Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-03
Is the Country Betrayed.

The fact that General Mcclellan is not an Abo-
| litOnist, and that he will not sanction the en-
] ployment of the army in war to emanci pate
slaves; that is he will not make the emancipation
of slaves the object of the war. General Halleck
in his address to the army entering Tennessee and
| Arkansas, bid them to observe the property of
the people, and in no way to disturb it; to exclude
all slaves who might seek the Federal lines, and
have nothing to do with fugitive slaves. Slavery,
he said, was a question between the slave and his
owner, and one with which the army had nothing
to debut question belonging exclusively
| to the civil courts To decide. The army should
not interfere in any manner with the institution.
General Sherman, when he landed upon the shores
OF South Carolina, gave TO the people of that
State an assurance that the Federal army would
not in any way interfere with their property or
their institutions. General Phelps when he land.
ell on the gulf, told the people of the States of
Mississippi and Louisiana that slavery was wrong.
and would be cleaned out 10y this war, but Major
General Butler. General Phelps superior officer,
took prompt occasion to repudiate the proclama
ton, and poor Phelps has ever since been set
down as "a iunatic. Fremont undertook to issue
deeds of emancipation, and Fremont's official
/ head was cut off. Secretary Cameron thought
the slaves should be emancipated by armies,
and then armed and Mr. Lincoln suddenly re-
marked that at dinner one day many months pre-
viously, Secretary Cameron had expressed de-
sire to leave the war office, and forthwith acted
on that wish by asking for his immediate resigna-
ton.
An6 now comes the last evidence General
Burnside at the head of legend of New England
troops, with Pennsylvanians and New Workers
swelling his numbers to forty thousand proclaims
to the people of Virginia not like Caus Marus,
freedom TO the bondmen," but "to close the
desolating war" He invites the people of Vir-
einia not i'm the name of universal freedom, and
the obteration of slavery. but Gin the name Of
The Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty
and civilization" to separate themselves from
the rebel leaders. "The Government" says Gen.
eral Burnside, Task only that its authority may
be recognized, and we repeat that in no manner
or way does it desire to interfere with your laws,
constitutionally established your Institutions OF
any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or
your usages in any respect.
Now the question which we wish to put is, are
| Mcclellan, Halleck Butler, Sherman and Burn
side soldiers in the cause of freedom" or are
they soldiers in the cause of the Constitution
Ii this be war for the enforcement of the Con-
sttution and the laws, and the preservation OF
the Union as it was, then these Generals are do
ing their work nobly and well. But il the Con-
sttution has ceased to exist if instead of being
a war to enforce the Constitution and the laws it
be n war To exterminate slavery and establish a
perpetual military desootism over the conquered
States of the Potomac, then the army is in the
wrong hands, and the country is betrayed Our
readers must decide for themselves whether Gen
erals Mcclellan, Haleck. Burnside Sherman
and Butler understand the real objects of this
war; If they do not understand their duty, and
are perverting the war for the purposes of con-
tinuing slavery and slave recognizing Coqstitu
ton, then let our readers unite with the Chicago
Tribune in denouncing them as traitors and be-
trayers of their country. If the war, waged
by Burnside, Halleck and Mcclellan be success
full, then slavery will not be abolished, but the
world will have the knowledge that the American
people, even under strong temptation and provo
cation suppressed the most formidable rebellion
of modern days without violating one letter OF
their Constitution, and without doing violence to
one private rig.t.-Chicag0 Post.