Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-14
LEIrlR Nv.

To ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the Unit ed
States:
RESPECTED SR:-In my last endeavor d to
show that the cause of rebellion in the South is
"the pride of wealth and the lust of power" fos.
tered by the cotton monopoly; that the abolition
of slavery could rot abolish that monopoly,
which depends on principles beyond human CON
troll; and that. If cotton produced by hired
labor in the South. as it is manufactured in the
North, its profits would be a. great if not greater,
than they are now, generating the same antipa-
thieS in that section which have produced our
present troubles.
There is party in the North comparatively
small at present, who, for the mere purpose of
abOlishmg slavery in the South, would sacrifice a
hundred thousand Northern lives and a thousand
millions of Northern money, without even the
hope OF any advantage to themselves or the peo-
pie Of the States in which they live.
Like the Southern rebels, they assume its sub
stance that the Constitution no longer exists, and
talk of the reconstruction of the Union" ON
other principles.
These men cannot but know that this is not
the view entertained by the Government by
the great mass OF the Northern people. These
believe that still have Constitution; that
the Government at Washington is not a mere
provisional government; that the war is waged
IN defense of that Constitution and that Govern
ment; that the Union needs no reconstruction"
that. if il did, it would be unwise and dangerous
To attempt it until the rebels are compelled TO
submit To it as IL as; that no act of the seeded
States, not even repeal OF the ordinance of Sc.
cession. is necessary restore them the Union,
because, being unconstitutional and void, those
ordinances could not take them out of it,: that as
the armed resistance 10 the Constitution is put
down in State after State, they will stand in the
Union with all their constitutional rights unm
paired, and resume their duties members of
our great Conlederacy.
But the position of the rebels as individuals is
very different, and nothing but punishment or
pardon can restore them to the rights of Ameri
citizens. They have forfeited their property
and their lives. ana therefore to conhscate their
slaves and thus set them free is not violation of
the Constitution. How far that process should
be carried is question of expediency aud not of
right.
And il is in this point of view that | appeal
TO the advocates OF emancipation in the North
To be content with the progress which their prn.
ciples are making, not through the subversion
OF the Constitution, but under cover of its au
thOrity.
The leaders of the rebellion announced their
determination To conquer or die, and the prin-
cipd shareholders in the South act as il they
IN earnest. Look III South Carolina. In
the violent portion of the State the planters to a
man ty on the approach OF the Union army
burning their cotton, and III many cases their
buildings, and abandoning their slaves There
are said to be nov about eight thousand slaves
thus abandoned in the vicinity OF Port Royal in
South Carolina every one OF whom may be con
stitutonally set tree 10y cOnhscati0n punish
ment of their masters treason. As the Union
armies advance into the interior other thousands
will be added to the number by the desertion of
their masters, and finally there will be no resi-
dent population in large portion of the State
bu, deserted slaves.
Ia short, If the masters persist in their mad
aud cagSeieSs rebellion against the Constitution,
the end will be negro community along pOr
ton OF the Southern coast under the protection
OF the United States
Ii the war is to be protracted by the obsii
nacs OF the cotton planters. this is result winch
the United States can not avert ii they would.
By conG>cation the slaves will be set free,
and through the same process the lands OF their
masters viii be surrendered to them for cuitva.
ton. all without infringing upon the Constitution
Even now there y negro COLONY around Port
ROYAL, under tie protection of the national FORCES
and It's future extension into an organized com
munity depends upon the obstinacy OF the planters
aud the events o! the war.
But this is not all Probably four 6fths of all
the slaves IN the United States are now lawfully
suulect 10 con0ScaUOl on account OF the treason
of their masters How far the forfeiture OF their
slaves. their other property, or their lives, shall
be carried, Is a question OF expeiency ouly. and
involves no constitutional question OF power.
fou iiihs OF all the slaves may thus be lawfully
set Tree. aud the emancipation OF tie other firth
would soon follow
In this view OF the snhect what motives have
the Aboliiionists of the North to press their Gov
eminent into abandonment of the COnStitu-
ton, by making general emancipation, instead
OF the preservation of that Instrument the direct
object of the war, thus giving a color of right
10 the rebellion. ana in a measure paral wing
the arm of loyal men, especially in the Southg
Patriotic men nav we'll differ t0 the extent
to which the punishment Of treason shall be car
red The extreme emancs pitionists may n they
choose insist that Il shall toe carried to the extent
Of confscating and setting free AL the slaves of
reoeiS- That they may DO without assaIling any
principle OF the Constitution. and surely they
would be much strong CT that ground than any
other. Why, then. should they abandon the
Constitution and place themselves on revolution
AIRY groundg Why not act with cordialty With
those who are striving to maintain the COnslitu-
tisHi n il is: and. that beng accomplished seek