The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-27
THE TIA WIZ Il \ 4
" e,l..ysslay. Muy Fl.


Wednesday,. Muy FL.
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THE STATE CONVENTION.
The invention sooi: to assemble at Des
Offices vii. doubtless, in accoraance with
custom, an 1aunce .ae cardinal principles
Of the Union party in the shape Of . plat
form. We trust that the members OF that
Convention will al once perceive The pro
priety OF combining their declarations to
those fundamental principles about which
there can be 40 disagreement among the
friends OF the Government. and not he i'll,
duced 10 make any committals ON behalf
of new and uncertain policies. at hae
We have carried the country with tri-
umphant success through the moet bloody
and stnrendous rebellion recorded in the
annals o. mankind. The Union purity has
done this, and is entitled and viii, in all
the future. enjoy the glory OF it. Our ban
ner has ha,i inscribed upon. it "OUR CoUS.
TRy-OrR WHOLE COUNTRY" For the !n-
tegrity and unity Of that country we have
struggled, aud fought, and conquered. To
mid us in this great contest We have had the
support Of men Of all past parties ard Of
no past parties. History viii award TO
eacht he credit his patriotism entities him
g..
But although. the military conflict il vir.
tually ended. tha contest OF principles out
Of which .hs rebellion sprung is not ended.
and it is just as necessary to keep the party
intact. rssolu.e, united, as it has been any
time in the past four years. Perhaps we
should better convey our ideas by saying
arbitrament Of the sword to another arena.
The military power having performed its
share CT duty the powers Of the civil
branches of the Government are to be in
yoked, and legislation must take the place
Of arms. a
What shall that legislation BET Shall it's
character be determined by the Convention
at Des Mo,ues, or stsll We trust to the dis
cretion and wisdom Of Congress2 The fact
II notorious that numerous, Intricate and
perplexipg ecestions have arisen cut OF the
Civil War. and the conditisu OF eacn re-
bel!icue State IL In scme degree nosnalous.
About each one Of these quesSlgns there IL
probably some difference ofc riaioc among
our best ard ableet friends. For example,:
there are at least . dozen theories about
the exact condition Of Stat. that has been
In rebellion. Among others Mr.. sumner
entertaining one view, Mr.. Chase another,
and the hate President Lincoln and Presi.
dent johnson another. Shall the Ccnven-
ton declare that we shall be Of Paul or
Apolloa. or rather shall We not stand upon
the vital principles that nde.lie the teach-
ings Of both? So, too, on the question Of
negro suffrage. There is no loyal man In
this State, We think. who would no: inf
nitely rather 60 to the polls with n patri-
otto colored man than with disloysi white
subject as we have on no other. We be-
ueve It will he necessary to give the ballot
to the cOlored man in the South, in order
for time 70 keep that region loyal to the
GovernMe Mt, and We hazard nothing when
We gay that euch ia the opinion Of every
member Of the Iowa Delegation ia Con-
Gress. But how it shall he done, when it
ahall be done, ard by whom 1t shall be
done, or through what Observation-Disclosures,
We are content to leave to them and to their
associates to determine. Had we any col
ored people in our midst and it were pro.
posed to cnaEge our State Constitution 30 %
60 bestow upon them the elective franchise,
we should anhesitatingly say that the Con-
vention should tske positive ground on the
subject. But we have not got the colored
population 10 vote nor the Ctn .titut.on
changed, .ad we have not got the money
In the treasury to pay the expenses ct q
Convention to settle question which, &c
1hr - this State is concerned, ia, and per.
haps will be for many yesrr, . mere eb-
straction. Hence the subject at amending
our Constitution il this respect n not moot
ID and viii not ke. II the question Of the
: negro ballot b not Of State interest or pol.
ICY, Why should State Convention called
60 nominate none but State omcers trouble
themselves about it9
We have iustauced but twp of the City
or more incidental political questions tha,
have sprcns from the suppression Of the
rebellion, and it will bs hardly necessary
20 illustrate further. The idea that wsssek
70 enforce Ii that tee friends Of the Union
havs need Of their strength and for the ex.
eecise Of all their wisdoul. We trust there
fore. they will not friteer away thei'
strength in the approaching canvass by the
discuseion Of immaterial issues. or by tax.
Ing sides ON questions about which there i,
aradical difference Of opinion among on,
own friends. In word. we would have
che STATE Convention con6ns the declara.
tish Of it, sentiments 70 questions Of statl
policy, and, - In the past. declare an IN.
Ainching devotion TO the National Consti.
tuition and Government, end an unf1inch
Ing support Of President johnson In hi
Efforts 70 uphold them. We would hav,
the members Of the Convention understand
that their party never stood in 80 grea
peril ~ at this moment:--that In union on
II - there strength and safety, and that Il
secure union they must ignore all new, Ill
f1iooata6 Or half understrsrn1 fhsrorioe anr