Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-01
SeIrttrO afllstrllanp.
IEVIII IIIU NV IVI \ AI- q
A False Argument.

The Philadelphia Press, prominent and in
fuential supporter of the administration professes
to repudiate the idea Of separation. and to plant
itself immovably upon the principle of preserving
the Union and restoring by arms over every
foot of territory of the seeded States. the au-
thority of the Federal Constitution" In support
of its position the Press uses the following argu
ment:
In dismissing forever from our minds this
hateful idea of Separation, let US turn to the
Old World and barrow from other governments
a wholesome and practical example. What con
sttutes the secret of the pOwer-military, naval,
political and sOcial-of the mighty governments
of Europe but the unity of their dominionsl
The struggles of their rulers for hundreds of
years have been directed against dsuniOn. We
have only to read the pages that record the eff
forts of England in cOnsumatng the consolidation
of her empire by sealing 10 it Ireland and Scot
land, to understand the sacrifices she has made
TO this idea.
"The constant endeavor of England, from the
time Of Edward the First to the death of Eliza
beth. was to subdue Scotland, so to annex that
territory to its own. The hostile endeavors did
not succeed, for Scotland never came into the
English connection until James Stuart, the last of
her independendent sOvereigns, succeeded TO the
British crown. by hereditary succession. ..on the
death of Elizabeth Tudor, some two hundred
and ffty years ago. Ireland, invaded and be-
but not subdued by England, and her history is
the record of a succession of revolts against this
usurpatOn. At last, what force could not effect
was perpetrated by fraud. At the close of the
last century, that vile politician, whose name is
not mentioned in his native land to this day
without execrations-that enemy of human lb
ertv-that cunning. cruel minister, Lord CASTLE
REACH, then virtually ruler'of Ireland, employed
his spies and myrmidOns to get up another Irish
wh " IN N in thp
fatal Ninety eight, and was put down, by force
of arms and treachery, by the troops of the Brit
ish government and followed by the most
cruel punishments of even the mere suspected
uniOrtuaates, as we'll as of those who had been
seduced into revolt.
Two years later, this got-up rebellion was
made the pretext, by CastlereaSh and Pitt, of
effecting that parchment or act of Parliament
Union with England which the Irish have been
striving, ever SINCE to break Immense sums
were spent by England, to break UP, by buying
off, the Irish Parliament, and thus the English
principle of unity carried out, though at
fearful sacrifice of life. treasure and principle.
In other parts of Europe the same efforts have
constantly been made, for the same purpose.
Spain, while in her pride, to retain the Low
Countries France, TO preserve the dOminiOns of
the Dukes of Burgundy Russia, to bind Poland,
the provinces of the Black Sea and the eauca-
sian regions under one rule; Austria, to preserve
Bohemia. Hungary, Dalmatia and North Italy in
the circle of her dominion. Everywhere the
same action has been taken and, with the single,
but universal determination TO carry out the prin
ciple of consolidation. Shall the United States
of America fall from her high position, in the
face of every argument of reason, of honor and
OF interest, and in defiance of the eloquent
teachings furnished in the history of other
nations"
The undoubted loyalty of the paper in which
this singular argument appears, dIsarms the idea
that il IS used In the interest of the States in
rebellion against the Government and vet it is
difficult to conceive how the principle alleged to
be maintainvd-the restoration of the Union as
it and the Constitution as it is-could rece;vs
a more damaging advocacy. God forbid that the
future of this nation should be modelled after the
pattern of the consolidated empires" of Europe
held together by the strength of a tyranny that
crushes down the liberties of the people, and
forces upon them Government in which they
have no part and for which they have no sympa
thy God forbid that the argument in favor of
restoration Of the Union should rest upon the
example Of England, in her treacherous subjuga-
ton Of Ireland of Austria in her tyranny over
Hungary or of Russia, in her treatment of PO
land. We look with amazement, if not with
apprehension, upon the organ of q Republican
administration which exhOrtS us to borrow "a
wholesome and practical example" in our
treatment OF the Southern States, from the pol
lev pursued BY the old world tyranny towards
the nations it has uOdGen beneath its iron heel
IF the Union is 10 be restored. 1t is not to be
by treating the South as Ireland, Poland or Hun
gary has been treated The rule OF a free Gov
ernment must be the rule of reason. not of ter
ror. The Press, in its argument, reminds US
that, while England is strengthened" by her
''unity of government" gained by fraud ard
violence and maintained by oppression, she has
an element Of dscOrd and danger in the dissats.
faction Of the Irish; that Poland and Hungary
have ever been thOrDs in the side Of their OPP
pressors. ct it finds plea for ''unity of gov
eminent IN the strength acquired by England,
Austria and Russia by means Of their tyranny
over the Irish. the Hungarans and the Poles.
Does it desire that the South shall be the Irel md
OF the North. held in the strong grasp of supe-
riOr physical power, and ready at any moment to
rebel as soon the grasp reiaxes or the power
becomes weakened?
but rather through the benehcent influence Of a
Constitution that makes all the States of CON-
mon Government free and equal; that recognizes
the rights Of every member Of the confederacy
and holds those Of the weakest as sacred as those
of the most powerful Let the policy of the Ad
ministration be to preserve the Constitution as il
is-to spread its protection and its blessings over
all the States alike-and it will not be long be
fore its rule extends over a CONSOLIDATED Gov
eminent" bound together. not as Ireland i
bound 70 England, but by the free will of the
people, in the strong ties Of liberty and equality.