Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-03

|
| sea, if we have not as our shield, our buck
/ Ter, and our defense, the Constitution of our
! fathersI Within its sacred folds garnered up
/ the great crown jewels of human freedom. First,
and above all, every hazard, and in the face of
| all consequences, permit not the citizen TO be
robbed of these jewels. They constitute his all;
they render his person sacred; they make his
roof protect him at home; they enable him when
abroad to exclam with more weight than the Ro-
man of old, that he is American citizen; they
/ open his prison doors in time of trouble; they
/ place him before his accusers; they give him
trial by his peers; they protect him in the enjoy
/ ment of the hard earned labor of his hands; they
/ tell him, in tones of angelic sweetness, to eat in
/ peace the bread which he has earned in the sweat
of his face. They all, all. sir. that render
| American citizenship significant of liberty signi-
/ fcant of iree-bOm, upright, glorious manhood
/ throughout the world. For me, let me wear and
enjoy them, though my possessions should be no
broader than the narrow limits to which all
hasten, and where the weary heart finds rest.
But we are constantly reminded by those who
/ propose to violate the Constitution, that we are
/ in the midst of national crisis which calls for
the exercise of powers not contained in that in-
strument. deny this proposition, and assert on
/ the contrary that the restoration of the Union
will be accomplished by and through the instru-
/ mentality of the Constitution, and a strict OBJ
servance of its provisions or not at all. And
now, sir, in this connection | propose to discuss
/ in some of its most important bearings, one of
| the measures introduced into this House the
! highest offering which, in the judgment of its
/ friends, craftsmanship can bring at this time to
the cause of our unhappy country.
The members of this body, on the ID day of
December had but fairly become seated, and
the sound of the roll call had scarcely died away,
until with hot haste the gentleman from Massa-
chusets Mr.. Eliot introduced the following res
outiOns:
"Resolred Jy the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Ofthe United SfTteS 0T dDeriCd IN COHQreSS
seJed That in behalf of the people Of these States,
do again solenny declare that the in hich
engaged against the insurgent bodies now in arms
against the Government has for its object the suppression
of such rebellion and the reeSabhment Of the rightuI
authority Of the national Constitution and laws the
entire extent Of country ,. That while
disclam all power under the Constitution interfere by
ordinary legislation with the institutions OF the several
States, yet the existing must be conducted
coring TO the ordinary ard rights Of military
vice, and that during its continuance the recognized
thorty Of the maxim that the safety Of the State is the
hghe law SubOrnates rights Of property and dominates
over civil relations 3 That therefore we do hereby
clare that Judgment the President Of the United
States the Commander Chief Of army, and the
officers in command under him. have the right
cipate all persons held slaves in any military district
in state of in-urreetion against the national Govern
mcnt and that respectfully advise that such order Of
emancipation be issued whenever the same will avail to
weaken the power Of the rebels in arms strengthen
/ the military power Ofthe loyal forces"
A few moments afterward the gentleman from
/ PENNSYLVANIA Mr.. Stevens who | think NAV
Justly be considered as the leader of his party
not to be Outdone, and to assert his right to be
| looked upon as the head of the Abolition church,
not even respecting the claims of the gentleman
| from Illinois, Mr.. LOvejoy,l introduced the fol
lowing as his plan for the restoration of the Gov
ernment of our fathers:
''wmREAs Slavery the present rebellion in
be q nd
permanent peace and union in this Republic long
that institution exists within it; and whereas slaves
ing and prOtracng the war; and whereas by the law Of
nations is right hberate the slaves Of enemy
''Bs it resolsef 6V TIE Snate and House Of ReDre-
sentdtires Of tie United Sdtes Of AHaericd ia Con-
0rss assembled That the President be requested TO de-
clare free direct all Generals and officers in
command order freedom all who shall leave
their masters, who shall aid in queng this rebel
I lion.
States pledge the faith the Union make fun
compensation all loyal citizens who and shall
active supporting the Union for all the loss they
may sustain by virtue Of this act"
! Not an hour was lost, sir, in the Inauguration,
on this floor. of the schemes of universal abOli-
| tiOnsm and their prolonged discussion. The
country witnessed this evil omen with amazement
and alarm. The idea that Congress cherished the
remotest design of attempting TO interfere with
or abolish slavery in the Southern States had
er entered the minds of the people That the
war in which we are engaged was to be prOsecu-
ted for such purpose they had no right TO be-
eve if there is any faith to be put in the pledges
of the public men now in power. But in what
/ light these subjects placed before the country
now? The distinguished leaders of the party
which has control here on this floor, have, day af-
ter day, during this session, proclaimed the pow
er and the purpose by congressional action to
strike down the domestic Institutions of the States,
] L a
/ the House. The four million of slaves held by
the Southern States are he declared free by the
proclamation of the President or by act of Con-
gress. And other and further atrocities are pro-
posed in this connection which l will alude to
before | close.
wish, first, sir, to show in the amplest and
most conclusive manner that this pernicious
movement is an act of intoerable bad faith on
the part of the party in power towards Union men
| of the country. | assert here on this floor, and
shall prove before | sit down, that, if universal
emancipation is now to be the policy of the Gov
/ ernment IN its prosecution of this war; foul de-
ceptiOn has been practiced on the loyal people of
the nation, and our army has been obtained and
mustered into the field by false pretenses more
gross than were ever before perpetrated to obtain
the means with which to carry out secret and un-
hallowed purposes. BY what magic cry came
six hundred thousand men into the tented field!
fierce arena of civil conflict? By what strong ap-
peal were they aroused from their slumbers of
peace and induced to exchange home and its hap
pnessfOr the dread alarums of war; In what name
was the citizen transformed into the sOderY In
what sign does he propose to conquer? Sir. these
are questions pregnant with the fate of the future
The people are asking them; the soldiers of our
great Army are asking them, in dislay at the
evil Vaccinations of abOlitionists in and out of
] hafr - han nd aualar
ced within records which will not perish A few
short and eveutful months ago the authorities of
the Government called Tor an army more vast
than Caesar or Napoleon ever commanded on the
field of battle. Such a movement had 10 be
sactiOned by cause equal in its importance.
The cause. as asserted, was one to which no true
American could turn deaf ear. The mante-
nance of the Constitution, the restoration of the
Union. and the enforcement of the laws were pro-
claimed as the lofty purposes for which the tread
of armed men shook the continent. To people
proud OF their Government, and supremey blest
under its benignant workings, such appeal was
irresistible. With it was mingled none of the
heresis which are now the watchwords of pow
erfu party on this floor.
Let us turn and look back briefly on some in
cidents of but recent occurrence, but which seem
already to be fading from the recollectons of
men. On the 4th day Of March last, in the pres
sence of his listening and wondering cOuntrymen,
and in the presence Of his oath to support the
Constitution. the President Of the United States
held the following language:
~ have purpose directly or indirectly 10 interfere
with the institution Of slavery in the States where IL
it's ieve have no lawful right to do So and have
no inclination 20 do So"
This position assumed at time when
every word spoken by the new Executive was
carefully weighed by an anxious country; and
when in brief space afterward the nation was
convulsed by actual conflict. this definition of his
constitutional power over the subjec, of slavery
was remembered and trusted by a patriotic peo-
nle They saw I'm IL a snlernn nladne niren In