Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-31

danger. the Republicans Of New York and Of
other States invited Democrats and all other 10y
al men 70 lay aside partisan controversy and unite
with them in the support of the war for The pTofec
ton Of the Consultation and Union. No other
motive OF purpose for the war then heard
from the leaders Of the Republican party or indeed
in any quarter having the slightest influence upon
public opinion.
The messages and speeches OF the President;
the procla nations of his Generals pledging the
public faith 10 the people of the invaded States,
and OF which his mere silence was an approval
and confirmation; the resolutions OF Congress
passed almost unanimously, only two Repubh-
cans voting against them IN the House OF Repre-
sentatives; the language of the press and Of popu
lar meetngs-all united in declaring that the war
was to be prosecuted not 10 subjugate the South.
nor TO change Southern institutions nor to de-
priye Southern men OF their property or rights,
but simply TO establish the authority of the Con
stitution over all the States.
Such were the appeals and assurances under
which the war commenced. But when we had
half a million of men in arms; when our armies
were filled with Democrats and others who vol
unteered to fight tor this and not for abOli
ton; when Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri,
relying upon our promises, had sent loyal men 20
Congress, opened their territories to our troops
and placed themselves in our p0wer-then first
heard, that slavery beng the cause of the war
starery must be destroyed. Ii is notorious, that
at this day large portion Ito say at east) OF The
Republican party repudiate these pledges and
trample on their own Chicago platform. They
are the open advocates Of the abolition of slavery
in the States, and of measures of confscatIon so
sweeping and relentless that their like has not
been known since the days of William the Con
queror. They have theories, several theories.
Some Of them maintain that the seeded States
out Of the Union, and therefore have no
rights. They adopt the doctrine of secession, at
taching - IL consequence that enhances its alb
surdity. The States, they say, gone "a
States but remain territories, subject 10 abso-
lutte power This is the theory of Mr. Sumner.
IL is the theory adopted by great meeting in the
city of New York, over which son of Alexan
der Hamilton presided. Others derive the power
% abolish slavery from a different source. lt
may be done, they say. by the war power-in 9th
words, by despotic power. Who can bound
the war powerl And TO what miserable state
must that country be reduced, where II shall be
thought justification OF every violation OF con
stitutional law to say that il may be done 10y
the power.
| know that all these gentlemen claim to be
prominently EVEN the friends oi the Union
They would sooner abolish slavery than that The
Union should perish They would exert militia
~ despotism in the South for the sake Of The
Union. They are passionate in their love that
they would sacrifice law. liberty, the Constitution
itself, TO saue the Union. Well the u ion, to
which they are SO devoted, is one for which con
fess have no respect or attachment. know no
Union but our Constitutional Union of free and
equal States 1t is an abuse of words to call any
thing csc the Un,on. Upon the new platform,
Phillips, who declares that for twenty weary lie
has been the enemy of the Union, and Garrison
who formerly stgmatised it compact with
hell, are both Union men. 1t Is the opinion oi
these gentlemen that the law of God and the
Constitution of the United States variance
with each other, and therefore they have sought
the overthrow of the Union, but they have be
come converted since it has been discovered that
one may be an enemy of the Constitution, and
yet friend of the Union. So, Mir. Gerret Smith.
who sat in seat of honor at the New FORK
meeting, informs US in his circular though he
hates the Constitution he iorcS the Union
The legislative address invites to the proposed
Union Convention call Republicans, Union Dem
ocrats and other loyal citizens" This implies
that all Republicans are loyal; that disloyaity
my be found among Democrats and other citi
zens, but nowhere else. Such Is not my opinion.
We are in arms against the disloyai men of the
South, and none here now oppose the war. |
believe that individuals may be found in the
North who sympathse with the rebels and wish
them success But il would be absurd to organ.
ize political party against persons 50 few AMI
Insignificant, and who dare only speak IN whispers.
The diSlOya men Of the North, from whom dan
ger is to be apprehended, they who seek to
convert the war into war Tor the emancipation
of the black race by means OF the overthrow OF the
Constitution. Where are these TO be found?
Sumner is one of them: Wade another; Thad
deus Stevens third. If there are Democrats or
other citizens among them, | think they will be
found to fraternise with the Republicans, or
rather to be in a transformation state. Is 1t not
plain that if need Union party at the North,
il is in order To defeat the schemes of these men?
But how can that be # they are invited TO take
part in the movement?
There is no resemblance between this move
ment and that which resulted in the nomination
of the Union ticket in this State last fall. There
was then show of opposition to the war at the
North, but no difference to its purpose We
all then were or proposed to be Constitutional
Union men. Now all opposition TO the war has
disappeared, but controversy has arisen as to
object Tor which it shall be prosecuted; whether
to establish the Constitution or TO overthrow it,
and reduce the South to the condition of con
Quered province. Upon this question, the only
political question that really divides the people OF
the North, a true Union party can not be neutral
or silent.
For twelve years past have thought that there
was a necessity for Constitutional Union party.
wished that such party might be formed in
1850 | hoped for it again in 1869 | think that
loyal Democrats, loyal Republicans, and all other
loyal men ought to unite and form such party
The basis of such organization (Which
might be temporary, leaving present parties to
resume their former relations when the Union
shall be reStOred) may BE found in the resolutions
adopted By the committee of conservative mem
bers of Congress of which Crttenden chair
man. But look in vain for any such DECLARE
ton as the times demlnd in the address and reSo-
buttons adopted by the so-called Union members
OF the State legislature There is much there
about slavery. but little nothing about the Con
stitutiOn. There is no declaration against abOli
ton or general cOn6Scation: no assurances to
loval Southern men that their rights shall be
Spected; no recognition OF any rights remaining
to the people of the seeded States; 10 cOndem-
nation of that most absurd form of secesSionsm
which converts States into Territories. and erects
a military despOtsm upon the ruins OF the COnSti-
tuition. The play of Hamlet with the part of
Hamlet left out Is not more ridiculous than
Union party that leaves out the Constitution.
| entertain the hope that the conservative men
of the North will in some way unite and act in
concert with the loyal citizens OF kentucky,
Maryland and all other Southern States that are
or NAV become free from the usurped power OF
Jefferson Davis trust that there there will he
some movement for this purpose at Washington
before the j)urnment of Congress. But
whether this shall be accomplished OF not. Ger
t1inlv can enter into no combination with Repub