The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06

y
preceding the day Of election. Then i we
were 10 say in addition. before you can
vote, you must take an oath, ~ Go solemn
| ly swear 70 support the Constitution OF the
United States and the laws and proc!ana-
tions made III pursuance thereon, does
| 4 voice. Nothing. Does i aetract
| from loval man, AS q qualification to
vote, for him 10 swear that Il greatly ana
ardentiy desire the overthrow and destruc-
ton OF their armies ana the triumph ana
success of ours, when they come in con-
! tiict.' Is there solitary Union man who
coald not swear that? Voices-"No,
no. Is there any Union man bnt what
would take great pleasure in coming be-
fore the judges OF election and take an /
oath to support the flag, 10 test him who
has been warning against it? You pat him
I don, but are only giving evidence Of 10y I
atty and n qualified voter. On The other
hand, if there is anybody in this crowd OF
voters who wants q pardon or amnesty. !
whether be does il in good faith OF Tor the
purpose of saving little remnant OF mig
ger or any other property, just say TO him,
"Go over there; there is an altar for you.-l
There is President Lincoln,s altar, if you
want pardon-if petitiOning to the Presl-
dent for executive clemency. II you want
to escape the penalties you have incurred
by violations of law and the. Constitution,
don't want it; we wish not TO take that oath;
that is the oath for him who has commit
2 ted crime" Now, gentlemen, II seems to
me this will be practical. We want hard
oath-a tight oath as qualification for
I everybody that votes. He that wants par
1 don must take the oath prescribed by the
President of the United States; and l am
free to say that think the President has
. been exceedingly lenient in permitting
! them to do that We see the distinction is
\ clear then. in the exercise OF the elective
i franchise. If this will not do, will you
! suggest something that will be better
\ What standard will you erect? Don't
e stand here and lind fault with my sugges-
: tons and think they wont do: but suggest
: others. / am for a ruletha will tes, . 10y
: al man against u Gisloyal one; that is
Z the rule ! am for.
a REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
Il we want to restore the Government. we
must start at the foundation. At the root
is where we mus, start. Now, lei Us ar
= range il right there. and having etected
= your squires constable :, sherifis anuOther
- officers, as we can get men 20 serve, We
:. have got the grouEdworfs laid. Then what
: viii YOU do next? Now mark: under the
y ith clause and NTH article OF the Constl,u-
:. ton OF The United States. we have pledge
- 70 secure 20 the States Z republican form 81
!. government. A. a means, aside from the
- Constitution of the State, should say the
> the people TO have q convention or other
BODY 10 restore the Government to the peo
pie. Then. even lookingj 10 the Constitu.
= ton Of the United States, we have right y
- call convention, and have the convention
& as a means flowing from the constitution r
= guarantee the restoration of a republican
e form OF government. We lind in the con
AZ stiturion O: the State that you can amenc
- the constitution by The Legislature, but i
> takes about six years TO amend II IN tina
=, way. But when we recur 70 the Dlil
~ rights, which "a part ot, but stands para
~ ~ mount 70 tire remainder of the constitution
,o we find that the people-the sovereign peo
=, ~ ple-have the right 10 alter, amend or abol
80 - ish their form of government whenever the,
~ think proper, and in their own way.
- ! have unfortunately or fortunately, a
~ ~ the case may be. always been one Of thos
10 who hold that all power IS inherent III ~
m.e ~ people, and that the Government IS mad
~ for the people instead Of the people hein
~ made for the Government; as much SO.
-; least. as the shoe is made for the foot. in
~ ~ stead Of the foot being made for tire shoe
=, Government emanales from us: hnd now
-, when your Government has been paralyze
~ or suspended, is there any better way tha
can he adopted than 70 call Conventlo
, here? In other words, let us have the so'
-" ereign presence Of the people in the snap
~ of delegates; or, were il practicable, TO AZ
Nv Nv pear in a large arnphitheater, and kno
-, what their opinions were in taking the steI
~ -. to restore the workings OF Government;
:; would say, let the people be convened
-, 80 obedience 20 the Constitution OF the Unite
~, States and Of the State, and in strict con
;,h pliance with the fundamental principles
-. ~. our Government, that power is Inherent
-, 80 the people. Who dare say the conventlc
III shall not assemblee Who dare say Il
- people shall not be here? l know there
,is ,'. "A little croaking dissatisfaction amongson
W that have been nominally Union men, ar
IL some that have been rebels in this hell-bol
,.., 'me and hell-bound rebellion, who. now tn
n,,' they are suhjngated, after having been 7
~ - strumental in paralyZing to some eXte
. oe the Government, and after having help'
;n .v to produce the rebellion, hypocritical!y sa
.., We Oh! they don't want SO much disturbanc
ei,. it will be TOO revolutionary 10 nave co
~, yention. Let US think. Give me your q
a. tention, and will show You where the 6
W is in the meal. They turn to the COnstlt
90, ton as it now stands, and say, on! let
! 1' = get the legislature back here; let us pie
u,," :" up things and have no fuss. They think
that little clause in our Constitution Will
;, "a provides that the Legislature shall n
Nv NV emancipate slaves without the consent
al o. their owners, Don't you see? Then il ,
81 get the Legislature back under the Cons
.as tuition as il is they think they can hold
ar,, to the little remnant OF negroes tnat - u
eay the disturbing element thathas produc
~ !, all this war. TApplause.l then say thi
.oat ~ Bring the people forward in convention
ga, eas the source of all power-they that made !
,,nS Constitution, and let them act upon Il
NO NO important question and upon this nome
n, tous occasion. Let us have the people mel
an,, o. and when they assemble in convention
q" ~, when the sovereign is present, he can 40
we we that the Legislature can, and he can dc
,'t ,,',t great deal more. Have convention hel
nc. and it can put your State upon her legs
~ eight and forty hours. It could appoi
en these magistrates, these squires, these shs
tese n ifs, all the officers, and carry on the m
'es' chinery of State to perfection in eight a
forty hours. Let the people come forwa
ion and speak, and in speaking upon the neg
,In 4ba question, my honest convictions are, II
tn for they will settle it, and settle it finally
,on EMANCIPATION.
e OF Now, my countrymen, it is not wor
i'm while to try and deceive each other, a
not thus play a hypocrltlcal part as me p. peoi
I in on the people, when meeting each 9th
AXE there was a significant smile upon their