Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-13
WEEKLY SENTINEL.


The Louisville Journal Of yesterday contains
an appeal 70 Col. H S. LAKE TO act as pa
triot and statesman and to use the influence
of his position to aid in adjusting the political
difficulties Of the country. We publish the
article in this mornings paper TO show the spirit
which animstes the conservative men of Ken
lucky. The esTort however, we fear will prove
without avail. Col. LANE received the votes of
a large number of conservative Republicans and
Americans as the opposition candidate for Gov
ernor, for the reason that he was represented as
entertaining conservative views upon the political
issues OF the day. His friends claimed him as
"HESRY Clay wing" and the old admirers
of that eminent statesman for that reason gave
him their support. To that influence he was in
ebted for bis election as Governor and for his pres
ert position. But what evidence has the ex-Gov-
ernor and Senator elect presented that he
intends OF even desires to reflect the conservative
sentiment of his political friends? He has had
opportunities so to do, when his voice and in
auence would have gone far to hush the fanati
cal sentiment in his party and strengthened the
hands of those who are striving to compromise
the sectional strife which threatens the overthrow
of the Government. But he was not equal to the
emergency His inaugural message, in senti-
nent, language and manner was defiant 1tcon-
tanned no counsels for peace and Cancellation.
His patriotism was not superior to the excitement
OF the hour, or was it as comprehensive as our
country His eye was fixed upon the Senatorship,
and to secure that objec: of his ambition he pan
dered to the worst passions of his party. An
other opportunity was presented him for the
exercise of the highest craftsmanship and
the purest patriotism" but again he failed to
meet the issue in that spirit. PROPOSE
ton was adopted by the Legislature for the APP
pointment of Commissioners to the Peace Con-
gress, and the counsel Of Colonel LANE was
sought in the selection of the Commissioners.
What was the result Should not his position as
the recognized leader of his party in Indiana
have given him influence in the appointment of
the proper men for that high position? Should
not citizens have been selected to represent a
State which has stood foremost among the
Northern States for its conservatism, of "high
craftsmanship and pure patriotism in whose
wisdom, integrity and sagacity, the people would
have had entire confidence, and who would have
exercised their influence for promoting the OBJ
jects for which the convention was calledf But
other counsels prevailed With perhaps one excep-
ton, inferior men were selected and who are only
known as viruIent partisans, of decided Abolition
poclivisies.
If the purpose had been to defeat the restoration
of harmony and the more perfect union OF the
States in the spirit in which the Constitution was
formed. it could not have been more certainly ac-
ccmplished than in the manner the commission
was appointed and the character of the commits
sioners selected. What splendid opportunities
has Col LANE had to exhibit the glory of his
genius, the large generosity of his nature and the
out gushings of warm heart "imbued with the
liberal conservatism which marked the Great Dead
whose teachings nationalized our sentiments,
ard in whose footsteps he processes to tread.
Colonel LANE has been weighed IA the balan
ces and found wanting. BE is not statesman,
with the proud manhood OF patriot, conscious
of no North, no South, no East, no West-noth-
ing but his country. He has reached the proud
position once occupied, and graced by the gallant
patriot and statesman of Kentucky-but there the
parallel ceases. The patriotism and statesman
ship of the Great Dead SCARED like the eagle. but
in these qualities the Republican leader of In
dinna can not rise higher than the bat. In con-
clusion, we say to the correspondent of the Lou
isville Journal that we fear he has not rightly es
tirnated the character of the man. To use a
honey but expressive, smile, it will be about as
easy to make whistle out of pigs tail a
statesman out of such material as Indiana's Sem
ator elect