Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-18
The Reason why Democrats Oppose
Abolition.


contemporary remarks that Democrats oppose
abolition because its votaries have always de-
nounced the Constitution as ga league with hell"
and held disunion to be positive blessing. This
certainly is sufficient basis for the opposition of
any loyal man to political organization. But
there are other reasons. And irst-a citizen of
Illinois has no more right to NEEDLE with the
affairs of Kentucky, than a citizen of Kentucky
has with the affairs OF Illinois This is the true
constitutional doctrine, and must either live up
to it, or agree with Phillips, Garrison, and Gree
ley, that the Constitution is ga league with he'll,
and, therefore, acknowledge that fighting
to sustain a covenant with hell" Secondly
Kentucky is loyal State, but it is also slave
holding State She remains true to the Union
because she thinks her property and rights will
be safer there than in secession. Demoersts,
therefore. hold that it is the duty of the Govern
ment to protect kentucky i'm all her rights,
whether slavehold ng or other. and that every
really loyal citizen at the North will abandon
policy of emancipation, which will irritate the
Southern Unionists. aud may terrify them into
rebellion. We hold, as a party, that the Gov
and DIxoN's line already, and that any men who
advocate doctrines which tend to increase the
numbers Of those enemies must be opposed by
every constitutional means in our power, and
we believe that this is the sentiment of an enor-
nous majority of the American people.
Besi les this, we do not believe that in any
possible contingency benefit can be derived to the
Tr,1 h,-
reach the slaves to emancipate them in the cot
ton States, and, if We could, il is doubtful wheth
err they would not turn from US in alarm and use
their freedom in assaults upon their emancips
tors. Lastly-we do not know what can be done
with them in state of freedom. For all these
reasons for its Enthusiastically, its impr~cti-
cabiIity. and It's injustice to Southern Union men,
abolition is to be feared aud summed
We must keep faith with loyal Southerners
as we'll as loyal Northerners. There are indica-
tons that by proper policy against abolition
VIC may win back many men in the seeded
States, and so pave the way to a Reconstruction
of the Union In North Carolina the loyal sem
timent is awakening. So in Eastern Tennessee,
while Kentucky, Missouri. Maryland Western
Virgins and Delaware, all slave States, are gen
orally firm in the national cause. Shall we keep
the strength thus proffered US, and save the
Union. or by espousing an abolition policy throw
it away, and so permanently destroy the Union?
That is the simple question which the abolition
journals and leaders present to the country. Dem
ocrats say, the Union at all hazards. Do
everything 70 save il, except TO make dishonor-
able peace. Fight for il, and by exact constitu-
tional justice to all sections prove how sincere is
your devotion TO il. That is the position they
offer TO the people. and that position renders it
imperative upon them to declare political war
upon the radical aboitionists. Who of all parties
in the country, esteem their partisan dogmas of
more importance than the preservation of the
common heritage.