Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-21


ton the letter, and in the spirit in which they
were conceived.
We believe that different purpose animates the
great body Of the Republican party. While un
willing now to admit that the ultimate, if not the
proximate object Of the war is the overthrow of
slavery, and not to maintain the equality and
rights Of the States unimpaired, there can be but
little question that such is the animus of the
war on their part. We presume no one viii ques-
ton but that Governor MoRroS fairly reflects
the prevailing sentiment of the Republican
party of Indiana. He made set speech the
other day at Rockville, "a report of which he
wrote out himself for the indianapolis JoHrnGl,)
which was received with great enthusiasm by
and with the general approval of the large num-
Der Of Republicans present. How does his Ex-
cellency represent the question 1t issue? He
says those who have banded under the Southern
Confederacy-the rebels of the South, or revolu-
tionists as the Journal terms them-"a ffirms-
Eve quote the Governors words,) chat the free
Institutions at the North are failure; that the
only true foundation for Government is African
"
North are serfs and vassals beneath the mental
and moral dignity of the slave upon the planta-
ton" Now the Governor well knows that he
mistates the views of the people OF the South
generally, yet we permit him to make his own
case. The CRITrESDEN resolution, for which
every Republican of the House voted but two,
proclaims that the is not one of conquest or
subjugation, nor is its object to interfere with the
rights or established institutions of the South.
In referring to the secession movement Governor
MORTON, IN his speech, referred to, takes issue with
the Republican Congressman, and expresses what
are, no doubt, the expectations and hopes Of the
great body of the Republican party. The Gov
ernor says:
Gen. jackson then 1888 predicted that the
next effort (secession) would be predicated upon
the slavery question, and the prophecy has been
fulfilled The
only cure for the cancer is the knife, you must
cut out the gangrened and rotten parts and ex-
tract the very roots of the devourng ulcer.
Compromise roots and herbs, are of no avail in a
case like this.
Now what does the Governor mean, ifhis speech
intended any expression of sentiment Why
that slavery is the root of secession-the cancer
and that the gangrened and rotten parts must
be cut out; the very roots of the devouring ulcer
extracted Or, in other words, that the war is for
the determination of slavery. This certainly exhi-
bits a different spirit and design from that convey
ed BY the CRITTESDES resolution.
We believe that a strong Union party could he
built up at the South, if the people of that sec
ton of the country could be convinced that there
was no design upon the part of the prevailing
party at the North to inte1ere with their domes-
tic institutions, but that it was its object 'to de
fend and maintain the supremacy of the Const-
tuition, and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the several States
unimpaired." An honest and hearty declaration
of this kind by the Northern people would go far
to satisfy the people of the South; disarm rebel
lion by removing the cause which gives It power,
and thus stop the war. But instead of this spirit
and these objects being heartily manifested and
avowed by the North we have declarations like
those of Gov. MORTON which destroys all the NOR
al effect which the CRIrTENDEN resolutions would
otherwise have The truth is, that the South,
almost universally, even in Western Virginia,
have no confidence in the Republican Administra-
ton. And why should they9 Mr.. LINCOLN had
it in his power by selecting portion of his Cabinet
and making some of his leading appointments
from the South-from the conservative men of
the South, and by describing party platforms
and recognizing the Constitution as the only
guide of his Administration, to have built upon a
national party which would have been the cure
for the cancer to which Governor MoRToS so
classcally alludes. But in selecting his constitu-
tional advisers and in the dispensatiOn OF his
official patronage he recognizes a sectional party
alone, and he avows the Chicago Platform is the
higher law which shall guide his administration
of the Government. Could we expect even the
Union men of the South to be satisfied with the
LINCOLN Administration under such a state of
facts
We believe that what the Cincinnati Com
mercial calls the platform of the people" if
sincerely avowed and honestly adhered to would
60 far towards restoring the Union and the pros
perity AM happiness which the Union has Sc
cured to us, but we see no evidence of any such
purpose on the part of the Republican leaders.
Will the people follow them, will they permit
their own honest convictions OF right and duty to
govern them? We hope to have the aid of the
Commercial, and the Republicans who agree with
the position of that print. in making the 'peo-
pies platform the governing principle and poll
cy of the people of the North. In such an event
/ we have every confidence that all would be well