Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-22
The Wart

The war!
Jefferson Davis inaugural is mainly devoted to
the purpose of showing that the attitude OF the
Confederacy is.defeasive ard that the Federal
Government Is making an aggressive and unpnO-
vokod war His argument is not a good one.
and will not lead the world to the conclusion he
seeks to bring it to. Gov. Letcher also proclaims
that Virginia is threatened with aggression, and
summons her citizens to a defensive warfare.
Yet Virginia has armed, has made treaty with
the Southern COnfederacy and marching troops
to the frontiers. has menaced Norfolk, and Har-
peris Ferry, and Washington.
This struggle to prove that the aggression is
from the other side, in which Mr. Lincoln shows
himself anxious as his adversary is an appeal
to public sentiment. The American people do
not believe in aggressive war, and are conscious
OF an mcapacity to carry it on. They believe
themselves (and every part shares the belief of
the whOle) OmnipOtent in self defense History,
in making up the verdict of pOsterty, will pass
beyond the Proclamation of Lincoln and the
Message of Davis, to find out which of the two
sections has been the aggressOr, and how far each
has incapactated itself for just complaint
against the other.
The assumption Of the Federal Government
| that its power is CO extensive with the Union
and can not be dives;ed by secession, is one that
is incompatible with the idea of holding itself in
one section on the defensive, against the revoll-
/ ton. The revolution is itself aggressive when II
resorts 10 arms to expel the old authority from
It's strongholds. These mutual recriminations OF
the Executives of the two powers will soon be
forgotten, and the origin of the war be lost sight
OF IN the questions growing out of it,
1t is announced that the Federal troops are tc
march into Alexandria; and that a portion o
them viii hold the line through Maryland, while
a force is sent to retake Harper's Ferry. Tn,
| npWSDlDprS that al I'LL 4.
made by President Lincoln upon Governor
Letcher for the surrender of Harper's Ferry arc
/ the Norfolk Navy-yard. But this is cours,
that the Preideat will not venture upon. IT,,
reply OF GOyeror Letcher would be of n kin,
that the President would net like to provoke: fo
both the Navy-yard and the Arsenal were dc
stroycd by the order of Government, and wei,
never menaced by the authority of Virginia
What else will the government do in the wa
OF hoStllitiesI Blockade the ports. hold th
Mississippi at the mouth and at Cairo and seiz,
the command of all the great inland routes to tn
South. Whist theng Then wait.
a summer campaign, with raw levies of unaC
ciimated men. will be disastrous. Even cam
life at Washington, through the summer month,
Is ! kelly to prove dangerous to the volunteer
hastily summoned there from the North. Tn
pestilence is an enemy that no courage can NEE
and no discipline can successfully ward off; an
1t Is ten fold more terrible than an army in battl
array.
Blockade the ports. Let nothing enter-nothin
go out. Ii cotton must go to Europe. let it tax
the inland route. Northern creditors will recey
it at market prices on Southern debts. Ii is us,
less where it Is. Its bulk Is such il can not D
smugsle1 off in disguise The railroads, Ill
canals, and the Mississippi can carry it to Nortl
ern ports for shipment in quantities large enoug
Tor the supply of cur own wants and those
Europe This years crop, however, will 1
hardly ready to come forward till next Novembe
Until then, circumstances will limit the actio
OF the Federal government to a blockade by Ian
and sea, such we indicated. Who can stan
longest under such policy, the North or ii
SouthT We have national credit, the regul;
army as nucleus to large levies of recruits, ii
navy, uninterrupted commerce with foreign M
tons, the grain crop, and agricultural production
!, and such manufactures as depends mainly on m;
chinery, only partially diminished. The SOut
will have deprecated currency, diminished pr
ductlons, insufficient credit and some good office
at the head Of undiscplned troops. They wi
he held at arms length-a position of iritatio
to natures like theirs. The disadvantage will l
on their side, unless the should assume tn
form OF fanatcal crusade which some -persoi
desire to give it. Then the South united and de
perate, would unfold these energies, and be read
/ for the sacrifices which revolutionary gOver
ments have so often exhibited to the astonis
+. ment of the world.
At this arms-length, Cong r IS, when it meet
will find these two combatants Will il pa
them: or bring them in nearer reach of mo
deadly conflict? That remains to be seenl-
Albany Argus.