Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-23


Now if the Administration succumbs 20 the de-
mands of England. however conrteously it may
be worded 50 as to tighten the fan. after the JUS
fiication of the act Of Wilkes, It will be saying
TO the world that the entire energy and resources
of the nation are taxed TO the utmost in the effort
to preserve our nationality.
That the Administration viii yield its position,
we anticipate from the outgivings TO that effect
which have already appeared in the journals in its
interests. We will give one extract in evidence
thereof, and then, in the language Of the Presi-
dent, let the administration proceed in the
great task which events have devolved upon"
them, and calmly await the result The follow
ing appears in the Washington correspondence of
JoHS W. FoRSEY in his letter to his paper, the
Philadelphia Press, of last Thursday, which de-
veops the drift of the present current at the Ma
tional Capital: ~
England knows she is strong. This is our hour
Of weakness, and she may make it her opportuni-
" to strike She can now be arrogant and in
sultDg, for nov her arrogance and insult can not
be resented. The Northern coast is exposed to
her large and powerful navy; our towns are not
fortified, and she may bring desolation upon our
people and our manufacturing interests. All this
she knows. Her ornaments are large and well
appointed; her army has been increased almost to
a war footing; she is prepared TO throw large
bodies OF troops into the Eastern and Northern
portion of our Republic; Canada is filled with
armed men, and the frontiers of Canada are
simply so many garrisons. Our commerce is
at her mercy In the Mexican Gulf there is a
large British feet, which could render our newly
gained strongholds on the Southern coast unten-
able, and accomplish the destruction of the brave
men at Port Royal, Hatteras, and Santa Rosa
Island. She may break our blockade, and en-
tireIy nullfy our expeditionary operations. With
the Potomac virtually blockaded. and an i'm
mense army under Beauregard in rear, Wash
ington would probably fall. With the Chesa-
peake Bay open to any navy that may choose TO
enter; with disloyal population in Maryland,
with enemies along the Virginia and Atlantic
coasts, England could precipitate fearful series
of disasters, and, perhaps, with the aid of the
Southern armies. turn the bloody tide of war
upon the Northern States.
Ii NAV be in view of all these grave consider
ations and the sad necessities OF the case, that,
in order to avoid war which could only en1 in
our discontinue, the Administration may be com
PEELED TO concede the demands of England, and,
perhaps release MeSsrS. Mason and StideH God
forbidl-but in a crisis like this we must adapt
ourselves To stern circumstances, and yield every
feeling Of pride to maintain our existence If
this contingency should ever arive-and am
only specializing upon a dIsagreeable possibility
then let sweaI-nOt only to ourselves, but
our children who come after us-to repay this
greedy, insolent and cowartly Power with the
retribution of a just and fearful vengeance Ii
England, in our time of distress, makes herself
our foe, and offers to become our assassin, We
will treat her as a foe when we can do so un-
trammeled and unmenaced by another enemy