Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-01
INDIANAPOLIS. IND. WEDNESDAY MORNING

great energy and integrity OF character and
life, the author of the only just and practical
solution of the question of slavery in the Ter
ritories, whose whole public life was devoted
to the maintenance of the Constitution as it
Is and the Union as II was; and whose zeal
for the preservation Of the country sacrificed
his life in its prime.
The history of the Convention which nom
mated Mr. Douglas, plainly shows that the
champions of secession had no hope to carry
the people of the South with them, save by
defeating the candidate of the Democratic
party. The whole tone and temper OF the
Republican leaders and press at the North,
ton, plainly shows that they had no hope of
electing their candidate, save by diverting
the South from the Democratic candidate to
the Secession candidate. Thus the action of
the two sectional parties tended to the same
result of the Presidential election. Had Mr..
Douglas been elected. secession could not
have prevailed at the South, and the several
aims of both sectional parties would have
been alike defeated
The result was the defeat of Mr.. Douglas,
and the election of the Republican candidate.
We have no personal objection to the distin-
guished gentleman who now sits in the seat OF
Washington. His election was perhaps less
mischievous than that of any other prominent
Republican. The evil of his election belongs
to his party, not to himself The good he has
done is in a great degree personal to him.
Republican as he is, he has not forgotten his
old national patriotism. If he has not always,
he has often, resisted the abolition element in
his party, and stemmed the tide of Its revolu-
tionary course. In this he has done the
country immeasurable service; and we hope
that he will continue TO stand as barrier as
well as against the most destructive faction OF
his own party, as against the armed enemy OF
the Union. The responsibilities of his posi-
ton are such as might awe any man; and in
all his efforts to sustain the Constitution against
revolution and innovation, he has our hearty
sympathy and support.
The election was the signal tor the move
ment OF secession. Ii was no excuse for the
guilt of disunion. The insincerity and bad
faith of the leaders in the movement is
demonstrated by the fact that in both
Houses OF Congress there was a safe
majority against the Republican party But
the truth is, that the apostles of secession
were traitors at heart, independent of the
election only as lever to precipitate the
South from its allegiance. They duped the
South into the belief that the entire people OF
the North were infected with the leprosy OF
abolition.
As it was, we fully believe that the majority
of the whole Southern people stood loyal to
the Union, and that in no seeding State, ex-
cept South Carolina, was the ordinance of Sc.
cession fairly carried before the people.
The election of Mr.. Lincoln, though effected
by minority of votes, was carried in all the
forms of the Constitution, was obligatory upon
all the States and people thereof, was no pal
liation for the unhallowed act of secession
was no ground for the risks, sufferings, hor.
rors, and ruin of the most shameless and de-
testable civil war known in the history of civ
The standard of revolt was raised, and civil
war began. Whatever may have been the
relative guilt OF the two sectional parties in
the causes which prepared the South for rev.
olution, the sole guilt in the war itself rests
with the Southern party of secession.
Congress has declared the war is waged by
the Government of the United States, not in
the spirit of conquest or subjugatfon, nor fol
the purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or institutions of the States
but to defend and maintain the supremacy Of
the Constitution, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights of the
several States unimpaired; and that as soon a
these objects are accomplished, the war ought
to cease. Thus carried on, the war is not only
expedient, but necessary; not only justi6able
but holy. 1t is defensive war. 1t is wal
of self-preservation. Bisunion, once success
full, would be a recurring evil and instead o
leaving a Northern Union and Southern
Confederacy, would continue its destructive
career until all of the States would be broker
and discovered. until the whole country woulC
be distracted by petty sovereignties and wastee
by petty warfare. We cannot calmly con
template disunion. We know and love tn,
blessings of Union, but no human eye car
penetrate thee and terrible future wficl
lies beyond the grave of the Constitution
The war for the preservation OF the Constitu
ton has all our sympathies, all our hopes, ane
all our energies ff4fs
ITO be Continued