Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-11
For the Daily State Sentinel.
Two Plans to Restore the Union and
Relieve us from Trouble at the End
of the War.

Relieve us from Trouble at the End
of the War.
l. Congress meets in three months. The Con-
sttution of the United States provides, by article
5, for its amendment in the following manner
one by which twelve amendments have already
been added to it-viz.: Congress may propose
amendments to the Legislatures of the States.
and they may adopt them; and when thus adopt
ed in two-thirds of the States, they become part
of the Constitution.
The Legislatures Of the States will be in scs-
sion at the same time with Congress, and can
Immediately adopt proposed amendments, remov-
ing the principle cause of the war, and furnishing
the true basis for harmony without any further
negotiation with rebels.
What amendments should Congress propose?
This question is easily answered.
At the last winter session Of Congress the
Southern members, (Mr. Powell OF Kentucky,
moving its appointment,) asked committee of
thirteen, before whom they laid their desired
amendments. Virginia called a peace conyen-
ton, before whom also the desired amendments
were laid. Kentucky called border State con-
ventiOn, before whom the desired amendments
were laid. The amendments all went to this
point that the South should be permitted to settle
WIFI their VI
\ United States, or in a part of them, from all
which the Philadelphia and Chicago platforms
threatened to exclude them.
Mr.. Crittenden's proposition covered all that
was required This right of settling in the terri
tories the South is Justly entitled to. This the
! Cincinnati platform solemSy affirmed.
Now. then, let the Congress, next winter, pro-
pose these amendments; let all the Northern and
border States adopt them. This will make TWEEN
tythree States, just enough to make the amend
ments a part OF the Constitution. The rebel
States will then have nothing to do but to lay
down their arms and find themselves in posses
/ sion of all their constitutional rights, and the
/ North will have no trouble in determining what
to do with a conquered South because it will al
ready be settled by the Constitution. The North,
the stronger party, can do this; she can afford
/ to be just, magnanimOus even, without humilia-
ton In so doing, she NAV feel that she, at least,
has done her duty. In the meantime, let the
war 20 vigorously on, gradually crippling the
South and showing her the utter hopelessness et
attempting to resist the established legal Govern
ment of the Union. and the absolute necessity. to
save her from being ground to powder, of adopt
| ing the amendments, and yielding loyalty to the
| legitimate Government Such course on the
part OF the North will open the door TO restora-
ton of good feelings between the sections after
peace is established, without which good feelings
/ tue DulOu NOulu De u CuIct Tdtbtf llldD u DltSS
ing.
The plan above proposed would be giving to
the South her rights in the Union, which all now
profess to be willing to do.
2. The second plan / propose is even shorter
than the first, and more appropriate. 1t is this
Let Mr Lincoln and the Republican party de-
clare in official and unofficial modes; let the Re
publican members of Congress s0lemnly resolve
that they will obey the laws and support the Con-
stitution Of the United States. as expOunded by
the judicial tribunals of the country constituted
/ for that purpose This will be Just tantamount
to the first plan. because the Supreme Court has
decided that the South has the right, under the
Constitution as it is, to settle in the common ter
ritOries with their slaves; and had not the Repub-
lcans declared they would not obey nor respect
that decision, the South would never have sece-
ded; and, if the Republicans will now, i'm some
authoritative mode, make the sincere declaration,
and act upon it. that they will respect the decision
of the Supreme Court on the territorial question.
and the South does not thereupon lay down her
arms, will agree to give what little property
possess to aid the Government in the war, and
will volunteer as private to fight till death or
victory relieves me from duty.
Can not the Republicans afford to do this much
for their countryr