Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-01
The LegisIature--what should it do!

The Leglslature--M nat shOuld II 40
To tie Editor ortle Duly lSote Sentinel:
These are times when the whole people seen
to feel called upon to participate, both by actor
and counsel, in public affairs, and too, will TAKE
the liberty of expressing an opinion.
On the 4th March last, Mr.. Lincoln was in
augurated President of the United States-he wa:
then put in possession of the sword and purse oil
the nation; and the Constitution and laws of the
country instructed him, and still instruct hin
when and how to use them. In portion of the
States of the Union he met with resistance IN
executing laws and opposition to his government
He surveyed the extent OF that opposition, and
made call for the necessary force to overcome
it. This call was promptly respOndedtO He has
made no further call; but should it become
necessary he will, and it will be as promptly
answered as was the first.
But what 90 we now behold? Why. the Leg
isature of Indiana, assuming that Mr.. Lincoln is
derect in the discharge of his duty, is proceeding
to raise and arm legions of soldiers, involving
the State in millions of debt, to be paid by a
groaning people in time to come, and for what
/ ask again, for what? Is it to repel invasiOni
Invasion by whom! Who threatens TO invade
Indiana? Can the armies of the Southg Does
any body in his senses believe that that weak
Confederacy embracing in it, it is true, many
stout hearts, and vigorous brains, but without a
navy, without revenue, without an army, with
but a comparatively meagre population and that
distracted by domestic discussions, and standing
upon the crater of now rumbllng vOlcanOe
can overthrow Mr.. Lincoln's $4,000 men, and
then abandon her own territory 70 invade the
North? ] undertake to say that an old woman
with broom stick can drive from Indiana any
Southern army that will ever set foot upon her
soil. But if, by and by, we are 10 have DESC
lating war in the North, (when, ] would like
some one to say,) then in all conscience let us
reserve our resources for that period and not
sduander them now without occasion. But is il
said that there NAV be raids from Kentucky and
Missouri along the border?
To this answer, if SO in any event, to repel
them is the purpose of the six regiments raised in
the State by Mr.. Lincoln. What is to be done
with them? And if they are to be stationed in oul
border towns, why need the State add an addi-
tional increase forcei And if they not to be
so stationed it is because Mr.. Lincoln deems il
inexpedient that forces should be thus located
Oregon, Missouri and Kentucky are now in the
Union, and struggling to remain in it, and so i:
Western Virginia; and why, during such state
of things, should Indiana thus insult them by ex-
pressing her distrust and aid in driving them into
the Southern COnfederacy, by what would amount
almost to a declaration of war-tO an invitation
to passage at arms? Why, when the General
Government has undertaken the matter of the
/ say, not leave it to her judgment and discre
ton, instead of precipitating evils by premature
action i'm the excitement of the hour! If the
General Government was guilty OF neglecting the
public defense and protection, different ques
ton would arise. But, as it is, | say LET TIL
STATE DELAY till necessity demands the expendi
Iure of her millions. l might pursue this
subject, but j will not. know i shall eros
the wishes of political and personal friends
IL. Ior@ 10
as well as to what they believe discharg
of duty in the premises, i'll what | have ever
now written, and regret to do so but / believ'
that the proposed action of the Legislature piec
of folly, which it is better should be preventet
now than that its bad consequences should b
long suffered when too late to be remedied. NJ.
position will not be misunderstood. 1t Is to be
conceded that the general Government mder
stands the case, knows its duty of conducting tia
war; and is competent to discharge it; and be
lieve that no emergency now exists justifying tn
proposed action of the State Legislature in gOn:
beyond and possibly athwart the policy of tn
Government. When it does arise, if it eve
should, which do not believe, trust no son o
Indiana will be ready to meet it more prompt
and theoretically than the writer of this. lie
the Legislature adjourn for month. They ca
be brought together in a day, if necessary. Event
are transpiring-a few days may make it mani
lest W All ttldt HcE pfOpOotu nasty "SoiOh WIN
folly. THERE is NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. Becaus
the Southern States are raising soldiers is II
excuse, because they have no general governmer
to raise them for general purposes. Wa
the action of Maryland. Western Vii
ginia, Kentucky and Missouri place gene
Gus confidence in the administration at Washing
ton, that it is doing and will do its duty. Is ii
creating of these State debts to open up, by an
by, the corrupt scenes of former times for the
assumption by the Federal Government? Bette
as general rule, let that government contra
her own debts in the first place. Is not ii
general government trying to preserve the Union
Must there not be a head guiding as unit tn
measures by which she undertakes to accomplis
it, Is not this new a war to suppress sep;
rate State action? Shall we. too, take the bus
ness out of the hands of the Federal Government
and, perhaps, cross its purposes? Speaking,
this hasty article. for myself alone, and not wis
ing to place you or any one in a situation of pc
sible responsibility for the result of it, subscrib
with earnest wishes for the best possible welfal
of the State, my sign manual,
8 F. PERKINS