Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-15

roa SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,
MILTON h. HOPKINS,
OF Clinton County.
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Ussss seassaens - the south.
The officers Of the Union feet in the recent
trip mp the Tennessee river report that strong
Union sentiment is still existing among the peo-
pie they vi-ited They had evidences of this
feeling which they thought were unmistable.
The St Louis Republican contains the following
report upon the subject from those who were
engaged in the expedition:
The officers say old men rushed on board the
boats and cried like children, saying that for
months they had been praying that Union feet
might visit them. Everything they could
do they did, and everything they had was freely
offered. Never were yictors given more appar-
emily heartfelt ovations. For months, they said,
oppression and outrage had cursed their homes,
and thus numerous Union men were obliged to
keep silent IL they valued life. As voucher for
their stories, they were extremely anxious to en-
ter the Union service, aud many hundred
were received on board the three gunboats to
complete their crews Whole regiments could
be easily raised, and everywhere the people said
they could bring Tennessee back into the Union
II only furnished with guns TO defend themselves
and be able 70 vote they believed. They said
that when the Secession ordinance was passed
armed bodies stood nj the ballot boxes and eve
rythng went just certain political traitors
wishei
Every man capable Of bearing arms had been
obliged TO do have all their property con
iiscated A number OF those joined to the crews
from rebel cavalry company. which had
thus been pressed into service. They plain,
earnest appearing men, aud declare that If loyal
Tennesseeans are protected and armed so as TO be
in ten months be again back in the Urion.
Savannah. Clifton, Eastport and Florence
among the towns visited.
If this report of the sentiment of the people of
Tennessee and Alabama be correct, and We will
not question: but that il is so, for we sincerely
hope that such IS the case. il suggests thoughts
worthy the consideration of every citizen who
sincerely desires the perpetuity of the Constitu-
ton and the Union in the spirit and for the nc
complishment of the objects for which they were
formed If We understand the avowed object of
the war il Is to preserve the Constitution and the
Union, not to destroy, them and that it is not
waged for the purpose of overthrowing or inter
fsring with the rights institutions of the States
or the citizens thereof
II appears that there is decided Union senti-
ment among the people of the Southern States
wherever the Federal forces have penetrated and
given the people the liberty to express their true
sentiments. Shall this loyalty to the Govern
ment be protected, or is the war to be waged in
Discriminatory against the loyal and disloyaI cit
zen7 According TO the report above quoted we
fnd that the Unionists along the towns of the
Tennessee river "were extremely anxious to enter
the Union service, and as many as a hundred
were resolved on the three gun boats to complete
their crews. And more than this, everywhere
the people said they could bring Tennessee back
into the Union il only furnished guns 70 defend
themselves, and be able to vote as they pleased /"
Are the men who entertain and avow such SEN
timents TO suffer the punishment as those
who are in open and avowed hostility to the Gov
ernmenty Ii the purpose OF the war is to ode
fend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitu-
ton and TO preserve the Union with all the dig
nifty. equality and rights OF the several States
unimpaired, and this is what a Republican Con-
gress declared the objects We are fighting
for. the Union sentiment which our forces de-
veloped in their trip up the Tennessee river
should be sustained and encouraged. We have
directed attention this subject to show the sa-
gacity manifested in the resolutions of the Eighth
of January State Convention and their adaptation
to the reported Union sentiment in the
towns along the Tennessee river. The sixth
resolution says: THE maintenance Of the Union
upon the principles of the Federal Constitution
should be the controlling object of all who pro-
fess loyalty to the Government-and in our
judgment this purpose can only be accomplished
by the ascendancy of a Union party in the South
ern States. which shall. by counter revolution.
dispace those who control and direct the present
rebellion Aud the Unionists of Tennessee say
they do this IF only furnished guns de-
fend themselves This Is all they ask to bring
back their State into the Union. Can the Union
be restored by suhugating such people, by de
vastating their country. by deprvng them OF
their constitutional rights. by confscating
their property and by placing them ON terms
of equality with the rebels! Is it not
the wiser policy. to say nothing of its hon
esty. to encourage the Union men of the rebel
States and is il not the duty of all loyal citizens
to DO all in their power to give ascendancy a
Union party in the Southern States, which shall,
by counter revolution displace thvse who con-
troll and direct the present rebellonl This Is the
policy suggested and advocated by the Democrat
&c party of Indiana. by the Democracy of the
North and it is the only policy which will re
store the Union sentiment necessary to preserve
and perpetaate the Consultation and the Union
and all the blessings that our Institutions have
secured 10 people and a nation.
The Situation and Dcfease> of CoIum-
bus. Kentucky.
As this formda5ly fortified town Is to be at.
tackled invested within few DAYS by our troor,s
il situation and defcnses will be subject Of in
terest 10 our readers at this time The CORES
pendent of the Boston journal having obtained
accurate information. writes To that paper from
Cairo follows:
Columbus Is a small town containing in times
of peace perhaps a thousand or twelve hundred