Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-30
The Policy of the war.

and over self confidence never can. Unseemly
shouts and self gloritcation, unmeanng prOphe-
sizes and fond coBeets can never penetrate the
granite walls which stand between and sue
cess.
No short and quick war, under present circum
stances can restore the Union as it was before
the success of the Republican party. We have
neither soldiers enough in the field, nor money
enough provided for to subdue by mere force six
millions of AnglO-Saxon men. To accomplish
that, if the work is ever done, is work of time
of years As malignant enemies. as destroyers,
| as subugators, the work can never be DONE We
may proclaim liberty to every slave south of Ma
sons and Dixon's line from the top Of the nation
al Capitol; we may apply the torch TO every
Southern house, and lay waste every Southern
field; we may override the rights of States, tram
pie the Constitution in the dust, and in the plen-
itude of our physical power make half the Union
one scene of desolation, and all that will not mend
the broken bond of Union. The destructive ca
pacities of immense armies, and of the most com
pete and abundant engiHery of war, will not of
themselves restore Union and peace-such a
Union and such peace as a few months since
| blessed the American people.
he who does not know this, does not know
history. He who can not perceive this Is unable
to reason from cause TO effect, and to apply gen
eral principles particular cases. 1t is because
the North has reasoned wrongly, that we have
thus far daily encountered increased resistance
and defeat in every quarter. Ii is because the
North will not open its eyes upon truth, that
gloomy clouds obscure the pathways of our
armies, and gloomy future stretches out be-
fore US.
The North must be true to itself-true to the
Consttution--true to the constitutional rights of
the whole people, before it successfully en-
force the legitimate authority OF the Government
Ii must do justice to loyal men. 1t must sacred
| ly respect the fundamental conditions of union.
1t must reject the melting causes of trouble. 1t
must limit the exercise of force to the protection
of State and personal rights and the enforcement
of legal duties. 1t must command the conf
dence of friends of good government everywhere
living upon disloyal as upon loyal soil. While
it wields the flaming sword with one hand, it
must bear the scales of justice in the other. 1t
must command respect, obedience and confidence
by open handed acts of justice and conciliation-
| BY frankly-expressed and ieepy-felt determna-
ton to restore the Union as fathers made it
/ to observe the Constitution as il was and as it
is, and should be forever.
| But how is the fact? Congress meets and the
halls of the Capitol ring with the advocacy of
projects calculated to perpetuate resistance on the
part OF those already in arms against the Union,
and to drive away from US the support of every
Union man in every slave State. A mighty ef-
| fort is being made to impress the country with
conviction that this war is not one between the
friends and the enemies of constitutional govern
ment, but between two systems of labor. The
| people are told that il they would have union,
they must first destroy the rights of State to
self government, in matters of strictly local con-
cern. The cry goes up over the North, that the
Union may be preserved only upon the ruins of
| the Constitution. Abolition orators and Repub
lican presses unite in common declaration of
hostility not to rebels because they are SUCH but
to Institutions for the existence of which the
North is not responsible, and over which the
North can exercise no legal control.
1t suspicion of such purposes as these
which produced rebellion. II is the announce
ment of such purposes as these which perpetuates
rebellion. 1t is this spirit which threatens to
unite and consolidate all Southern States into one
solid phalanx in opposition to the North.
The North cannot raise an army large enough,
and cannot use treasure enough to conquer a
peace in the prosecution of such purpose. The
project is madness While such counsels prevail
we make war and squander life and wealth in
vain. The history of the pastfew months proves
it. The experience of every day proves it. I'M
/ I'll we learn wisdom we shall have naught else
but a sad and costly experience.
When we learn, as people, whatthe President
of the United States has already learned, and
adopt, as a people the conservative and constitu-
tional course in the prosecution of our efforts,
which events have forced upon his consideration,
then we may begin to hope for real and perma-
nent success Until that time it must be the
solemn conviction of any reasoning man that war
is to be our constant burden and dstress.-MiI
paHkec Nescs.
sE We copy the following article from a
leading English paper to show the bitterness of
feeling entertained by the British people against
this Government:
From the London Herald.
Conduct of the american Gevernment
Quem Deus Uah perdere, prius dementat The
conduct OF the American Government has long
been such as, to Europeans, scarcely seemed con-
sstent with the supposition of its being directed
4 by men In full possession of their senses. The
outrages on the Constitution which have been ev
cry day perpetrated with impunity in every State
under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Govern ment
the frantic language in which its procla lamations
have been colched; the extrsvagsnce of its
boasts, and the imbecile weakness Of its action;
the savage excesses which its troops have been
encouraged to commit in the Border States. by
which il has alenated Kentucky, lost its chance
OF OF preserving Missouri, and has exasperated
Virginia beyond the possibility of forgiveness;
the wanton extravaganza of its tyranny in Mary
land-all seem TO proceed from the headstrong
fury Of men who were never under the control of
principle, and now beyond the influence of
| reason.
Mr.. Lincoln on his accession to power was
thought 70 be nm honest. vigorous, sfraightfor
ward man, whose frmness OF temper might bal
ance his intellectual deficiencies. and whose re-
spect for law might atone for bis utter ignorance
ofpolitcs. Unhappily, he has proved himsefnot
only far more ignorant and unintelligent than any
one imagined him, but 1tterly wanting in decis-
| ion of character, or in conscientious adherence
to the Constitution Of which be was the appoint
ed guardian. He has usurped a power beyond
4 the law TO exercise il with a feebeness and vac
lIation very naturally allied with frantic and I'M
governable rage against all opponents. Sui i'm
potens is the classic phrase which accurately
describes both his character and that of his friend
and adviser.
! Mr. Stewards want Of common sense. reticence