Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-30
Democratic Union State Tickle
An s.OraeaI Of Patriotism -

The New York Tribune admits that II avowed
IL, willingness to let the cotton States when no
oshers had seceeed) 90 ia pesce rather than have
tce country plunged into this terrible war" We
rscollect that il based It's argument upon the
Declaration Of Independence. which il interpre
ted TO mean that a people dissatisfied with an
existing Government, or when they regard it as
oppressive. had the right to separate from il and
set up one of their own. To deny them this right
irdeclared would be to violate the principles upon
which the Revolution was fought and our Gov
eminent was based. The Tribune. in an article
last Saturday attempting to reconcile its present
position, with the expression We have quoted. re
marks:
From the beginning we have asked nothing
but that the rebels should be compelled to lay
down their arms and return to loyalty and the
fulhllment OF their constitutional obligations
We propose TO think own
thoughts aud express them after the rebellion
u suppressed a. we did bslore it broke out
IL the rebellion can only be put down by com
pelling the loyal 70 profess what they do not be
lieve. and promise what they can not conscien-
tously perform in order TO conciatc traitors then
We should prefer it should 20 on but we CLAIM, no
rights that do not freely concele 10 all men,
and whenever the rebels shall be ready to make
peace ON this bass, We are ready
These declarations, or the views expressed by
the Tribune in the foregoing extract cannot be
reconced with its first concession that the peo
pie of the rebel States had the right of revolu-
ton, the sunderng Of their connection with the
General Government. when in their opinion il
subverted their rights. their best interests de
mandcd Il IL the latter assumption is correct,
and 30 far rs the Tribune is concerned il admits
that il is. its present advocacy of force to com
pei the States that have cast off their allegiance
TO return TO loyalty aud the ful6lment of their
constitutional obligations in the light that that
paper presents il, Is but an act of despotism-an
attempt to force an unwilling obedience to an al
legianee which they have pronounced to be OPP
pressiye, unjust, and destructive of those inter-
ests which il is the object of government to
protect and promote, The Tribune af-
frmed that the rebels had the right to dissolve
their connection with the Union, and set up a
Government of their own In the article we
have quoted. il says: 1--WE claim no rights that
we dc not freely concede TO all men" What are
those 'rghtsg" According to the Tribune they
are these: whenever any form of government
becomes destructive of these ends, il is the right
Of the people TO alter or abolish il, and to insti-
tute new government, laying its foundation on
such principles, and organizing its powers in
such a form TO them shall seem most likely to
effect their safety and happiness
This is the right which the Tribune comedies
20 the, as Mr.. SEWARD termed them, "reyolu-
tioDary States" According to the Tribane's
logic those States have the right to do what they
did. In the words of the Declaration of indie
pendence. institute a new Government, laying
its foundations on such principles, and organ
ling its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their safety and hap
piness." Aad as we read its declarations, the
tribune is ready, whenever the rebels shall be
ready, TO make peace on this basis" II such are
its honest convictions. we can not fathom its cor
deal Of patriotism" which demands that the coun-
try shall be plunged into this terrible war to
compel people 70 return to loyalty" and the
"fulilment of constitutional obligations" which
they have repndiated. as the Tribune said they
had the right to do.
We have referred to the position and logic of
the Tribune. and that school of politicians. to
show that they lead right square into secession
and that, too. upon the principle conceded by
them that the people have the right to alter or
abolish Government whenever it becomes, in
their opinion, oppressive. and institute one.
on such principles and in such form. as to them
shall seem most likely effect their safety and
happiness. If there are any secessionsts upon
principle. it cannot be denied that the Tribune
and those who follow il. may safely be set down
among them without doing them any injustice.
The ConfiscatIou Committee