Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-03-06
The President Elect on Washinxtou,s
Btrth-dny i'm Independence Hall.

The President elect at Philadelphia, in several
speeches there delivered, has made declaration
or two calculated to produce profound impress
ion upon the public mind. In a speech on the
2lst he said that he might be required to "set
down his foot firmly in his administration of the
Federal Government, and in a speech on the 22d
the anniversary of WashingtOn's birth -day, and
in Independence Hail. Mr.. Lincoln, speaking of
the immortal Declaration ofl776, said that the
issue involved "was not the mere matter of the
separation of the colonies from the mother land -
but it was that sentiment (Which gave liberty not
alone to the people of this country, but hope to
the world for all future time Ii was that which
gave promise that in due time the weights would
be lifted from the shoulders of all men," and he
furthermore said that eff this country can not he
saved without giving up that principle was
about to say 1 would rather be assassinated on
this spot than surrender it,
Now, in these emphatic declarations of Mr.
Lincoln, we have not the evidence for positive
Interpretation. If by ''setting his foot down
firmly" he means that it is his purpose firmly to
take his position in behalf of a peaceful policy
for the restoration of the Union, he is entirely
right but if he means the policy of warlike
subjugation against all parties repudiating his
executive authority, he is al wrong In his In
dependence Hall speech, however, he assures us
that, Gin my view of the present aspect of affairs
there need be no bloodshed war. There is no
necessity for it. / am not in favor of such
course, and | may say in advance that there will
be bloodshed unless it be forced upon the
Government, and then it will be compelled to act
in selfdefense"
We are thus encouraged to hope for a concilia-
tory policy on the part of the incoming Admins
tratOn; for these outgivings of Mr. Lincoln are
substantially those of Mr.. Buchanan's annual
message, and of his other communications to
Congress on the same subject. We infer that,
like Buchanan, Mr. Lincoln does not intend to
strike the first blow in the overt act of war and
if so, the probabilities are in favor of the main
tenance of peace, which is now the first and par
amount question.
But, touching this sentiment or principle of the
Declaration of Independence, that '-all men are
created equal, that ''they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienabe rights among
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness" we are left somewhat in the dark as to the
precise meaning of Mr.. Lincolns protestations
The principle in question, he says, ''gave promise
that in due time the weights would be lifted from
all mems shoulders" and that sooner than part
with this principle he would part with his life
"All men created equal" 1.-The weights from
all mems shoulders" Does the President elect
speak of "men" in the aggregate as a nation OF a
community aspiring to nationality. or does he re-
fer TO man in his individual capacity-white, red,
yellow or black? According to the Illinois cam
paign speeches of Mr.. Lincoln of 1858 he means
the individual man, and his Interpretation of the
great document in question puts the white and
the black on the same footing of natural equality.
If this be the true acceptaton of Mr. Lincoln's S
Independence Hall speech, then his idea that Gin
due time the weights would be ifed from the
shoulders of men" means nothing more nor less
than the progressive steps of African emancipa-
ton to the full consummation of the work. But
we are not disposed thus to coustrue the extempo-
raneous remarks under consideration without
further light. We are promised, in the forth
coming inaugural, deliberate exposition of Mr..
Lincon's views and policy in regard to this revo-
lutionary crisis under which the ship of State is
drifting before the winds and waves of faction
and revolution. We must exercise a little pa
tience; but meantime. from a general review OF
these little offhand speeches ofthe President elect
we are really encouraged to hope for much better
things yet to come.-Ne,c York Herald.