Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-04


worth, or bow much we were willing to concede
Of disputed points, to save it. A false pride, or
what was worse a determination 10 hold on TO
political power at the expense of the safety OF the
Government, prevented them from either settling
the difficulties themselves, or submitting the
question OF settlement TO the people in some form
by which the popular will could be made known
We drifted into civil war. The story OF the
initiation of this war will some time be written.
Ii Is not my purpose 70 speak of it now. When
IL did come the people of both sections OF the
country sprang TO arms No man could doGbt
the patriotic impulse that prompted our people as
one man, disregarding all minor differences of
opinion, in the hope of saving the country by the
sword from dismemberment and ruin. after the
politicians had refused TO save il by the arts of
peace. The signal whistle of Roderick Dhu was
not more promptly answered by his clansmen
than has been the call of the President for volur-
teers to defend and II possible save the Govern
ment, and since war has commenced IN my judy
ment selfprotsction and lfdefense require
that we should not lay down our arms While the
South is armed we too must maintain hostile
attitude. But will war settle the questions about
which we have differedG Let the President an
swer. quote from his inaugural address.
"Can aliens make treaties easier than friendsr
Can treaties be more faithfully enforced between
aliens than laws among friendsl Suppose you go
to war, you can not fight always, and when, after
much loss on both sides and no gain on either,
you cease fighting, the old identical questions as
to terms of intercourse are again upon you"
What then are we to do? Let our armies be
preceded by propositions of settiement-let the
solve branch proceed the arrows OF death" be
true to the emblems of your country glory. But
it may be asked are you willing to treat with
rebels with arms in their hands? do not pro-
pose to send terms to that class. do not suppose
that any terms short of recognition of the South
ern Coniederacay wOuldbe accepted by those who
are at the head of affairs in the South, and / am
not a disunonist, either peacefully or otherwise.
The leaders of the Southern rebellion have staked
their all upon the hazard and must stand the cast
of the die With them it must prove a successful
revolution or an ignominious grave.
But apprehend that every true patriot desires
to see a reconstruction of this Government upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution, and
that this is OF ought be the purposes of this war;
and not the unconditional subjugation of the
Southern States. And the FUNSTON that ad-
dresses itself to us is how can that be done? /
believe that it is possible to do by holding up
the hands of the Union men of the South, and the
best mode of doing that is to settle for ever the
questions that divide us. Let ''the Constitution
say" what their rights are and what weare willing
to concede; for when the war is over 1.-THE old
identical questions of intercourse are again upon
us" And this we should do the more reldily
as all they demand, if conceded, could not in
jure US.
But again may be asked, are there any Union
men in the South to whom terms can be offeredi
On this subject, can only quote from the Presi-
dents message to the extra session of Congress,
delivered On the 9th of July last. He says: at
may well be questioned whether there is to day a
majority of the legally qualified voters of any
State except South Carolina in favor of dsunion. "
This is subject upon which the President ought
to be informed. And if he is correct, why are
their voices hushed? The reign of terror which
is said to exist there, may be one cause, but a
more potent one is that "the old identical ques-
tons remain, like so many wounds, to bleed
whenever new agitation shall open them" And
until they are closed up forever. the Union men
of the South must melt away before the fiery heat
of war And as time passes, the hope of recon
struction VII give way before fear of being sub
jugated, until the South will present an undivided
front to ou invading armies and then all hopes
of a reunion are gone forever Let us urge upon
those who control our affairs, the necessity of
adopting some definite plan of reconstruction by
settling these 'old identical questions" and free
the mind from doubt as to the future fate of our
Government As for the rebellion itself, not
withstandine it is the child of sectional strife, it
is without Justification or excuse. 1t has no war
rant in our Constitution or form of government.
No government ever yet provided for its own dis
solution. Ours did pot-and all the evils COM
planned of could have been better settled within
the Union than by rebellion revolution. But
we must treat it as an existing and terrible real
ity--aud our judgment ought to be unclouded by
passion.
We are told that must give up our party
or in the eloquent language OF the lamented
Douglas, ave must sacrifice party organizations
and platforms upon the altar of our country
Let those who call upon us TO do this, set US the
example. If the advice of the dead whom they
now quote had been followed by them at an err
lier day, the great calamity that is now visiting
our country would have been avoided.
What have they done to entitle them to our
confidence? In what single act of the civil adj
ministration have they shown any liberality to-
wards us? Can it be expected that party that
refused to save the country from the horrors of
civil war for fear of losing power, viii, do any
thing now but what the promptings of a selfish
and exclusive policy demandg Even the Execu-
tive Counci is not made up of that material that
is likely to inspire confidence in the honesty,
much less in the ability of members of which it
is composed. l may well leave this subject to
the Republican press of the country as much
more able to do justice to it than / or any other
Democrat
1t is said and with truth, that Democrats have
received commissions in the army, and | can say
with equal truth that many more in proportion
have gone into the ranks. In all of this | am
well pleased. am glad that our army has with
in it so much sound, union loving conservatism;
but still this furnishes no reason why We should
strike the Gag of our party and quietly submit
that our affairs shall remain in incompetent
hands.
The advent of the Republican party into pow
er, has been followed by unmixed evil to our
country. "Where're they move in anger, des-
oation tracks their progress. Where're they
pause in amity affection mourns their friendship
and am 10 be told that patriotism requires me
to desert the banner of my party that have fol-
lowed from my youth, and throw down the stand
ard that have carried in many a well-fought
political field, for the uncertain good that is to
come out of union with the Republican party
on any terms.
My friends, for one am not prepared for this,
nor is it the feast TO which you have been invited
Rather let us stand by our organization, and the
principles of our party-plant the Democratic
standard anew and invite all who wish well OF
their country to rally around il, and when its
principles are again triumphant, we may expect
peace and union once more. But let us do
this as good and loyal citizens, let us abide
by our laws, and submit to our rulers unGer
the Constitution until we can change them
according to the Constitution. For myself, | am
law abiding man. My Government can make
nc law under the Constitution that am not will
ing to obey while it remains a law: but | shall
claim and assert the RICH. to discuss that law and
vote for its change or modification as often as my
right as citizen will enable me to do. Nocry oil
home traitor or home treason will turn me aside
Al. - - 49,
cry of home traitor? There are no traitors in In
diana, or if any Turk in our midst, they are to be
found in that small band who have advocated
and may still be in favor of secession, peaceable
or otherwise, and they are so few in numbers and
insignificant in influence that it is better to LEI
them hide in the dark than to drag them Into the
light.