Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-15
From the New York Observer, May ?.
Right of SeIf-GOVernment what il
racnr1N and NNherc il Ends.


Does the right of self government mean that
every man may govern himself as he pleases, /
without respect to the rights of others?
Does the right of selfgovernmeut mean that
any enc of the Union States may break loose
from the rest and govern itself
When we say that this war is waged to settle
the question Of the right of one portion of the
country 10 govern itself, that il, to secede and
set ND an independent government and cast off
allegiance to the General Government under
which We have lived and prOspered, we touch the
very vitals of the controversy that il now shaking
the country This right of secession We havere
sisted from the beginning of the controversy,
aud EXPECT to resist until the end
1t would he supposed that question so deeply
affecting the stability of all political institutions
might he discussed, especially in the religious
press. without passion or intolerance. But in
such times as these men are not patient of CON
tradctions, and will not bear to be reasoned with
against their feelings and convictions. Their
minds are made up; they do not wish to discuss,
but to act
ewould hope to hold the attention of some,
at least, who can be calm in the midst OF storm,
while we urge upon them the unspeakable I'M
pOrtance of the issue that is now made, the SIM
/ pie issue, the right of the Government to govern
] the country, or the right of portion of the
country to set up government for Itself.
1t is not a question of the expedency or mex
pediencv of dividing the country, the dissolution
of the Union or the separation of part OF the
! States from the rest. That is political ques-
ton which, in time of peace, may be discussed
and decided one way or the other, as the people,
by their votes may determine. 1t is not ques-
| ton between slavery and antislavery, for the
Constitution is not to be interpreted by soldiers,
but bv the Judges Of the land So long as these
questions were under discussion, the twenty mill
lions of people in the North were divided in SEN
! timent, and many were willing and anxious TO
Weld everything but honor and principle, Tor the
sake Of conciliating the South. he Ttght OF Sc
! cession was never conceded, but the expectancy
of conserving to it rather than have war, was
supported bv large part of the Northern people,
and by all the Union men of the South. Per
hans the disuRion men of the South were misled
| to believe that all those who opposed warllke
| measures would array themselves against the
| Government, in the event of war. Ii so,
| they did not understand the sentiment OF this ma
ton.
From the moment when the forts and treasure
of the United States were seized by the seeding
States, no human eve could see how this ques-
ton was to be settled except by force. BY these
hostile measures, the South left the domain OF
argument for that of arms, and inaugurated the
system of force And now, who can point out
a peaceful solution of this question, except by a
Constitutional Convention, that will not leave
the way open for Just such another struggle,
! when the State of New Y Ork shall seize the sub
treasury. with $40 600, 900. and West Point and
forts in our harbor, to set up an Empire OF her
own!
The question is just as vital to the existence Of
order and the maintenance of law in one State of
| this country as another and all men who fear
God and believe that all good government is or
dained of Him, and is entitled to obedience, are
/ interested in having it settled. The new Const-
IL. fio do
fines treason lust as the Constitution of the
United States defines it, and the application Of
/ the principle on which the light of secession is
maintained, would subject man to the same
penalties for treason there, as it would here In
! other words the duty OF obedience to the Govern
ment is made as obligatory under the one as it is
under the other, and the penalty of resistance is
/ Just the same.
In the year 1874, the celebrated Hartford Con
vention was held in Connecticut, and after three
weeks solemn elaboration, those men, the ablest,
/ wisest and best men of the old Federal party of
that day, came to the conclusion that,
wien emergencies occur which are either
beyond the reach of the judicial tribunals, or too
| pressing TO admit of the delay incident to their
FORMS States which have no common umpire
must be their own judges, and execute their own
decisions"
! This doctrine was resisted. by almost the entire
sentiment of the country. Virginia denounced
it in unspairing terms. The Richmond Enquirer
said in its issue of November l, 1914:
mo man, no association of men, no State or
set of States has riQht to withdraw itself from
this Union, of its own accord. The same power
which knit us together can only unknlt. The
same formalty which forged the links OF the
| Union is necessary to dissolve it. The mdJOTHy
of States which form the Union must consent to
the withdrawal of any one branch of it. Until
| that consent has been obtained, any attempt to
! dissolve the Union, Obstruct the efficiency OF
! its constitutional laws is treasOn-treason to all
intents and purposes. Any other doctrine, such
as that which has been lately held forth by the
| Federal republicans, that any one State may
withdraw itself from the Union, is an abOminablei
heresy-whch strips its author of every possible
pretenson to the name or character of a FEEDER
| alist.
1--WE call, therefore, upon the Government of
the Union to exert its energies when the season
shall demand it, and seize the first traitor who
shall spring out of the hotbed of the convention
of Hartford This illustriOus Union, which has
been cemented by the blood Of our foreiathers,
the pride of America, and the wonder of the
world, must not be tamely sacrificed to the heated
brains of the aspiring hearts of few macontents.
! The Union must be saved when any one shall
| dare to asSail it.
"Countrymen of the East we call upon YOU to
! keep vigilant eye upon those wretched men who
would plunge us into civil war and inevitable dis
grace. Whatever may be the temporary calami
ties which may assail us, let us swear upon the
altar of our country to SAGE the Union"
That was the sentiment of Virginia in those
days, and it is the sentiment of thousands of her
sons at this day. The duty of the government
was never more plainly and earnestly set forth
than in these patriotic words.
If the State of New Jersey has a reserved right
to set up government of her own, to seize the
property of the United States within her limits
and refuse to pay duties in her ports, then the war
on which we have entered is unrighteOus, and
ought to be abandoned.
If the people Of New Jersey are bound, in the
sight Of God ard man, to render obedience to the
Government of the United States, then the Gov
eminent must be sustained by the entire strength
of the country until the question is settled for
ever. Property and life will be spent by millions
but neither property or life is secure if it is ad
mitted that any member of this Union may plunge
the whole system of government into disorder,
whenever it chooses to set up to govern itself
If t we're possible to conceive OF Il war waged
in the spirit of Christianity, our prayer should be
that God would inspire the Government and peo-
pie of the United States with the spirit that
dwes in his infinite heart when he deals with
those who cast off His Government, and erect
their own in the disorder that ensues. The for
bearance of the Government hitherto has been
without parallel. While Notifications and trea-
sures were forcibly seized, she was patient. While
armies were disciplined to resist her she was quiet
When the emblem of her sovereignty was assailed
she declined to strike. She was fOrbearng be-
cause she was powerful, and her were resist
ing her authority. And this ought not to be Of
hate; it ought to be defense of the right of
government; a struggle to maintain the principle
of popular government, in which the majority
of the people are to bear rule; and just soon
as that principle is admitted, we ought to he will
ling and anxious to compose our quauels like
Christian citizens. There is an orderly, cOnsti-
tutoual way of meeting the difficulty. As the
Richmond Enquirer said in 1914: The same
power which knit us together can only unknit.
The same formality which forged the links of the
Union is necessary to dissolve it,"
The Impending Conflict.
The telegraph indicates that 4 collision between
the Government and Confederate forces may soon
be looked for in Eastern Virginia. The New
York NeIrS of Thursday says:
The latest intellireucc received from the South