Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-23


must end in starvation, colonization, or servile
insurecton. / have often exposed the enOrmi-
ties of this policy, and appealed to the people of
Illinois to know whether this mode of getting rid
of the evils of slavery could be justified in the
name of civilization, humanity and ChristianitvY
i have often used these arguments in the strong
est abolition portions of the North; but never in
the South. The truth is have always been very
mild and gentle upon the Republicans when ad-
dressing Southern audience; for it seemed un-
generous to say behind their backs, and where
they dare not 90 to reply to me, those things
which | was in the habit of saving to their faces,
and in the presence Of their leaders where they
were in the majority.
But inasmuch as | do not get direct answer
from the Senator who makes this charge against
the Northern Democracy, as to the purposes of
that party to use the power of the Federal Gov
erIlment under their construction of the Const-
tuition, with view TO the ultimate extinction of
slavery in the States will turn to the record of
their President elect and see what he says on that
subject. The Republicans have gone to the trou-
bic TO collect and publish in pamphlet form un-
der the sanction of Mr.. Lincoln the debates
which took place between him and myself in the
Senatorial canvass of 1855. 1t NAV not be i'm
proper here to remark that this publication is un-
fair toward me, for the reason that Mr. Lincoln
personally revised and corrected his own speeches,
without giving me an opportunity to correct the
numerous errors in mine. Inasmuch as the pub
licaton Is made, under the sanction of Mr. Lin
coin himself, accompanied by letter from him
that he has revised the speeches by verbal correc
tons, and thereby approved them it becomes inn
portant to show what his views are since he is in
the daily habit of referring to those speeche; for
his present opinions
Mr.. Lincoln was nominated for United States
Senator by Republican State Convention at
Springfield, in the year 1858. Anticipating the
nomination, he had carefully prepared written
speech, which he delivered on the occasion, and
which, by order of the Conv ention, was published
among the proceedings as containing the platform
of principles upon which the canvass was to be
conducted. More importance is due to this speech
than to those delivered under the excitement of
debate in joint discussions by the exigencies of
the contest. The first few paragraphs which |
will now read, may be taken as fair statement
of his opinion and feelings upon the slavery ques
ton. Mr.. Lincoln said:
Mr. President and gentlemen Of the convention if we
could first know where and whittier tend
ing we could better judge what TO do and how do IT,
We now far into the fifth year since policy was ini
tiated with the avowed object and confident promise of
putting end TO the slavery agitation Under the opera
on OF that policy that agitation has only ceased
but has constantly augmented. In my opinion it will not
until crisis shall have been reached and passed
house divided against itself can not stand believe this
Government can not endure permanently half slave and
half free do not expect the Union to be dssolved-Id
not expect the house TO abut do expect will cease
TO be divided. 1t will become all thing all the
other. Either the opponents Of slavery will arrest the
further spread Of IT, and place where the public mind
shall rest in the belief that IT IS in the of ultimate
extinction advocates will push forward till shall
alike become lawful in all the States, old well
North as well as South.
There you are told by the President elect that
this Union can not permanently endure divided
into free and slave States that these States must
all oil oil II,
or all become the other; that this agitation will
never celse until the opponents of slavery have
restrained its expansion, and have placed it where
the public mind will be satisfied that it will be in
the course of ultimate extinction. Mark the Ian
guage:
Either the opponents of slavery will the further
spread Of it.
We are now told that the object of the Repub-
lican party is TO prevent the extension Of slavery
What did Mr.. Lincoln saw That the opponents OF
slavery must first prevent the further spreld of it,
But that is not all What else must they dog
And place it where the public mind rest in the
belief that it is in the Of ultimate extinction.
The ultimate extinction of slavery, of which
Mr. Lincoln was then speaking, related to the
States of this Union. He had reference to the
Southern States of this Confederacy; for in the
next sentence, he says that the States must all
become one thing or all the other-''old as well
he meant that the policy of the Republican part,
was to keep up this agitation in the Federal Gov
ernment until slavery in the States was placed in
the process of ultimate extinction Now, sir
when the Republican Committee have published
an edition of Mr.. Lincoln's speeches containing
sentiments like these, and circulated il as a cam
paign document il is surprising that the peopl,
of the South should suppose that he was in earn
est, and intended to carry out the policy which
he had announcedg
regret the necessity which has made it my
duty TO reproduce these dangerous and revou
ti0nary opinions of the President elect No con
sideration could have induced me 10 have done 81
but the attempt of his friends to denounce th,
policy which Mr.. Lincoln has boldly advocated
as gross calumnies upon the Republican, party
and as base inventions of the Northern Democ
racy to excite rebellion in the Southern country
/ should like TO find one Senator on that side O
the Chamber, in the confidence of the Presiden
elect, who will have the hardihood to deny tina
Mr.. Lincoln stands pledged by his public speeches
to which he now refers constantly as containin;
his present opinions to carry out the policy indi
Gated in the speech from which | have read.
take great pleasure in saying, however, that d.
not believe the rights of the South will mate
rally suffer under the administration of Mr. Lin
coin. | repeat what have said on another oc
casion, that neither he nor his party will have tn
pONtF 10 no any pFtluulcldl 10 t0e foOutucf1
rights and interests, if the Union shall be pre-
served and the Southern States shall retain ful
delegation in both Houses of Congress. With
majority against them in this body and in th
House of Representatives, they can do no act
except TO enforce the laws without the consen
of those to whom the South has confded her in
terests, and even his appointments for that pun
pose are subject to our advice and confirmation
Besides, still indulge the hope that when Nj
Lincoln shall assume the high responsibilitie
which will soon devolve upon him. he will b
fully impressed with the necessity of sinking th
politician in the statesman, the partisan In tll
patriot, and regard the obligations which he owe
to his country as paramount TO those of his party
in view of these considerations, / had indulge
the fond hope that the people of the Souther
States would have been content to remain i'm tll
Union and defend their rights under the Const
tuition, insteld of rushing madlv into revolutio
and disunion, as refuge from apprehended dan
gers which may not exist.
But this apprehension has become wide -sprea
and deep-selted in the southern people Il ha
taken possession of the southern mind, sunk dee
in the southern heart, and filled them with I'll
conviction that their iresides their family altar
and their domestic institutions are to be ruthlessl
ass1iled through the machinery of the Feier.
Government. The Senator from Ohio saws Il
does not blame YOU, southern Senators, nor th
southern people, for believing those things; an
yet, inste I'd OF doing those acts which will rc,iey
| your apprehensions, and reader it impossible tn;
| your rights should be invaded by Federal pow,
under any Administration, he thre items YOU wit
war, armies, military force, under pre.ext of ei
forcing the laws and preserving the Union. W
are told that the authority of the Governmei
must be vindicated; that the Union must be Pr,
servel; that rebellion must be put down: that il
surrection must be suppressed, and the laws mu
be enforced. | agree TO all this. am in fave
of doing all these according to the Const
tuition and laws. No man viii go further than
to maintain the just authority OF the Governmen
to preserve the Union, to put down rebellion,
suppress insurrection, and TO enforce the laws.
would use all the powers conferred by the Coz
stitution for this purpose. But in the perform
ance of these important and delicate duties, il mu
be borne in mind that those powers only must
used, and such measured employed, as are al
thorized by the Constitution and laws Thin.
should be called by the right names: and fact
whose existence en- no longer be denei, shou
be acknowledged
Instructions and re5ellions, although unlawf
and criminal frequently become successful rev
lutions. The strongest governments and prou
| est monarrhieS on earth have often baan ra1nc.