The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-06
ear Future POlicy-What shall be
Done with the Rebels:

O000 Win inc 8SWSu0
In the midst Of the Wild storm of 1851,
when the powers of darkness seemed ar.
rayed against our Government-there were
pAthixing with the rebels In arms, who
dared not take arms themselves. Poor
innocents-they were opposed to coercion
the Government could not be sustained
BY FORGIVE could never conquer the reb-
els-no free people could BE- conquered !
Among others, We met . lady from the
North, who in conversation, seemed TO
aympathise With the rebels: We said
What makes you sympethise with the
80 them get their Tights." "Yes, Madam.
agree with you perfectly. I hope they
viii get their rights, to the last iota, and 90
far - am concerned, they shall have then,
all" We have not changed our views in
the slightest particular. But there il some
difference Of opinion % to what are called
the rights ofa people in rebellion against
CURED which make il necessary this ques-
ton should Do settled: These are the con-
quest Of the rebels, and the death of Lin.
coin. The conquest Of the rebels 10 com
plete. Every tragedy ends with the death
Of the principal hero, and 30 the death of
Lincoln closes the tragedy. What remains
to % done, however great in magnitude, is
The rebellion IL morally, physically, intel
lectually dead. It 10 . mistake to suppose
that it, carcass can be Of a. much impor.
lance - ito life. A great many political
minds have been laboring with the idea Of
''Teconstruction." Most happily, they have
brought forth nothing yet, but sound and
fury. The very term they use shows their
inter confusion OF ideas. The term 'sYecon.
struction' does not apply to the case
Whether the rebel States are ''States'' or
are Territories" they cannot be recon,
ettucted, for the Government, the Cons.i.
Aution and tie laws extend over them In
the one case they are to be governed as Ter
ritoriee, and in the other, to take part in
the Government. The common sense of
the matter is that 'ce ne.st adopt our policy
exdetY TO TIE state Of facts. We cannot DC
anything else. We cannot get beyond these
facts: What are they? Aud what do they
require? In the 6r5N' place, the ablest
statesman Of our county, John Ounce
Adams,) in his speech on the annexation
Of Texas, when he was surrounded and
threatened by the dogs Of chivalry.1 a.
nouncsd the startling proposition, that tie |
could abolish sloueyy; for. Tho war noweI
E1s . Constitutional power, implanted in |
- Constitution for The defence 81 the M.
e3o0, and By majority, could do whatever |
that defense required. He Was then nm.
ing shout slavery, and limited therapplica-
ton to that subject. Never were people |
more startled, than were the alave aristoc- |
racy BY that announcement. They tremb-
lea for moment. but in the height Of war
houn was then Ia the ascendant. Hin doc
trtne Of State Sovereignty, Of slavery % q
humane, christian Institution, Of COTTON as
dominating ever commerce, became sub.
stantially the doctrines Of the Democratic
party which ruled the country. All was
II their power, and they went on to annex
Texas, hlibuster in Nicaragua, and claim
But We cannot stop for political history.
Mr.. Adams announced the war power as
supreme for the defense of the country
BUTT was not merely applicable to slavery.
Il n applicable to any subject where force
= necessary to defend the country. Hence
the war power does not end withthe aboli-
tasn Of slavery, nor with the surrender of
= hostile army. 1t ends only when the
mentioned the necessity Of abolishiDg
Blavery, Of raising negro troops, snd Of
raising taxes and men sufficient to meet
the emergency. But when peace is secured
the war power ceases, except SO lar rs is
necessary 10 maintain peace, secure the
and execute the laws. The
Law martial ceases within the legitimate
States. But. what are legitimate States
and how far the law martial is to be exc
cuted over those which ara not, is for Con-
Rress to determine-that is, this question is
20 be settled, as the war has been carried
on, by the American people. Il is publ
lie opinion which will speak in the public
policy.
Toe first great question ia not hew the !
rebel States are to come into the Union.-i
What practical matter is it if they don't
n r. - III A.
less that We should invite lun atios aud cut
hroats into our homes? Amiable Mr., Lin.