Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-28

And we have the enormous sum of. S47S ,O7S, l33
We did not feel that we should be justified in
voting for a measure which, if carried out, would
add this vast amount to our public debt at a mo-
ment when the Treasury was Keeling under the
enormous expenditures of the war.
Again. i seemed to us that this resolution was
but the annunciation of a sentiment which could
not or was not likely TO be reduced to an actual
tangible proposition. No movement was then
made to provide and appropriate the funds re-
quired to carry it into effect; and we were not
encouraged TO believe that funds would be pro
vided. And our belief has been fully justified
by subsequent events. Not to mention other
circumstances, it is quite sufficient for our pur
pose TO bring TO your notice the fact that, while
this resolution WAS und.T consideration in the
Senate, our colleague, the Senator from Ken
lucky. moved an amendment appr0priating
$500 900 to the object therein designated, and il
was voted down with great unanimity. What
confidence. then, could we reasonably feel that if
we committed ourselves to the policy it proposed,
our constituents would reap the fruits Of the pol
icy held out; and on what ground could we, as
fair men, approach them and challenge their sup
portg
The right to hold slaves is a right appertaining
to all the States Of this Union They have the
right to cherish or abolish the institution, as their
tastes or their interests may prompt, and no one
Is authorized 70 question the right, or limit its
enjoyment. And no one has more clearly affirmed
that right than you have. Your inaugural ad-
dress does you great honor in this respect, and in
spired the country with confidence in your fair
ness and respect for the law. Our States are in
the enjoyment of that right. We do not feel
called on TO defend the institution, or to affirm it
is one that ought to be cherished; perhaps, if we
we're TO make the attempt, we might find that we
differ even among ourselves. 1t is enough fer
purpose to know that il is a right; aud. so know
ing, we did not see why we si.ould now be ex-
pected to Weld il. We had contributed our full
share TO relieve the country ut this terrible crisis;
we had done as much as had been required of
others in like circumstances; and we did not see
why sacrifices should be expected of US from which
others, no mUre loyal, were exempt. Nor could
we see what good the nation would derive from
it. Such n sacrifice submitted to by us would rot
lave strengthened the arm of this Government or
weakened that OF the enemy. 1t was not neces-
sary, as a pledge of our loyalty, for that had been
manifested beyond Il reasonable doubt, in every
form. and at every place possible. There was not
the remotest possibility that the States we repre-
sent would join IN the rebellion, nor is there now:
or of their eIecting to go with the Southern Sec
ton in the event of a recognition OF the indepen-
dence Of any part of the disaffected region. Our
States are fixed unalterably in their resolution to
adhere to the support of the Union; they see no
safety for themselves and no hope of ~constitu-
;ioDal liberty but by its preservation. They will
under no circumstances consent TO its dissolution,
and we do them no more than justice when we as
sure you that while the war is conducted to pre-
vent that deplorabIe catastrophe, they will sustain
il as long as they can muster a man or command
a dollar. Nor will they ever consent. in any
event. to unite with the Southern Confectionery.
The bitter fruits of the peculiar doctrines of that
region will forever prevent them from placing
their security and happiness in the custody of an
association which has Incorporated in its organic
law the seeds OF its own destruction.
We can not admit. Mr. President. that IL we