Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-02
WEEKLY SENTINEL.


bend the gigantic character of the great rebellion
or the means TO be used for its suppression. The
people have manifested their willingness to pro-
vide all the means necessary to secure success
full issue of the struggle in which the Government
is engaged to preserve the Union, under the Con-
stitution, but the Representatives of the Govern
ment have not yet risen to proper appreciation
of the agencies to be employed to secure that re-
suit The disasters to our arms in Virginia and
Missouri are attributable in great measure to
the lack of sagacity and energy in the Admins
traton and those in control Of the military de-
partments Was there any necessity for the de-
feats Of LYON and MULLIsAS? Would not good
generalship have saved us these disasters to our
arms2 And could not the Notifying repulse at
Bull Run have been prevented, If greater sa-
gacity, energy and efficiency had characterized
the administration of our military affairsr
Is there any good reason why Missouri
should not have been saved to the Union
and the terrible fratricidal contest there. raging
have been avodedf And why was not Ken
lucky fastened to the Union instead OF allowing
the Southern disunionists to precipitate her into
the fearful vortex of civil war and strengthen the
cause of the Confederates? A WISE far-seeing
and energetic policy would have prevented these
evils which maladministratrion has forced
upon us. The passage Of either the Chr
rENDES. DOUGLAS or Border State Convention
plans of adjustment by Congress last winter
would have held all the border slave States firmly
in the Union, or even if the Administration had
manifested firm determination from the begin
ming to infringe upon any of the constitutional
rights or domestic institutions of any of the States
harmless and confined to the cotton States at the
most. Or il the war had been conducted upon
scale that the controversy demanded, we doubt
whether Kentucky or Missouri would have been
found in their present attitude But for lack of
wisdom and energy" on the part Of the Admin
istration it will require army of at least hun
dred and fifty thousand men to suppress the re-
bellion in those States and hold them in subjec-
ton. For the conduct and prolongation of the
war, for the unnecessary sacrifice of blood and
treasure which it will occasion, and for the con-
consequent depression Of trade and the industrial
trativn and party are responsible. The Republi-
can party have control ofthe Federal Government,
of Congress, and it is in power in all the Northern
States. In Congress and in all the State Legisla-
lures the Democracy have united with the ruling
party in responding without stint to the calls of
the Government for men and means to preserve
the Union. More than this, the Democracy
promptly volunteered in the army of the Union
to suppress disunion and rebellion. They did not
hold back as their opponents did in the war with
Mexico OF seek to embarrass the Administration.
These facts are patent to all-they are known to
the country-and who can question the response
bility of the laundering and short policy
which has thus far characterized the prosecution
of the war? The Republican papers are
forced to concede the weakness of the
present Administration. and from the beginning
have clamored for a more vigorous policy They
are forced to admit facts and make charges
which, if they had first appeared in the Sentinel,
or a Democratic paper, would have been regard
Ell as a heinous offence. and perhaps have been
visited with mob violence as penalty therefor.
In this day of "free speech" and "free press"
we hope it will not be regarded crime to repro
duce the criticisms of the free Republican
prints upon the conduct of the Administration
and its military commanders. The indianapolis
Journal, which undoubtedly reflects the views of
Governor MORTON, in commenting upon the con-
dition of affairs in Kentucky, after stating that
the Federal forces may possibly be able to hold
the rebels in check, remarks:
But this is not the position in which the Gov
eminent ought to stand, or would be standing, if
il had shown proper care or foresight. This
sounds strong, but we mean it all, and can prove
it all, and more. The forces in Kentucky are
utterly Inadequate at present to drive the rebels
out OF the State. If they can hold their own it
is all they can do The borders of the loyal
States adjoining are entirely unprotected. There
is not piece of artillery in Indiana bigger than
a six FOUNDER, and but very few pieces of that
size There are not guns enough on the border
10 arm three regiments. All the Government
forces have been ordered off to one point and an
other. In case of invasion should be help
less, not because we have not men and pluck
enough, but because the Administration has
paid no attention to our necessities, and
bestowed no care in preparing for the revolution
in Kentucky. 1t has been blind and deaf, and
if it we're fighting in no better than its own
wisdom and energy it ought to be defeated We
speak very plainly for we feel very deeply. Six
weeks ago Governor Morton notified the War De-
partment in the most impressive terms that there
was trouble brewing in Kentucky, and that our
border was exposed and defenceleSs He begged
for arms, matter of what knd anything that
would shoot, and for the old cannon rustng I'm
the arsenals to erect batteries at the principal
towns the river No attention was paid to
him. He was not even vouchsafed a reply. Time
a..1 fho.a
earnest requests for arms made, but not solitary
lcOrd of reply scas made. About three weeks
ago he sent letter directly to the President set
ting forth the facts in regard 10 Kentucky as he
had learned them from trustworthy agents, warn
leg him that DANCE was near ut hand, and an at
tack might be expected at any moment. repeating
his requests for arms on the Dor der ard no reDLy
loas made. He still, as opportunity offered re-
iterated his efforts to beget a little attention in
the Administration to Kentucky and the border,
and always tailed. From first to last his warn
ings were utterly unheeded and unanswered. In
sheer desperation. he wrote at last to Mr. Sew
ard. who has at least the merit of attending to
his business and the reply written the very dav
that Polk entered Kentucky, was that mo dan
ger was apprehended in Kentucky now" Ii it
is possible to make stronger case of indifference
we don't see how it is to be done.
Now the evil has come, and the Government,
which might have been prepared to crush it the
moment it appeared, is only able to prevent it
from crushing the Government. Maybe the les
son will not be lost, but there is only Delaware
LEFT to apply it to now.
The Cincinnati Gazette, another radical Re-
publican sheet, in referring to the surrender of
MULHeAs, and the loss Of large amount of
war materials. a thousand horses. and two boats
with ammunition that had been sent to his relief