Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


We stated on Monday that two citizens of the
9TH District, deputed by the people without dis
tinction of party for that purpose, requested of
Governor MORTON the privilege of raising two
regiments of volunteers, pledging that they
should be raised promptly and sooner than by
draft. The sole object in making this PROPOSE
ton was to raise the men without resorting to a
mode against which there are strong prejudices
We stated that the Governor refused for the fol-
lowing reasons, and as the journal does not
deny them, we presume he was not misrepre-
scented:
His objections, we believe were that drafting
had been determined upon, and he was anxious
that a certain class should be compelled to
shoulder the musket who could not be reached
by any other method.
In response to what we said the Journal, in its
issue of yesterday, says:
The mean purpose CT this paragraph is so evil
dent that we have taken the pains to inquire who
the two gentlemen from the 9TH District were who
were so anxious to raise regiments to avoid
draft They were ID. r. Ec1les and A. NJ. Puett
two old party hacks, who have done all in their
power to prevent volunteering and discredit the
war. They have never given one moments aid
to the Government and have given months and
position to it in every way. They could not
raise regiment in fifty years, and they never
meant to. Their purpose was to make an i'm
possible and absurd offer in order that they might
refusal to the injury of the spirit of the
people, This is proven by the fact that they
went right off and told the Sentinel of what had
transpired.
The Journal fails to notice, to which VIC re-
ferred, that Judge KILGoRE, made similar APP
plication for the 5th Congressional District.
which was likewise rejected. Was it upon the
ground that he is 'old party hack, who has
done all in his power to prevent volunteering
and discredit the war"l His application was
the same as the others and was refused for like
reasons.
Now what are the facts in regard to the accu-
sation that Messrs. PUETT and EcKLEs "have
never given one moments aid to the Govern
ment and have given months and plenty of mo-
ney to organize and strengthen opposition TO it
in every way" We Would inquire of our very
patriotic Gin horny neighbor if he intends in
the foregoing charge of disloyalty, to convey the
impression that the Government belongs exclu-
siyely to the Republican party, and fealty to the
political dogmas of that organization, and TO the
party ITSELF is the only evidence of loyalty will
accept Upon no other ground can the Journal
editor present any evidence of being loyal citi-
zen The central organ of the Republican party
of Indiana has lab0red earnestly and zealously
to bring upon the country the present civil war
and all its evils. Immediately after the Presi-
Dental election in 1860, for the sole purpose,
presume, Of perpetuating Republican rule, it adj
vocated the peaceful separation from all the
States that desired to leave the Union. Rather
than civil war; it said over and over, the loss of
dozen States would be preferable. And for
months it ably advocated disrnion rather than
the attempt to continue Union by force. OF
what value is said, would Union be with one
hall oft pinned TO the other by bayonets! When
So,.1t Carolina seeded, it prononnced the seces-
SION of that State a virtual dissolution of the
Union. And when the seeded States confede-
rsred II pronounced the Constitution adopted at
Montgomery as a decided Improvement upon
aud as preferable to the FedeIa Constitution.
And four months after the attack upcu Fort Sum-
ter, it stated that Il had not changed any of the
opinions it had expressed in favor of letting the
dissatisfied States 60, and the only condition it
demanded was that the rebels should first lay
down their arms, and then go in peace. This is
the record Of the Journal and in the face of it. it
charges true Union men, who are willing to
make any needed sacrifices to maintain the
Government of our fathers, with opposition to
it in every way" The Journal is personal in its
attacks upon Messrs. PUETT and EcKLEs, and a
similar retort is therefore Just. Major PUErr
has three sons in the Federal army, one a minor
and Mr.. ECKLEs one. Does that look as though
hey had ed one all in their power to prevent
volunteering, and discredit the war;" as the
Journal chargesl The Journal editor, all his
family connections land they numerous)
have prOfted largely by war contracts and
jobs These men, party hacks as they are
known to be, all talk loudly about the duty Of
every citizen to sustain the vigorous prosecution
of the war with men and money. What have
they done in that regard! How many Of that pat
riotic family have vOImteered,to fill the army and
fight the battles of the Union IF any, It has
been quite recently, and only under the lash Of
public sentiment. But we could not expect the
journal editor to be war man practically. He
faEOrs the war because he and bis friends can
make money out Of 1t. Upon principle, If prin-
ciple even controls his opinions and actions, he
is an avowed disunionist, as his paper furnishes
ample evidence, both previous to the commence
ment of the war as well as subsequent thereto
And with such record this partisan Republican
editor has the brazen assurance to charge citizens
who have no thought or desire but the perpetuity
Of the Union and the permanency Of the Govern
ment, upon the principles it was formed, with
opposition to it in every way" Neither Mr.
EcKLEs or Major PUErT have done anything to
prevent volunteering. On the other hand, Major
PUErr, who is candidate for the Legislature,
has made war speeches for volunteers; but in
doing so, ne did not follow the example of
Republican war speakers and use the occasion
70 sbtse bis political opponents. The sole crime
of Messrs- PUErr and EcKLEs consists IN their