The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-02

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Was very respectable one in size for
Union meeting in this latitude, though but.
ternuts and blue-cOats we're so promiscu.
ously mixed up that it was impossible tC
estimate what proportion of those present
were strictly citizens. Judging from the
little squads Of citizens whom saw in con-
sultation about the public square before the
meeting was called together, I should say
| there were not over fifty or sixty Of them
present. They had the meeting, however,
all their own way, - neither officer Or sol
dier offered to interfere either BY speaking
or voting. Hon. Jerry Clemens presided.
THE REVOLUTIONS
Passed were two in number. have not
been able to obtain verbatim copies. lean,
however, give you the substance. The first
declares that Madison county was carried
| out Of the old Union against her own wish
es and in despite Of large majority vote oi
her citizens against secession. The second
resolution calls upon sister counties ('err-
ing sisters'') to join her in petitiOning the
Governor (secesh) Of the State to call cop.
vention Of the people Of the State for the
purpose Of considering how they may re.
store the State to her position in the old
Union, and thus restore the powers Of civil
government and stay the further etfusion
of blood.
.A THE SPEECHES..
Hon. Jerry Clemens, Chairman, made a
very brief and pertinent speech, on calling
the meeting 70 order and stating its object.
1t was, however, little more than what he
said At the first meeting. They commenced,
he said, fighting for State rights, and among
the very first acts Of the Confederate Con-
gress, were those that stripped the individ-
ual States of their sovereignty and estab-
lished an iron despotism over them. BY
the first conscriptiOn act, every slavehold-
er owning twenty slaves was ex empt from
cOnscription, but a white stakeholder
with ten children dependent upon his daily
labor for their bread, could be taken. A
Shareholder who had twenty 'niggers''
could stay at home and take care Of them,
but father who had ten children to be
supported by his labor, could he conscript-
ed and put into the army. Madison coun-
ty, he said, has been carried out Of the
Union though she had cast 500 Of y major
ity against the act of secession. The voice
Of Northern Alabama had been stiaed.-
Free speech had not been tolerated here.
Had the wishes Of Northern Alabama pre-
vailed she had never gone out OF the Union.
He pronounced Confederate currency as
not worth five cents on the dollar, and as
to the negro property, no man could now
say, in Northern Ala bama, that he had q
title to q negro. They had been emanci-
pated, not by the AbolitiOnists, for before
this war there had not been ten slaves lost
from all Northern Alabama, in as many
years, BY escaping 70 the North. Their
emancipation was the work Of the rebels
who inaugurated this rebellion p,ofcssedly
TO give greater security TO slave property.
But, he added, am not at all sure, 50 far
as this is concerned, but that our condition
is made better By the change. Is Jerry about
to become rGdicaR As marvellous things
have happened in these days.
II we may believe Clemens, land he GER
. \ ho fNf
the rebels for q monarchical form of gov.
ernment have been freely and openly ex-
pressed, in private conversation, in speech
es, and in their papers.
WHY THE ATTACK ON SUMTER WAS PRE-
CIPITATED.
Mr.. Clemens furnished Us with a scrap
Of history have not seen in print. He was
in Montgomery just before the attack ON
Sumter, and steppipg into the. Capitol one
iuger, Gilchrist and others, In earnest con-
versation, but in an under tone. When he
(Clemens) entered they ceased converting,
but some three or four of them withdrew
to corner Of the room, and in . low tone
continued the conversation. They were
discussing the propriety Of an immediate
attack upon Sumter. Walker insisted upon
or precipitately. Gilchrist urged imme-
diais action as their only salvation. Said
he: = YOx mast sprinkle blood in these peO-
pIcs faces, Or Alabama will go back into the
Old Uni0m ~ less than tsD0 W0nfhs.' Gill
christ was one Of the Representatives of
this State in the Rebel Congress. The Sc
quel il too sadly known. wonder if Gill
christ sop thinks the baptism of blood has
been duly performed!
HON. Mr.. HUMPHREY
took the stadd, or rather the pavement, az
the principal speaker of the day. NJ. H.
was a Douglas Democratic delegate in the
Charleston Convention Of 1860. and charges
this rebellion on JEFF. Davis, Slidell, Caleb
Gushing and Benz. f. Butler. Mr.. H. was
q Colonel in the rebel army, I am inform
ed, at the battle Of Manassas. Thought he
get the rebels no see it"-resigned and
came home cured Of treason. The speech,
though much longer than that Of Clemens,
had no point. The speaker evidently
thought he stood between two fires, and
was called upon to show TO all the world
and North Alabama the sublime spectacle
Of extinguishing them with squirt gxn.
i.stitsttOm, Il suppose he had seen the Now
York Erprsss,) but be verify believed that
II they would 90 back into the old Union
the government In its magnanimity would
give them just as long q time a. tAey ,coxld
ask to wind up the concern. In short
Humphrey would make q very reepecta-
BILE saint Of the Ben Wood pattern 81.
#ae SPRING 4f iga
ID beginning to deck herself ~ il for y
festival. (Alss, that it should be carpi.
val Of deathy The peach.trees are in full
bloom, the green foliage II beginning to
show itself above M, and the grass and
flowers are springing up toyousIy around
u. It is now for advanced into the usual
s'rainy season. Of this country, and though
We are having q shower every few days,
there 10 enough Of pleasant sun shine BE-
tween to dry up the mud and keepthe roads
in good condition. The fact il, the whole
winter might easily have been spent In &C
tive campaigning, but that the return Of 90
many veteran regiments to their homes
greatly weakened our lines, not leaving us
effective force enough for forward move
ment upon an extensive scale.
The railroad from Nashville to this place
via Decatur, ID now In running order a. far
a. the last named place. Another week or
two will complete the work between this
place and Decatur. There will then be two
lines of railroad Communication between
Nashville and Stevenson, which will great
~ facilitate transportation to Chattanooga,
Knoxville, &c. Should the State of the
roads continue what they have been, /
Onvr