Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-22
The Position oE Northern Conserva-
ftVcS.

ne Position cf Northern COnserVa-
tiycs.
There appears to he misconception to some |
extent throughout the country, but especially in |
the Southern States, respecting the position and
present views OF the conservative men of the |
North, on the issues now attracting the public |
attention. The tone of the Southern press ind- |
Gates strong feeling of disappointment ap-
prosching to Indignation, on account of what
they are pleased to term the desertion by North |
ern men heretofore friendly to the South and ad
vOcates of their rights, OF the cause which they
have upheld and endeavored to promote; and the |
fatal error is committed of cOnfounding all who
do not noC stand by the Confederate States, with
those whose sectional policy has largely contri- |
Suted to existing dificuIties This is the mistake
of the South at the present moment, and in the
flush of Indignation attendant upon the COM
mencement of hostilities. At the North mis-
take no less grOundless is made in many quarters,
by assuming that all whose duty prompts them
TO standby the Government in the present crisis,
thereby endorse the action of the Administration
III all respects, and give in their adhesion to the
doctrines of the Republican party.
We have no authority to speak for Others a
matter involving individual opinion, and the re-
marks which we shall make upon these subjects
are to be understood illustrating the course
which has governed and will continue to govern
our action, rather than that of other. We have
well meaning but impulsive men formerly iden-
titled with the conservative sentiment of the
n Orth, appear TO have new revelations, and to
have become more ultra than their former politi
cal adversaries, the masses of sound patriotic and
true friends OF the Union are animated by the
same purposes and guided by the same views of
duty which have controlled our action throughout
the trying scenes which have lately agitated the
country. We have seen occasion to change
our opinions, maturely formed and long advocated
respecting the great questions involved in the re-
latlons between the North and the South but the
important change in the attitude of the parties to
these relations, opens up new line of duty, AMI
presents considerations not hitherto connected
with the subject
1t may be difficult for the South to appreciate
and understand the changed relations to which we
refer, and Judging from the reproaches in which
they indulge, think they have failed, in the
moment of excitement and of disappointment,
adequately to comprehend them. These
proaches have been less frequently leveei AZ Us
than others, but so far intended for this journal
we accept them, as we have the similar language
of menace and denunciatiOn from the North as
evidence of passionate ebulliton which will cool
down, and perhaps altogether disappear, when
/ time shall have worked its certain cure of this
and similar evils. The duty of conservative men
everywhere at the North. meantime is clear and
well defined, viz-to perform the obligations of
citizens, Obedient to the laws and loyal to the
Constitution of the Government under which they
live avoiding identification with rebellion on the
one hand, and preserving, on the other, distinct
! line of demarcation between their principles and
those of the sectiOnalsts with whom they have
ever been at variance.
| While the Southern States remained in the
Union and claimed their rights members there
OF, il was in the power of the conservative men
at the North to cooperate with them in promo
ting those principles of justice to all sections
which form the ground work of our Government.
We were enabled to urge upon the people Of the
country the vital Importance Of according to the
slave States all the rights TO which they we're con-
sttutionally entitled. and to press upon Congress
and upon the people of the free States the solemn
obligation which rested upon them to cease war
ring upon the institutions of the slave States, and
to leave questions arising under the disputed
powers to the proper judicial tribunals. The Op
position encountered by the friends of the Union
and the Constitution in the Northern States has
been bitter and unyielding, far exceeding in bit
terness any which those for whose behalf they
labOred were compelled to meet in their sec
ton, but they met it manfullv, sometimes with n
measure of success, sometimes with oyerwhelm-
ing defeat. Whether successful or defeated, they
preserved their consistent attitude uphoders OF
the Constitution and defenders of the rights OF
the people in every section of the Union.
The election, while it resulted in the choice OF
sectional President and thus destroyed the
hopes of the extreme men of the South, on the
other hand furnished to the Union men of the
! North hope and encouragement. Ii restored the
conservative majority in Congress, and thus
placed it in their power arrest so far as legis-
lation is concerned, the abolition movement, and
it rendered powerless any undertaking to which
, the other departments of the Government might
be moved, i'm futherance of the sectional policy
: Thus the conservatives of the North congrat
ulated themselves OH n decided advantage Sc
cured and looked forward to the final success o.
these principles of equality and constitutional
right which the South have so earnestly demand
] ed. Thus far the action and policy of the Stat,
, rights men in the South and the conservative
e Union men in the North had followed the sam,
direction. But at this important juncture furthe
cooperation rendered impossible, by tn
preciptate action of the South, i'm severng tn
? bonds which united them with the other State,
S and setting up an independent Government
\ They struck out for themselves path which w
], could not be expected to fOllew-which we coul'
{ not follow if we would, and would not if W
: could. However we may have sympatzed wit
i their wrongs and labored to redress them, how
ever willing we may have been and were to le
Y them 90 in peace, since harmony and good fel
y lowshp could not be maintained while the con
d nection remained, the commencement of hos
II tilities between the sections settled the questio
against our rover to go further, with those who's
y rights tothin the Union we have SO earnestly la
J. bored to establish.
A state of war supposes but two classes c
Il people-friends and foes. Our creed has alway
II been to stand by the constituted authorities
sustain the Government acting through its legal
d and constitutional way. When a war betWee
J. the government and those who rebel against i
authority is commenced, by the laws of this an
,r every other nation, would be regarded as ira
g tors, were we to espOuse the cause of the enem
,e and we have no idea of doing so in the presel
10 case. We can and do counsel justice, moder
D. ton and right; nay more, would prefer to s,
the States which have seeded allowed TO go the
or OWL way in peace, but we can give them no al
II 10 encouragement, no hope, beyond the doubtf
D. and terrible consequences of war in which q
Or whole power of the Government and people W
IN be directed to their discontinue and defeat. Tn,
l. rejected our counsel for moderation and furth
appeal to the people,-thus they have place
IN themselves beyond the possibility of assistant
to from the conservative sentiment of the Mort
Ill and not, ought not to complain, if that sem
nd ment and those who represent il fail them in
Ae dreadful an emergency.
It There is tendency in many quarters to tai
er advantage of the strong outburSt of PATRIOTS
v. among Democratic and conservative citizens
lie the Northern States, by representing the unit
sentiment in support of the Government a.
tn endorsement of the policy and principles of 4
Republican party. Nothing can be more uniu
ne or more mpolitc-nothing better calculated
ii, lead to complications and create divisions al
heartburninss, which during the war should,
IS, possible, be avoided. We will not, howevt
pursue this subject further than TO say that, by
H. fair deduction. can our position, or that of a
x other Independent conservative man of the Nor
m be construct into an approval of the princip
he and policy of the party TO whose action. me
he than to any one cause, the may be fail
es, traced 1t is enough that support the Go
rel crnment in the maintenance of its power and d
'st nity and te'ense Of its soil without being held
lse sponsible for the blunders and the pernicio
principles of the dominant party.-N. Y. JO'
IN Of Commerce.
sh ~------
en-, AMERICAN ARMY AND KIFLEs.-Ihe Hte m
kets in our regular army have their grooves W
bo a twist of one turn in six feet, and decreasing
od depth from bTecch To muZZle. This makes I
ant cartridge little stiff to leave the muzzle. but
tSbo i IN ou this