Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-14
Can>c. of the Nsar.

The World slightly changes tie issue in lis
statement OF the question. IL proposes 70 show
tina. The popular Judgment, which holds slavery
responsible tor this atfocious rebellion i Just
There IS a distinction between being the cFu-e OF
an effect and being re-ponsble for the effect.
which the World should have avoidet. But we
are content with that form OF accusation. aud de
nyng in passing, that there j. ans such popular
Judgment that - here animated, We say that
slavery Is not responsible for the present atrOcioas
rebellion, and an accusation thatir i 80 Is not
only unjust, but. diyerts the public judgmentirom
the really guilty parties
We state the Worlds argument briefly but We
believe fairly. IL Is this. The rebellion il the
elimination Of controversy which commenced
With tie annexation OF Texas. Texas was an
nexed 70 subserve the interests of Southern
slavery. The Mexican annexed territory,
aud the defiant attempts" Of slavery u plantit
self on that territory threatened the Union I'LL the
compromise of l-J0; il in the interest of
slavery that the controversy was reOpened in 1854
BY the repeal of the Missouri compromise. per
petuated By attempts 10 force slavery into Kan
sas; and finally, slavery divided the Democratic
party at Charleston and seized the forts and pub
lie property. These Successive acts, saith the
World, are the causes OF the war and ifthey are
not will the Journaiof Commerce enunierate the
causes which trere the causesr"
We can, perhaps. devise no better way to refute
at once to reply 70 this last question, aud state
what believe to have been the causes OF the
War. Having, for years, warned the nation OF
tue lmmlnency OF this war We are strongly con
WINGED that it proceeded from tire causes which
we, ia common with thousands of wiser men than
We, prophesed would produce it, While others
laughed At our warnings, were firm in the
prophecy, and now the men that denied skill
n seer, doubt wholly whether We were right in
eur xIe,x N he 1xit mo-
IL i strongly probable that the impartial views
OF the past fen years are more correct than
crude speculatiOns now suddenly made. by men
for the iirst time reused To knowledge of the
truth.
We shall not waste time at present in a specific
reply 10 the World argument, since our answer
10 its last question renders that unnecessary. We
simply renarkIng that It's force Is demolished en-
tIrely by the fact that slavery had no more TO do
with tile annexation OF Texas than had Democrat
cy all over America. New York and Pcnns Iva
MA have more responsibility for that event than
North Carolina or tennessee. The same is true
OF entire list OF events which the World cites,
and the whole period of events "culmnating" in
rebellion, are lound without foundation and with
out apex They were the work of the Democrat
ic party. strong in the North as ia the South and
they did not cHtniRafe IN the war, for IL did mol
proceed from iraS caused BIZ them.
But We reserve this discussion Tor the present.
while We proceed To state our views of the causes
OF the war, and who j. responsible for IL. Our
Government s the hrst instance of great na-
ton founded a written instrument which de-
fines IT. national powers and prescribes the rights
OF it, citizens. The object ot the instrument was
not as some imagine, 10 the blessings OF
liberty 10 IL founders ana their pOsterity. This
was but one OF many objects, among which were
enumerated tine establishment OF Justice the EN-
surfing OF domestic Tranquility and the promotion
of the general welfare Liberty To be limit
Ell by justice and the common interests OF all.
such liberty men lind under tue restraints OF
wholesome government. with due regard TO the
rights OF their neighbors and OF all men.
Among other methods of carving ont those
objects the founders of the nation made pro
visions with reference to personal and property
rights, and rs they lived in an age when slaves
were bought and sold aud held in perpetual bond
age. aud for inheritance. throughout the land.
they treated that fact they treated all others
latng To the rights Of property. They established
around IL certain guarantees. they pledged to It's
protection the whole force OF the Government.
they soemnly bound the States of the Union 10
tile perpetuatiOn OF the institution as long rs the
Constitution remained inviolatc and one State
desired the preservation OF slavery. Slavery
was, 10 all intents and purposes, porfegc OF the
Constitution. an adopted child. long the
States or any of them preferred that TO other
the Constitution IN the year 1860. and We were
bound by every line OF Il. Slavery was our pOr-
feqc as IL had been our fathers. Gentlemen may
shrink from this plain unyarnished truth, but IL is
the truth Ii one line OF that Constitution is
sacred. every line Is equally so. and the cannon
AMI the armies OF the nation are no'more pledged
to demand from foreign nations just recOmpense
for stolen land. or stolen ships, or stolen money.
than they are bound To demand the same recon-
pense for stolen slaves.
There had been, since the DAYS of Washing
ton, men among Us Who were opposed to the Fed
era Union. These men had from time to time.
sought power and place, and finding the princi-
pies OF the Democratic party most popular, they
had generally been attached To that party. The
favorite scheme ot these. men. existing from gen
Grafton TO generation, was the establishment OF
Southern Government. Washington had them in
his mind as early a. 1896, when he called on the
country 10 irown upon every attempt 10 ALLEVIATE
any portion OF country from the rest, or Co
enieeble the sacred ties which now link together
the various parts; and he added a solemn warn
ing against sdch geographical determinations OF
parties as would be indicated 10y the names OF
Northern and Southern, Eastern aud Western
ithout pausing here trace the various e,s
denceS OF the constant presence OF these men in
the nation, and their occasional demonstrations II
i sufficient say that IN Later wears they became
numerous and strong But convention after con
ventiou. and public meeting after public meeting
failed IN producing any sensible effect in favor of
their mad schemes, or in moving the great body
OF the Southern people to their views The South
Was wholly and heartily attached To the Union
loved il, defended IT, PRAYED for its perpetuitv
The heart of the South right. and there
hone for the new Government plan until there
arose al the North party OF men whose avowe Ell
objects was the overthrow of the institution OF
slavery which was the child Of the Constitution
Right or wrong. that Institution was in every
southern home. WAS the foundation Of property
the support OF millions OF dependents and of
owners Abotionsts might have attacked the In
stitution with their male,lctons produced eft
feet They did furnish some fuel with which the
new Government men kinded flame in South
Carolina, bat those men were pcwerless still. At
length. however, Northern States began 20 Join
in the cnmitv 10 the institution. They passed
personal liberty bills With the avowed intention
OF hinlcring. it not defeating. the coeraton OF
the Constitution OF the United State Those
bin, we're pr0aouncei. Is in Massachusetts IN
CONSTITUTIONAL 10y the highest opinions in the
North and South. but the Northern zealots were
reckless OF the consequences.
Rapidly. with rapidity almost unparalleled.
the di>unoni>ts of the South increased their
forces and grew in strength The statesmen. the
father the few noble men who remained 10 u
from ga age of great men, besoughi the North to
pause The anti slavery raid vas fierce and IN
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