The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-03-25
The 1leasage Of 0overnor Brown


with defense Of the State against the at-
tacks Of the press for permitting Sherman
to march unmOlested through the State. i
He says she was abandoned to her fate
and neglected by the Confederate authati-
ties, and while her able. bodied ssons were
held tor the defense of other States, and
were denied the privilege. Of striking an
homes, Georgia was compelled to rely Oh.
~ upon few old men and boys. S
He claims that the golden opportunity
was lost for overthrowing Sherman. Had
be been resisted from the start, forced to
fight and exhaust his ammunition, his sur
render would have been certain.
He recommends the establishment OF q
militia system, 10 be in no case turned
over to the Confederate Government, but
retained for home defense. He says there
are only 400 e1empts in the State, and
most OF these are over age.
He recommends the passage Of a law au-
:horizing the impressment OF provision In
the hands of persons under bond to the
Confederate Gcvernm ent who refuse to sell
their surplus 70 the INDECENT families Of
soldiers. s
He~ complains tina. Confederate agents
can lock up the corn-cribs aud smoke
houses against the State purchasing agents.
Referring to the Penitentiary, he says,
that more than half the convicts released
to igh. have since deserted. He recon-
mends the passage Of q law prescri bing
The penalty Of death on conviction OF rob-
berry, horse stealing or burglary.
Ae opposes the arLning Of the slaves, be-
neylpg them TO be more valuable as agri-
cultural labOrers than they could be sol
diers. They dc not wish to go into the ar-
my, and the principal restraint now upon
them is the fear that If they leave the enc
my will make them fight Compel them
70 take up arms, and they will desert by
by thousands.
Whatever may be our opinion Of their
normal condition or interests, we cannot
expect them to perform deeds Of heroism
when fighting 70 continue the enslavement
Of their wives and children, and it il not
reasonable to demand it of them. When
ever We establish the fact that they are q
military people, We destroy our theory that
they are unit to be free. When We arm
the slaves we abandon Slavery.
he complains Of the usurpati0ns Of the
Congreas in levying dispropor-
tionate taxation, and says that much of the
most Objectionable legislation 10 imposed
upon the country by the votes Of men who
act without. respOnsibility to constituencies
out Of the army. ~ t8
He takes the Government to task for q
great variety Of alleged abuses, sEch az il
legal impressmente, afreets of citizens
without authority by provost guards, the
passport system. and the partiality of the
Government TO men of wealth, who are
given nominal positions which keep them
out Of the army, while poor men and boys
are forced into the ranks. 4
He animadvefts severely on thegeneral-l
ship Of the President, and traces his mill
tary career during the war. He says: Our
Government is u military despotsm, drift
ing into anarchy, and If the present policy.
il persisted In il must terminate in recon
struction, with or without subjugation.
Gov. Brown states that he is utterly op-
posed to both but If he favored either he
would give his earnest support to the poll
icy of the President, ~ the surest mode Of
diminishing our armies exhausting our
Resources, breaking the spirit Of our people,
and driving them in despair 70 seek ref
uge from worse tyranny BY placing them.
selves under .. Government they l0athe
and deteet. fssA 8ss 80
For the cure Of existing evils he recon-
mends the repeal Of the conscription act,
and q return to the constitutional mode OF
raising troops, by acquisitions upon the
States, the Observance Of good faith with
the soldiers by paying them promptly, the
abandonment OF Improvements and secret
sessions Of Congress, no moro represents
ton; without q constituency, and finally
taking from the President his power a.
Commander.in.C Chief.
Me calls for Convention Of the STATES
the following language: my destiny
is linked with my country. II We sue
coed / am free man. II by the Oboti.
macy tand weakness Of our rulers we fail,
q common ruin awaits us all. The niRht
IL dark the tempest howls; the ahip -
dashed with turbulent waves the helms
man 10 steering to tho whirlpool; yet our
remonstrances are UNDECIDED. We must
restrain Rim, or the crew must sink to.
gether, and all be buried in irrecoverable
ruin"