Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-03

n
Georgia has arrived in Washington from that
State, and brings cheering intelligence of grow
ing desire to restore fraternal feeling He states
that Hon. A. H. Stephens frankly expressed a
hope "for reconstruction" under the Montgomery
Constitution in his public speeches, and that he Is
warmly applauded
Is not this the quickest process "for recon-
structionf" The Montgomery Constitution in
many respects is great improvement upon the
Federal Constitution. The revenue system it
provides is far in advance of any yet attempted
since the General Government was organized
The territorial question has ceased to be prac-
teal issue. Slavery not be advantageously
extended, as domestic institution, to any OF the
Territories, and they are all now organized upon
basis which not fail to be satisfactory to the
great majority of the people North and South.
Why should the North fight for the shadow
when they have already achieved the substanceg
If the adoption of the Montgomery Constitution
would restore fraternal feeling and once more
unite the States upon a permanent basis,
the North could well afford to make the
concession for the greater advantages they
would gain by reconstruction of all the
States in harmonious Union. A reunion can
never be accomplished without compromise. The
experience of the past few months has proven
that the Union is great advantage to the North,
and that the Northern people are unwilling to let
the Union slide upon a long heel political issue
The questionis now practical one and should be
so considered. If disunion continues the strife
which will necessarily ensue. will do vast damage
to the material interests of both sections of the
country, il it does not end in the greater evil of
civil war; And if the North should succeed in
subjugating the South, of what benefit would be
conquered and hostile provinces? A national
convention to propose amendments to the Consti-
tuition does not meet general favor and would not
probably be participated in by the States which
have seeded. If not, its object would not be
accomplished. The Border States propose
convention to lay down the conditions upon
which they will remain in the Union These
States would not, therefore, favor ma
tional convention when they will in advance
have submitted their terms for the perpet-
uation of the Federal Government While the
slow process of National Convention is pro-
crossing, the Southern Confederacy will be gain
ing strength, and will have perfected permanent
Government, before convention can do its work,
and which may not prove satisfactory. These
are the objections to a National Convention. We
favor that plan, or any other, which viii recon
struct the Union, but why not meet the issue
promptly, and yield whatever is reasonable and
just to satisfy the Union conservative men of the
South, and thereby build up National Union
Party which will neutralize and destroy the ex
tremists, the disunionists of both sectionsl This
seems to be the practical way of settling the
issue, and restoring harmony and prosperity to
the entire nation. We favor any scheme
which will permanently settle the differen-
ces between the two sections of the coun-
try. If there was any reasonable proba-
bility that the labors of National Convention
would result in adjusting the political difficulties
which threaten the overthrow of the Government
we should say amen so let it be. But crisis
is upon the country and we believe the people un-
derstand the issue and are preparedto act prompt
ly If majority of the people of the forth are OPP
posed to yielding what the South declare to be their
rights under the Constitution, then shall it be war
formation of two Confederacies? We should like
to see the sentiment of the North fairly tested
upon this issue, and we know of no better way
than to submit to a popular vote the plan OF
adjustment that would be acceptable to the border
slave States. A direct vote upon such a PROPOSE
ton, or the Montgomery Constitution, would de
: termine whether the present disruption shall be
permanent or a reconstruction made probable