The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-02-11

8
the best. absolutely-only. The bes. that the
| sectional, commercial and personal inter
ests and passions in that immortal conven-
ton could agree upon; and no is inexcEsa-
by ignorant VINO is not aware that no
body Of men ever more plainly displayed
the workings OF these interests aud cas-
sjons. Every clause was dets.ee-every
section was a battle felC.
We do them no real honor Hherl va shut
ourselves up in the work they CID Tor rs.
Taking them and their work a. .ne3:- true
value, we find more than enough. TO WON
der at and revere. Wha. these nen did is
giorious-what their song and gre-dsons
haye dane ia better yet an Kindred fold
Our domain is vaster thar ..e5Ts; onr needs
are greater than theirs or domestic and
foreign relations are more colapieI than
TIERS; our notions concerning the nation's
destiny are more clear tnsn theirs; our
CONSCIOUSNESS and consc.en.-;o7sneSs con-
cerLing the worth and rights of man IN Sc
are more intelligent ano more profound
than theirs our ability 20 81. g :see course
and full embodiment to the grand IDEAS of
the declaration and preamble Of lie Con-
stitntion. is more nearly perfec. than theirs;
and these things cannot he doubted unless
81
national existence during the teachings Of
our present war, and affirm tina, the Lord
OF all Is letting the world 20 backwards,
rather than leading it forward. The ma
tional life must and-eirce God and not the
Devil, rules-will be higher, purer, t.uer
ye.; out even now it is aramped in some
OF lis manifestations by the limiting letter
OF its organic law. The Constitution az
1t is" is too good for traitors 70 enjoy or
treason to oyerturn, but the guilt and the
woes of destiny untitled await the people
u they long and labor not for the Const;tu-
ton as i ought to be. s-
Bankruptcy, banking and currency, po-
iygamy and divorces, judicial jurisdiction,
and the whole matter Of the relations be-
tween the National and State Governments
are momeAtous questions, the solutions Of
which are dangerously chaotic and require
definite statement. Blu. the question Of
slavery. above all, ought, and, sooner or
in clear, unquestionable statement Of its
Constitutional status. That the question
OF slavery was, at the formation Of the Con-
stltuilon, most difficult and dangerous
ana that It was hoped time would remove
Inc dIhculty by its gradual but sure ex-
slnction, ls most certain. That the found
ers OF the Government could Tot foresee
the pitch OF power and pride il woaldeysnt-
ually reach. is certain. Tina. they shirked
the question rather than settled i, is rro-
ven by the contrary inter probation Of what
they wrote. Pro-siavery aid an;ialayery
men have affirmed it 70 be pro-s.ave-y;
and pro-siayery and anti-slave-y men tave
affirmed it to be anti-slave-y. P.opagan-.
dists and compromises se.iz-e lie fos-
iner opinion to be- true-s.e-ee.ers made
OF the latter opinion topic for .'dissolu-
ton" bluster. With bali .ne prescience
ascribed TO them, our fathers would have
written differently. Either .hey were I'M
worthy al hxx, ~ a
not for slavery as il is. but eas j. was be-
cause but for the now general in:e-preta-
ton given to their words, and the Heyer-
ence paid to 1t because believed 10 be COR
rect, slavery. would have never domineer-
cd SO long over q freedom loving people
strong enough to fight Us four wears or
more .--=z. y y = = - - = = 7==-
{ There are Inconsistencies snG wrongs be-
gotten Of slavery which are shame to any
nation-and to our own az TO none other.
The personal and political position, Of tho
negro IL thing that cries for detinisive
settlements settlement, 100. :hst shall
not leave room for the cor.ipaan of the
just scorn and sneers Of the Christisni1ed
werld. EE HnO disco onssscs-tne terms Of
the Constitution secure to white men free
transit and sojourn within The national
borders. But look at Illinois, with an inn
pudence as amazing, a. insulting to all love
"a "a uA0AA0OA 0UOs bOSA4OCs SG0S12uk 4I14lN
enforcing sach laws against eolored Amer
leans as would have seemed almost too
cruel to be applied to Jews and heyetics by
the faithful sons Of the Cn1-cn OF former
centuries.
This very day, and according 10 Tie Con-
stitnttOn, the question whether millions Of
human beings shall be free, with al. the
fullness Of meaning Of the blessed word, or
slaves, with the remedies curse tnet werd
implies, depends upon the de35sicn CT the
Supreme Cour.--a thing mat g % r8ver
meant any set of Justices ander Heaven
TO decide; thing the DECISION At which
could not possibly come within me pre-
sc:ibed duty Of any set Of Justices; even
the Constitutional status OF slavery dearly,
honestly, in inflexible common sense
terms, IS set forth in the Constitution ;t-
self God be thanked tina. j. IS net at all
probable, but It IS possible, that another
fancy may curse the country that gives
him birth and the bench whe5eon he sits
and to these millions rpon whom-af:er
long sitting and waiting IN Ebe valley Of
the shadow Of their maDhood's eeatb, the
Clay star OF a "war measure; Proclamation
has shined--say that "hlask men have no
rights white men are bound % respect
The work Of the fathers was done tc lit
tie purpose If it has not made the children
wiser than they-better be tran they cut
Of motive TO bring movement, o..i Of power
to evoke progress, out CT soancless cApa-
bili,ies to evoke glorious results. The his-
tory OF almost ninety years, and the less
sons OF the past four years, have been ssdly
lost upon nation Of trifie-sf1f we have
learned nothing concerning The strength
and the weakness OF our Goyerament. ii
s. The Constitution icGs aaeGc So ce,9 t'.Gs ue
can make IL better. 70 tes.. j; mp Or tratnple
il underfoot would be as mad az fer one TO
hang himself because his body was not
perfect in form, nor invariably healthfui IN
functions. Nay, le.us hold On 10 j: proud
ly, to .t-not to its defects sna omissions,
however. For old problems re.sppear in
more difficult io!ms-Eew scia.ions are
called for-new principles .ec:.:-e state~
ment-newl emergencies a-.se. s'HupaG-
a,sns est errGrc," let us never ,ttseet, and
let US correct, not perpe,uate lie 4ew errors
Of those who established OR organic Jaw.
II is no wiser now than i. ,sss d Gid sc put
new wine into old bottles The Ultimate
best is not yet attained. LIE: ~ ooh ear
nestly. hopefully forward as t,ecomes
a fpo