Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-14

a
Ancient history furnishes memorable exam
pie of secession without boOdshed. 1t occurred
in the most enlightesaed and civilized nation then
known upon earth. II was commenced in rebel
lion, sustained by violence, and drew after it
half of the kingdomer more. The particulars of
this revolt, recordedon the pages of sacred his
tory contain lesson for our times, and rulers and
subjects of all times. Ii is difficult to conceive
why the annals of it should have been written out
at length. and hOnored with the place it occupies
in the volume which reveals to US the will Of God,
unless it was intendedns guide to his ministers
and to statesmen andfrulers in troublous times
like the present. Werefer to it as a legitimate
answer to the sixth question of " Inquirer" which
appeared in our last, and which we suboin:-The
question: it will be rec0lected, was in vindicaton
of war as an appropriate means to suppress rebel
lion. and correct the wrongs of secession. Itwas
as follows:-
sCan the government submit to this treason,
without disregarding the obligations of the magis
tracy as defined by the word of God; or consent
to the secession without forfeting the respect of
the world2''
We answer these two questions in the gbirma-
tiUe, and in support of this answer cite the Di
vine authority given in the history of the revolt
and secession of the Ten Tribes from the king
dom of Israel In briefly stating some of the
leading facts of this case; do not intend to ut
ter a word 90 sanction, treason. Nor shall we say
anything 10 justify the secession of State. The
inquiry s-whether ''the gouerRment submit
10 Il 1oihOm disregarding its obligations defined
by the lcOrd of God"
l. The Ten Tribes which revoted from the
kingdom of Israel under Rehoboam we're integral
parts of the nation. They had no separate gov
ernments independent States. RehOboam was
their legitimate ruler, made so by Divine con-
stituton, which confirmed the right of the de
cendants of David to the throne. 1t was the du
ty of the revolving tribes to submit to the author
ity appointed over them by God Himself. and to
bear their part of the burdens imposed to meet
the expenditures of the government.
2. Their revolt was no doubt lorOng. 1t
both rebellion against God, and the herditary
eregn whom He had appointed as their ruler.
The grievance of heavy taxation which they
made the occasion of their revolt does not justify
it. We find the reasons for their course in the
history, but no justification of it. We can not
suppose that God justified or approved their act
of secessiOn-fOr it separated them from his sane
tuary, and its ordinances, appointed by Himselfto
save them from the odious sin of idoatry. 1t cut
them off from the privileges of public worship in
the only consecrated temple in all Israel. Their
secession no doubt grievOus sin.
Sd. Their revolt was soon follOwedby violence
and murder. King Rehoboam sent an officer to
their cities, as he had a right to do, and the peO-
pie rose against him and stoned him to death
His death is a specimen ofancient mob law. The
murdered officer, it appears, had no trial or hear
ing before any Judge or court. He met while
performing his official duty, and put to violent
death. If the people did not authorize the mur-
derOus deed, they no doubt sanctioned it.
These acts of rebellion were too outra geOus to
be endured, and We not surprised that the king
Immediately issued his proclamation for an army
of one hundred and eighty thousand men to sub
due the rebels These chosen warriors animated
fl,a1 10 pf liz
bed, eager for the fray They no doubt felt that
the rebels had no cause for their treason-that
they were gratuitOusly wicked-and richly mer-
ted a doom more terrible than stoning or the hal
ter. Their conscience approved the severe blows
which they were about to infict on the revolted
traitors. As their hearts were burning with ha-
tired and patriotic zeal to avenge the wrongs in
flicted on their rightful sovereign and their coun
try mandate from the Almighty paralyzes their
ardor, and levels their hopes of martial glory to
the dust. The mandate proclaims -
"THUs SAITH THE LORD, YE SHALL NOT co UP,
NOR FIGHT AGAINST YOUR BRETHREN, the children
of Israel return eUery man 10 has house.
Remarkable interposition 1t confounds Re-
hobOam and his cabinet ministers. They meet
for counsel, and as they deliberate. seem to
hear them say at is not credible that God for
bids this war; If these tribes are our brethren,
they are also rebels and traitors and deserve DEATH
They have robbed us of our revenue, murdered
one of our officers, and their treason and murder
cry to Heaven for vengence, and must be expia-
ted by condign punishment. We must show the
world that we have government, and that its
orders shall be obeyed. Their crimes without
excuse, designed to overthrow the government
established by Divine authority. They are de-
stroying the government, and not only injure us,
but themselves and their children. Trey cut
themselves off from the only true church, and from
all the privileges of the House of God. Such
wicked rebellion is intolerable We cannot bear
! it. To Arms-ye valiant men March to the
rebel cities, and burn them to the dust"
The call is in vain. Those valiant hosts are
stunned by the voice of Jehovah, and instead of
avenging the insultand injury offered to their king
and country, they return every man to his house. "
Mark the blessed result.
lst. A civil and fratricidal war is prevented !:
thousands are saved from premature and violent
deaths and the country is preserved from the
ravages and desOlation which marks the footsteps
of the fend
2. Peace is restored and Peace hath victories
on earth more truly glorious than the triumphs of
conquerors from the field of blood.
3. The legitimate government is maintained.
Rehoboam still reigns, and his reign is perhaps as
honorable as it could have been If he had succeed
ed in conquering the revolted tribes. He regns
over united loyal people, which he could not
have done, if he had been permitted to subdue the
rebels.
A. His country is sared from the rauages Of
FIRE and s,oord by which it might have been ruin
ed by the hosts which followed the standard of
Jeroboam, whose valor was not to be despised-
Both his country and his throne preserved,
and continued through several centuries.
9Th. There ttoo sovereignties in the land
of Israel instead of one If this weakened the
strength of their national pride it perhaps no
real injury to them. They we're two nations
and lived together side by side, much of the time
in peace, with occasional strifes-fewer, probably
than they might have had, if one had been con
quered by the other.
From the Shoe and Leather Reporter.
English shoes for the south.
We mentioned some weeks since that Edward
Daly of Charleston South Carolina, left for Liv-