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

Senator Sumner has recently introduced Sc
ries of resolutions into the Senate of the United
States, setting forth that the States in revolt
against the General Government have committed
suicide, and consequently have forfeited all their
rights. not only to property, but to their longer
existence as States
His whole argument is, we think, based on
false assumption, TO wit: That a State has
right. under the Constitution, to secede from the
Union Gen. jackson denied that such right ex-
lists, and declared most emphatically in his cele-
brated proclamation, that il ought not 10 be ac-
knowledged And all the great statesmen from
that day to this have adopted this view of the
subject Does Mr. Sumner mean to admit the
constitutionality OF all the secession ordinances
that have been enacted through the machi-
nations of few bold and wicked cOnsDira-
tors, contrary to the wishes of large ma
jority OF the Union loving and law abiding citi
zens OF the rebellious Statesl Does he know
that in the ratification OF heseordinances wher-
ever the farce of ratification ess held. that the
fear of the bayOnet more potential than the
voice of the pe0pleg And will he not admit,
that these same oppressed and down trodden peo-
ple-at this very hour. if they were released from
the CALLING yoke of despotism. which has been
imposed upon them by such men as Davis, Yam
cey & CO., would assert their devotion and allie
glance 10 the Union? Has Mr.. Sumner failed to
discover, in all his reading and study of the Con
stitution, that while this unrivalled instrument
made provision. opened door for'the admis-
sion of new Sates-that it furnished 10 outlet or
door for their exit after they we're once admttedl
Why, then, should these loyal people be held re-
sponsbe for the acts OF their oppressors and doom
ed to a state of vassalage and reduced to the
condition of serlsl Away with such ideasl Once
a State. always a State, is the foundation rock
upon which the temple of liberty was built; aud
palsied be the arm the tongue of the man who
for the sake OF maintaining cherished theory of
Government would attempt to undermine or de-
stroy i'll 1.-THE present deplorable civil war has
been forced upon by the disunionists of the
Southern States now IN revolt against the consti-
tutional Government, and is not waged on our
part in any spirit of oppression for any pur-
pose of conquest or subjugation nor purpose of
overthrowing or interfering with the rights or es-
tablished institutions of the States; but defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution
with all the dignity, equality and rights of the
several States unimpaired; and that as soon as
these objects accomplished the war ought TO
cease" In the spirit of tins resolution
the war must be waged, If waged successfully
And when again we are one people. with one Gov
eminent, and one Constitution, with the dag of
the Union emblazoned with the trophies which
have been collected from every battle field, wa
wing, in triumph, over the whole land-then will
be the appropriate time il ever, to attempt fun
damental changes in our political organization.
We advise Mr.. Summer, therefore, 10 withdraw
his resolutions, take up this apple 81 dscord, and