Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-10

MAI 1dEM IL. bhEIl,
OF Daviess County.
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL,
OSCAR B. HORD,
OF Decatur County.
roE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,
MILTON B. HOPKINS,
OF Clinton County.
The President ON the Negro Question.
The President has recommended Congress to
initiate policy for the gradual adjustment of
slavery, by giving pecuniary aid to any State that
NAV desire to adopt measure of that character.
He also dictates the manner that Congress shall
express its views upon the recommendation, pro
posing, if the National Legislature comedies with
his views of public policy. that it shall promptly
adopt joint resolution to that effect, even sug-
gesing the language that shall be employed.
The President is evidently impressed with the
idet that a necessity exists for the policy he sug
gests to end the rebellion. He regards it a
measure of representation for the Government.
c0Iceding by his argument in its favor that there
is dangerous vitality in the rebellion. especially
so far as the more Southern States are
cerned
Emancipation, then is the policy of the Adj
ministratiOn, gradual and not sudden, the Gen
er,sI Government pledgng pecuniary aid "to
compensate for the Inconvenience, public and
yriuate cor such change of system. Ii will be
reeolIected that the President recommended in
his last annual message that slaves should be
received from the States which recognized that
species Of property in lieu of money for their as
sessed quota OF the direct tax and that the slaves
thus received BY Government be colonized upon
some islands adjacent to the United States. These
are some of the indispensable means" which the
President, "not hastily but deliberately" in De-
cember last, thought necessary to be employed to
preserve the Union.
Mr. LINCOLN earnestly begs the attention Of
Congress and the people to his recommendation
aud we trust that it will receive such considera-
ton. Slavery is a State institution. 1t is
entirely under the control of the State Gov
emments where that system of servitude ex-
lists. The Government has so recognized it from
the beginning The President also comedies the
same principle He saws, referring to his recon-
rnendation: "Such proposition on the part of
the General Government sets up no claim
right by Federal authority to interfere with
slavery in State limits, referring it does, the
absolute control of the subject in each to the
State and its people Immediately interested"
He urges the policy Of gradual emancipation upon
the grounds that slavery is public we'll
a private inconvenience" and of economy, as
the current expenses of the war would soon pur-
chase, at a fair valuation, all the slaves in any
named State.
There is no warrant in the Constitution for the
proposition of the President If adopted it i'm
poses a vast burden upon the people of the nom
slavehOlding States, which we believe they will
be unwilling to assume The measure can not
stop with the emancipation of the slave. In his
new condition he will have to be provided for at
the public expense until he can adapt himself to
his changed circumstances. There are many
other considerations involved in the policy recon-
mended by the President, What shall be the
status of the freed slave? Shall it be social
and political equality? Shall he become
citizen, with all the rights and immunities
conferred thereby? Or with the policy of
either sudden or gradual emancipation shall we
procure a colony for the negro. and undertake to
colonize and support him until he becomes self
sustaining? The people of Indiana do not want
to increase their worthless free negro population.
1t is already too large. The Constitution of
Western Virginia provides for their exclusion
from that new State. And the people of the
North generally coincide in this policy. And
where IS the money to come from to carry out
the proposed emancipation schemes?
Under forced system of labor the negro can
be made producer. and thus add, as he has add
ed, to the wealth of the country. As freeman
he will become a tax upon the industry of the
nation The Presidents proposition it seems to
US will work mischief. whatever was intended,
and if suggested by the purest philanthropy 1t
is against the Constitution. 1t is against the
sOlemnly proclaimed policy and the pledges of
Congress to the avowed objects for the prose
cutiOn Of the war In July last Congress almost
unanimously declared the following policy:
That this should not he waged in the shirt
Of conquest and subjugation. nor for the purpose
OF overthrowing or interfering with the rights or
institutions of the States, but to defend and
maintain the supremacy Of the Constitution, and
to preso-ve the Union with all the dignity, equal
ity and rights of the several States unimpaired
the war ought 10 cease.
These sentiments received the Endorsement Of
the Democratic State Convention in January last
Congress has also declared that under the Con-
stitution. the General Government has no right
to interfere with slavery in the States
The work Of restoring the Union is IN a fair
way of accomplishment, il the policy is pursued
that has thus far marked the progress of our ar
mics. As they advance, let them leave States
behind them with all their dignity, equality and
rights unimpaired Already has the war accu-
s,uiased vast public debt. and increased the
pF0Pective governmental expenses 20 an extent
that viii make the taxes TO pay lie interest upon
the deb. and to support the Government. nearly
foufoid more than the present is-essment. In
addition 20 this enormous burden the people of
Indiana do not want to be taxed % buy negroes.
They will be satisfied ifthe rebellion is overcome
and the Union is restored. Ii Congress is wise,
it will keep hands OF from all emancipation
schemes and adhere TO the policy Of non inter-
vention with slavery in States and territories
which in the past has proven a safety valve in the
controversies upon the slavery issue, as it will in
the future. if relied upon, in working out the
problem OF slavery.
The Republican Tax system---The
Result of Republican Rule.
IL is proposed by the Republican Congress to
raise revenue of one hundred and fifty million:
BY taxation direct and Indirect OF this amount