Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-28
WEEKLY SENTINEL.
a Retrospect.

Hefrospecf-
The refusal Of the Republican members of
Congress at the regular session last winter to ac-
cede TO any terms for compromising the sectional
differences of the country, has brought upon the
nation a fearful civil war and all the dire ca
lamities attending it. The CRIrrESDEx amend
ments would have been satisfactory to the country
JEFF. DAVIS and TooxBs, of Georgia, both stated
that that proposition would be accepted by them
and would be acceptable to the South. But that
Olive Branch of peace and Union was rejected by
Republican votes. A Peace Congress assembled
i'm which the Border Slave States were repre-
scented, and most of the Northern States by Re-
publican delegates. That body agreed upon prop
ositons which would have retained all the Border
States within the Union, but they we're likewise
rejected by Republican votes. The very terms
of adjustment that able AMI enlightened Repub-
Hcans were willing to concede to the Southern
States for peace and Union, were promptly cast
aside by Republican Congress. And why we're
these terms of peace refused? We present this
retrospect of the past demonstrate that the Re
publican party leaders were unwilling to sacrifice
the Chicago platform to the Union. The
" urging Democrats to surrender party, to yield
the principles for which they have earnestly con-
tended, without any concession on their part, in
sisted that the Chicago platform" sacred
and binding, and that their duty to the Union was
subordinate to the duty they owed to party. That
we do not ruisrepresent the position of the IRE
pressible Republicans we quote extract from
the New York Tribune to shoS that they were
unwilling to subordinate their duty to party to
their duty to the Union:
Senator Seward, in his speech of Thursday
last declares his readiness to renounce Republi-
can principles for the sake of the Union. In
this readiness the Senator differs totally from The
almost incorporate majority Of the Republican
party and from the President elect. They regard
these principles as sacred. They will not tor
swear them at the bidding of Il world of seeding
sad reasonable slaveholders They see no ne
cessity TO choose between them: JM If such
choice must be made they prefer their principles 10
FIFTY UNIONS
That the Tribune fairly represented the senti-
ment of the party can not be questioned. The
Republican Congress rec echoed the sentiments of
that leading organ. by refusing all terms of com
promise, even those proposed by body in which
Republicans we're in the ascendant. Yes, in the
language of the Tribune, Senator SEWARD, in
expressing a willingness Ito renouuce Republican
principles FOE the sake of the Union," differs
totally from the almost incompatible majority of
the Republican party and from the President
elect" "whO prefer their principles 10 FIFTY
UNIONS And what the result of the Re
publican policyl Congress adjourned without
doing anything to encourage the Union senti-
ment in the Border Slave States. Soon after,
Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee cast
their destiny with the seeded States and Mis-
souri,, Kentucky and Maryland are divided in
sentiment. All of these States might have been
saved to the Union, if the Republican Congress
in March last had made even the concessions
which they did, almost unanimously, save two
Abolitionists, at the extra session. We refer to
the following compromise resolution introduced
by Mr.. CRITrENDEN:
ResOlred, That the present civil war has been
forced on US by the dsunionists of the Southern
States now in rebellion against the Government
of the United States; that in this National emer-
gency, Congress, bannishing all feelings of pas
sion and resentment, will recollect only their
duty to their country; that the is not trGged
for conquest or subJugation interfering trh the
rights the established institutions of these States
but to maintain and defend the supremacy of the
Constitution with the rights and equality under it
unimpaired; that as soon as these objects are &C
complished, the war ought to cease.
If the adoption of that resolution right in
July, it certainly was equally so in March. For
concessions which nearly every Republican Con-
gresham voted against in March, all but two
(PoTrER and RIDDLE) voted for in July If they
had done in March what they did do in July, Sc
cession would have been confined to the extreme
Southern States and would have been compare
lively harmless
This is the history of the past few months. 1t
is well to ponder upon the lessons it teaches. The
Capital of the country is menaced-a fearful civil
war is raging upon borders and the whole
country is upon the verge of ruin. and why? The
almost incompatible majority of the Republican
party and the President elect, preferred the
Chicago Platform to FIFTY UNIONS. They subOr-
dinated their duty to the Union to their duty to
party. And yet these men, with such a record.
have the unblushing impudence to falsely accuse
the Democracy of preferring party to the welfare
of the country! In every way have the Democ-
racy shown their attachment to the Union and
their desire to preserve it. They have voted all
the men and money asked for by the Administra-
ton, and they number more than one half of the
fighting men of the army, with no direction Of
the war or the Government. Yet the Democrats
asked to surrender party and principle to per-
petuate Republican rue--with not single con-
ce>sion the part of the Republicans. Such is
Republican patriotism and magnanimty.