eye
to the fact that the larger mass Of the loyal
population are determined to put an end to
slavery. This amendment rises from the
strongest motives which are apt to animate
the human heart. It's realization can az
little be obstructed ~ the stream of the Nj
agara. Does the Democratic party possess
in. any way wisdom, then she will take
hold Of the opportunity Of leaving the insti-
tuition, for which she has suffered 20 dread
fully and unsuccessfully. to its fate. We
cherish the hope that both parties viii agree
to this amendment, and that it will receive
the unanimous ratification Of all the loyal
States, and Of all loyal men in this State.
But, il it then be % ratified or not, it will
certainly go through, and the Republic will
forever be freed ffom cuIBes which ever
disturbed her peace, and threatened her
existence CSaesnnGti V0lksblGtt (Democrat)
april oath.