The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25
VOLS.

fore the Indiana Democratic Con-
VeDtiOn.
Civil wsr is upon us. For its existence
the Democratic party IL not responsible
For many years We have Admonished those
who favored sectional party Of its danger
in the sentiments Of Washington's Farewell
Address, that the greatest danger to be appre-
hended to our country, was the formation Of
geographical parties-ws have advocated
" those doctrines which we believe fair and
equal to all sections; and which could have
been adopted without wounding the pride,
or stimulating the arrogance Of either" Our
appeals were dsregsrded. Sectional PRIDE
prejudice and hatred in one section produced
the same sentiments in the other; and Of this
sectional strife was begottsn our present troub-
les. The war is upon uG--"wickedly provo
ked on one side, and in folly and sin, and
without sufficient cause, commenced on the
other." With Secession upon the one hand,
and sectional interference with Southern
rights upon the other, we hold no sympathy.
Our most earnest desire is for the restoration
of the Union, upon the basis of the Constitu-
ton, and, for myself, 1 will give an honest
support to all constitutional and proper meas
ures, adopted by the Administration to that
end; and will as earnestly oppose all acts
in violation of the Constitution, and in sup.
preston of liberty, because of my veneratior
for that solemn compact of our fathers, and
because such policy renders the Union impos.
sibse, by oblitcrating the Union sentiment o.
the South, and giving aid and comfort to itt
enemies.
What are we to do with the negroes Of the
South, in connection with the war? is asked
upon every hand. Before answering that,
let me ask, for what purpose is the war wa
ged? If, as the President does profess, and
the soldiers in the fold believe, it is to sup.
press rebellion; to restore the Union, and
to establish the Constitution and the suprem-
acy of the laws, then answer with the ne
gro slave and his condition, we have nothing
to do; nothing whatever, either as q purpose
incident, or consequence of the war If tbs
Constitution be restored, in its authority
over all the States, then the Consti tuition it.
self refers the condition of the colored rae.
10 the authority of the States, and by liz owr
provisions exclude Federal jurisdiction
But beyond that, how is tho negro to be
an element OF strength for she suppression o.
the rebellion? Cameron and his supporters
Of the Republican party say, put arms ia their
hands. For what purpose? Are there not as
many men in the North ready to fight as We
can arm and feed and clothe and pay? Or is
it true, that outnumbering the South, near, y
~ three to one, the North falten and fails
and mnst call the negro to the rescue?
would call upon my countrymen to visit with
the universal indignation and scorn t1e mis-
creant who enterlajGs so base an opinion o:
the Northern strength and Northern courage
Ignorant of the use of arms, and lacking thoae
high intellectual and moral qualities, tina;
make the efficient soldier, the negro can wiz
no battle, where the men of the North are
driven back. What General would 90 into
battle trusting to black regiments for his
strength? and what regiment, made up of the
proud mon of Indiana, would stand in bat
tie, where they must lean for support upon
armed negroes?
Another class, too cowardly to fight, anc
too malevolont to be gratifed by the results
of civilized warefare, demand a carnival o
blood and feast OF horrors, and scenes of ser.
vile instruction. Onr fathers detested the
foe that would incite the forest savage tt
scenes of midnight massacre, and tbs judg
ment of enlightened and civilized humanity
condemns an appeal to the cupidity or lust o
the soldiery. Shall we, then, who have il
keeping the honorable memories of our "a
then; who are amenable to the judgment o
the civilized nations, shall we invoke to ou
aid the negroes of the South, calling up the
foul spirit of insurrection, and making
indiscriminate and uncomfortable war upo
men. women and children, amid scenes to
horrible to be described, and too wicked t
bring a blessing? As believe our soldier
arc strong and brave denounce itas an in
suit to them; and az am jealous OF our goo
name and fair fame, would make proclama
ton of it as thing so atrocious as to consig
us to infamy, in the eyes Of the civilize'
world.
There is yet another class who demand
some say purpose, and Others as consc
quence Of the wal, the emancipation OF th
slaves.
In military point of view, there is weak
ness, embarrassment and burden in the prop
osition, and no strength. Without emancipa
ton and its evils, the slaves, found in tn
neighborhood Of the camps, may be used t
relieve the soldiers Of exhausting labor. Ow
Ing service to their masters, they may be re
quired to render that service to the Govern
msnt; but ifmade free, it will be at their dis
cretion and pleasure whether they relieve tn
soldiers in the trenches and upon the breast
works; at least such is the view OF the Ad
ministration, as expounded by the Secretar
, of War, who says: "The Government has n
power to hold slaves, mono to restrain slav
of his liberty, or to exact his service. 1t ha
the right, however, to use the voluntary ser
vices of slaves, liberated by war from the