Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-11-01
THURSDAY MORNING, oCT. p, 1853
Popular Opinion-Our Fusion Con
gressmen.

/ StCSSthth
Last year the black cloud of AbolitionisI
swept over the entire North. and Indian
which had been before regarded as the trues
enemy to fanaticism in the Union, felt il
sweeping blast. Aided by Know Nothin
delusion and hypoeritical temperance appeal.
it, for day, triumphed. Based as the part
was which upheld it, upon anti-republica
and mischievous principles. it could not liv
long enough even to write its own autObiOg
raphy. So soon as the sober-second though
of the people could be brought to bear upol
it, it was discarded as a political ;eleH,en
holding no principle in common with thos'
held by the mass Of the people. Its con
demnation did not surprise us, for it is an oil,
maxim, that cheat and luck can neve
thrive"
During the past canvass the orators and ed
itors of the opposition ignored .pearly all the
otherisslsss sare lhats the slavery s.aes
ton, and, as 4 consequence, democratic edi.
itors and speakers were compelled to mee
them mainly upon this issue. 1t was con-
celed fact before the election, that the prin-
ciples of the Nebraska Bill were the princi-
pal themes involved in the issue of the con-
test. The Journal Of this city went SO, far
as to say that it was the main issue. And
what was the result. A State which had
but twelvemonth before, under the influ-
ence of Know Nothing drill, and the great.
est Misrepresentation of the Nebraska act,
recorded its verdict against the Democracy,
and elected but two democratic members of
Congress out of eleven, and brought into
power an opposition State ticket 10y 5000
majority, now records its condemnation of
abolitionism by giving the State to the de-
mocracy by over l8, 600.
Yetin the face of these facts, the Journal
has the affrontery to assert that there was no
National issue made in this contest. Ii is
most certainly true that its party presented
nothing but sectional issues, but whilst it did
this, the democratic party boldly advocated
doctrines purely national, and we take pride
in saying that they were endorsed by the
Union-loving patriots of Indiana
The,Jon7lal further claims, in am advisory
article to the Anti-Nebraska Congressman,
that they should be governed and controlled
by the election Of 1854, and that the popular
expression of 1886 should be ignored and
counted for naught. 1t says that the issue
upon which these Congressman were elected,
was Opposition to the Nebraska BILL If
this be true, will it please inform rs what it
thinks of the vote ofthis fall, by which every
Anti-Nebraska Congressman, save one, has
been condemned? Geo. g. Dunn's district,
is against him by 145O majority; Cumback' S
district has condemned him by 2630 Dlajori-
ty; Lucian Barbour's by 227O majority;
Scotts by 2450 majority, every county being
against him; Dan. Mace's by 1850 majority;
Collax's by about 1900 majority; and John
L. Pettifs by about 500 majority.
All these men owe their seats to acciden-
tai causes; to the temporary prevalence OF
error; to the crushing TO earth of truth, which
has risen again; to demagogical appeals made
to popular prejudice by corrupt and design
ing politicians, and not by candid and rational
discussion; by the greatest fraud ever perpe
trated upon our country, through which the
unwary elector was deceived into sworn
membership with secret tricksters; aud by the
influence of political preachers from pulpits,
where their insidious and plausible blows al
Democracy could not be answered.
When the cloud of prejudice and fanati
cism lad cleared away, reason held hel
sway, and the people, under the influence o
the sober second thought, saw that the thins
called "Republicanism" was but mockery
OF the cherished name, and that they had
been deceived. And when the time arrived
10 give expression to their feelings, they did
it, in thunder tones, aud the result was the
complete condemnation of the Black Repub
lican faction.
Had these eight Anti Nebraska Ito use
polite term,) members of Congress been be-
fore the people this year, they would have
been as completely Fepudiated AS were thos'
who battled for the same principles in th,
contest for the county Offices 1t cannot b,
said that there was no principle involved il
the late canvass, for its important bearin;
upon the approaching Presidential election
was an admitted fact by the Fusion pres
and speakers.
We might, if we chose to follow the ex
ample set US last winter by the oppositioI
press, when they were so anxious to elect
United States Senator, advise these member
of Congress to resign their Offices in view o
their utter condemnation at home by the peo
ple We might argue, as was done by lead
ing Fusionista in the.last Legislature, and, i
we recollect Alright, by the Journal ITSELF tina
the voice Of the people at the late election
was the best expression of popular soye
reisnty" that could be given, and should b
obeyed. But we give no such advice, an,
make no sueh argument, for the simple reasoi
that it would be presumption to do so Who
ever heard of a Fusonist or a Know Moth
ing, who obtained high position by mean
of accidental causes, that did not continu
his grasping hold upon power and place 60
the sake of the loaves and fishes, if nothin,
else,) equal to that of the drowning MAJ
catching at straws?
But, whilst we do not anticipate that an,
one of them will resign the positions the,
have ingloriously attained, we have right /
ask, in behalf of the constituents whom the
misreprescnt, that they will not rise in thei
seats and claim that Indiana is an Abolition
State The member from this State VIII
does this, dishonors the position he holds
and disgraces the patriotic people who permi
him to continue in a position from whic
they have already virtually hurled him.