Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-23
Renuhiican POLICY.

Hon. SCHUYLER CoLFAx. the Republican mem.
Der of Congress from the Ninth District, in
letter to his paper, the st. Joseph Valley Regis
ter, thus defines the policy adopted by the Repub-
licans in Congressional caucus assembled, and
which is to be Incorporated into the laws PASSED
by Congress at its present session. Mark the
language and design-the slaves of the rebels in
arms shall be declared free, and every kind of
property claimed or possessed by them shall be
confscated to the Government This policy, if
it can be carried out, will be about tantamount
to the total emancipation of all negro slaves,
and the confscation of all property in
the Southern States. for who can doubt before
this war is ended that all the white citizens of the
South. who are capable of bearing arms, will be
actually engaged in the rebellion against the
General Government If sucha policy charac-
terizes the prosecution of the war, and is its OBJ
iect, does it not as efectually strike down the
Union men of the South as the Rebels? And
will it not effectually and permanently consoli-
date the South against the North, which must
result either in separation or in the subjuga-
ton Of one section or the other? The Republi-
can policy, as announced by Mr. CoLFAx cannot
be carried out without subverting the Constitu-
tuition in form not only but in spirit and com
pletely changing the character of our Gov
eminent. Emancipate the slaves and confs-
cate the property of the people of eleven or
twelve States and it will require standing army
of the size of that now in the field to keep them
in subjection. Is the Federal Government en-
gagged in war for such an object? 1t is high
time for all those who sincerely desire to preserve
our institutions to consider whittier we are drift
ing.
The following is the Republican programme
as Mr.. CoLFAx develops it:
In Congress the sentiment amongst the Repub-
lican members as to "what shall be done with the
slayes!" seemsto be harmonizing more than ap-
peared possible month ago. There are evidently
three shades of opinion amongst really loyal men
on the subject. The first would demand the utter
abolition of slavery as being guilty, in addition
to all its previous wrongs, of causing the civil
war into which the country has bees plunged by
the traitors. The second, which goes to the other
extreme would require that slavery, as the great
institution of the South, should not be touched;
that the fugitves should be returned bv the army;
bhst Suoutu lScIt pro-
lection to that and all other ssrigbts of tie slave
States, thus seeking to purchase the loyalty of
the border States-and TIE third is the middle
ground between the other two, which, without
attacking any fright of Union men, declares
that as slavery has proved an element of strength
to the rebels seeking to destroy this Government,
their slaves shall be declared free. and every kind
of property claimed or possessed by them shall be
cOniscated to the Government, thus proving to
them aud the world that we are in earnest in our
determination to crush out this rebellion and TO
punish those engaged in il. After two nights de-
bate in caucus and considerable private discus
sion. this last ground unanimously adopted
by the Republicans. Messrs. Loveioy, Ashley,
Bingham and others, who are regarded as the
most radical of the party cordially assented to
this platform, on which. though not up to their
advanced position, the contest could be fought
out successfully in the field and before the losal
people at home, and viii give it their hearty aid
while Others, regarded as quite conservative. were
willing 90 advance 20 &C. 1t is said that not all of
the Cabinet are quite up to this yet; but IL the
loyal masses endorse it doubt if anyof them will
hold back 1t is so manifestly Just and deserved
that wonder that any one can hesitate as TO its
approval.