Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-28
The President and Congress ON
slavery.


WENDELL PHILLIPs, in a speech in Boston last
week. thus referred to the sympathies of the
President on the slavery question:
The President said to a leading Republican of
New York, why don't yeu hold conventions
often. and let me feel the mind of the natonI
You can not create as much anti-slavery feeling
we shall need before we get through this war"
In the Presidential canvass of 1860 the Re
publican party, with Mr.. LINCOLN as its leader,
solemnly assured the country that it had no de-
sign to interfere with slavery where it existed.
Last July the House adopted the CRITTENDEN
resolution which expressly declared that the sole
object of the war was to restore the supremacy
of the Constitution, without impairing the dig
nifty, the rights and the equality of the States.
And about year ago the same body declared
chat it not its purpose or that of the country
to interfere with slavery in the States where it
existed, and that the Aboitionists of the North
were too Insignificant in numbers and influence
to be worthy of consideration. And such it has
been represented were the sentiments and pur-
poses of Mr.. LINCOLN. But a change has taken
place. With the approval OF the President law
has been passed abolishing slavery (where it
isted) in the District of Columbia measure I'M
called for at the present critical uncture of our
national affairs. The House has also approved
resolution to appoint committee 70 suggest
some plan for the abolition of slavery in the
States. And now we have Mr. LINCOLN reported
by man who was treated with special attention
by the leading Republican Congressman few
weeks ago as saying TO a leading Republican poll
tician: " Y GU not create much anti slavery
feeling as we shall need before we get through
this war" If this be correct, and we do not be-
lieve that Mr.. PHILLIPS would wilfully misrepre
sent the President, the Wanted conservatism of
Mr.. LINCOLN is about as tangible and reli
able as a soap-bubble. In this connection,
the action of the House ON Tuesday last, ON Mr..
Cox's resolution, is significant as to the abolition
drift of the Republican party. We reproduce
the resolution of Mr.. Cox to illustrate the sym
pathies and purposes OF the present Republican
Congress, with the statement that, on motion OF
Mr.. LOvEJoY lit was tabled by vote of sixty
five against thirty one, the Republicans generally
voting in the affirmative:
ResoEced, That the Secretary of War inform
the House of the following facts:
L. What has delayed the reply TO the resolution
of this House calling for information as to the
age, sex, condition, &c, of the Africans EN-
plOyed in Gen. Woods Department.
:. What number o. slaves has been brought
into the District by army officers, other agents
OF the Government, from the State OF Virginia
since the enemy abandoned the possession of
Manassas and their lines Oh the POtOmacY
II 4
and Virginia are how in the City of Washington,
their and probable age?
4. What number is now in and has been sent
to Frederick, MarylandI
>. How many are now fed and supported bv
the money of the United States appropriated by
Congress to prosecute the war;
.. BY what authority were both old and young,
male and female, sent by rail TO Philadelphia, at
whose expense and the amount of expense, and
the purpose for which they were sent?
Z. 1T he has not the means to answer these in
quires, to take the necessary steps to obtain the
information.
If the Republicans from the President down
intended to carry out their recorded pledges in
good faith, what objection could there have been
the adoption of this resolution of inquiry?
Honorable men could not and honest men would
not object to investigation of the facts alluded
to, and we can only regard the vote of the House
as a confession that Republican pledges are not
sustained by Republican acts.