Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22

Never since the war commenced have affairs
looked SO distressing at the present moment.
Our army checked, Daflled, driven back. The
enemy bold, daring and defiant. The President
writirg homilies upon what shall be done with
the comet after he has discharged his proclama
ton In the administrative part of the Govern
ment all things look wretched, fearful and dis
tressing. because there seems To be no mind TO
direct, 10 capacity 10 manage, and very little
anxiety felt as 10 what may be the result.
In Congress things look worse even than they
do in the Cabinet There. there is "go ahead"
but it is of the kind that destroyed Popes army.
aud plugged Burnside's troops upon death The
Chairman OF the Committee of WAYS and Means
in the House declared in his place that there was
no preteaCe of constitutionality in the divid-
ing the State of Virginia it was a revolution
any act Revolutions depend exclusively upon
success. Mr Stevens used this language:
al say, then. that we may admit Western Vir-
GINA as new State, not by virtue Of any pro
vision OF the Constitution. but under our abso-
lutte power which the laws of war give us in the
circumstances in which placed | shall
vote lor this bill upon that theory. and upon that
alone; for will not stultfy myself by surprising
that we have any warrant in the Constitution for
this proceeding.
This Talk of restoring the Union il was un
der the Constitution as il is j. one OF the absurd
tiles which | have heard repeated until have
become about sick OF il. This Union can never
he restored as il was There are many things
which render such an event impossible. This
Union shall never. with my consent, he restored
under the Constitution as it is. with slavery to
be protected by it,"
And again:
81 have consulted the acts Of the Executive,
and find that, while in great majority Of in
stances in the rebel States he has but little regard
to the Constitution. he has upheld it in only one.
in that he prohibits the taking OF the property of
women and children of rebel men who are in
arms with the enemies Of the Union"
We quote this language not for the purpose OF
coudemning il, bat for the purpose OF showing
that in Congress there j. spirit of destructive
ness evinced that is truly amentable. Ii the
party in power is determined to revolutonze the
| Government, lie; them remember that success in
the field, and rapid success, - essential. The
dis memberment OF States. ana the obliter ,tion
ct boundaries 30 hive any force, must be follow
Ell by success in the field The idea OF dividing
Virginia and making two States of it, when the
whole force of the Government for eighteen
months has not been able 20 drive the rebels n
hundred miles from Washington, and when, to
day. they stand At Fredericksburg granting per
mission To bury the dead. is a mOckery worse
than even the silly pronuncamentos for which
Mexican Congresses and Mexican Generals have
become ridiculous
The President and his Cabinet are seeking to
establish boundary line which will letve East
ern Virginia. The Carolinas. Georgia. Florida and
perhaps Alabama. out of the Union. Upon that
boundary line the President. perhaps. is willing
to end the war. How long such boundary
would last one seems to know or care To
obtain foteign mediation To that end ~ the only
object that seems to be sought.
This is put down the rebellion ard
restore the authority of The Government, or il j.
not Disunion means national bankruptcy and
total reputation of the public debt. If tiat
disunon j. the result of imbecity in the Gov
eminent then the national ruin will he the great
er. The only possible means OF escape IS TO
keep the Union together by putting down the
rebellion. Ii cannot whip who puts
himself in our path, let other mems he tried II
TIE Federal Government cannot put down the re-
bellion 10y force, let other be tried. but
never under any possible contingency consent to
diSunou. 1t ae can whip the South, ia God :
Ia me let il be done, but it they are not to be
Subdued by force, ask them upon what terms
they will settle ami STAY in the Union.
The people OF the North have not been want
ing in any particular ! hey have sent million
of men TO the field. most of them armed aud
equipped by the States. The General Govern
ment has had the appointment OF commanding
officers. supF wing the TRANSFORMATION and stores.
ald paying tif, roops We do not know an in
stance where the people or the States have failed
Ia do their duty: nor do We know instance
where the Government has not failed. General
Fremont supplied with pontoon bridges,
which lac carried OF the backs Of mules all over
the mountainous department OF Virginia When
Gen Burnside wantei 70 cross the Rappahan-
/ mock, he had no boats, and bad TO wait weeks Tor
them
Things look fearfully unprOmiSing. a care
less and Indifferent Cabinet, an unfortunately
situated army. and revolutionary Congress
these alone 1t the rebels would stay their aggr
sive NOV ements. Mould bring the nation 10 ruin
| Chicago Post