Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-28

House Of Representatives,
FEBRUARY 10Th.
fooScLuDED ]

BIT 10 proceed in the examination Of the record
Sir. there Is name which will live long. il not
enviably. IN connection with the history Of this
MANY men have been brought before the
public and fame thrust upon them bv the convuI-
sIye events Of the last few months but the names
Of none will remain fresh in the minds Of the
people longer, imagine than that of the late
Secretary 10 War. who is now performing a
pilgrimage to the cold regions of Russia The last
days of his administration of the War Depart
ment we're Signazei by his Irnest efforts To arm
the slave. and Ia promOte the cause of universal
ab,iifionism. But even he. IN the elsy stage of
this great struggle. when he was daily and hourly
apqe ding TO the country for troops left record
the strong condemnation Of the policy which he
afterwards adopted. and which i sought to be
fastened the country bv the action Of this
House Mr. Cameron at that time took the pains
20 tell his patriotic countrymen his views FOL
lows:
'hs is Tor the Unon for the preservation Of all
constitutional rights q States and the citizens Of all the
States Of the Union"
Who is here 10 deny that il il the constitutional
right Of the southern man to hold slavesl Here
j. the pledge of Mr. Cameron, then Secretary of
War. that that right should be protected. He
broke IL. il j. true, far il was in his power
10 do 50; but the people at the time believed him,
and iocked to the standard of the Union. never
supposing for an instant that they would soon be
destroy constitutional rights
One more witness | shall call from the Cabinet
OF the present Administration The Distinguish
el head of the Department OF State. when the
booming of the rebellious cannon had scarce died
away ut Fort Sumter, spoke on this subject To the
nations of Europe and TO the civilized world
The curtain withdrawn, and the bloody
drama was open to his phiIosophc mind He
surveyed it calmly. and then fully and clearly
wrote down the policy. which the Administration
now in power would pursue; and in his official
capacity pledged the unsullied honor and un
furnished faith Of the Republic in the face of
the world. for the truth of what he said. Sir,
challenge the attention of Congress and the
country. in this mad hour of desperate
measures to the principles deliberately laid down
by the great leader of the great party of the
North when were not only ensting our own
people in the awful struggle which is upon us,
bat when we were also seeking favor for our
cause in the favorable public opinion of mankind.
On the 22d day Of April 1861 Mr.. Seward
writing tn Mr.. Dayton. our Minister at the Court
of the Emperor Napoleon. and treating of the
subject of the present rebellion, said
81 need further elaborate the proposition that the
revolution Is without cause; has pretext
1T sIust clear that II is without object Moral
and physical Causes have detem ned inexbly the char
acteF OF each Of the Territories which the dis
pute has arisen and both parties after the election har
moniousy agreed all the Federal laws required for
their organization The Territories will remain all
spect the same. whether the revolution shall succeed
shall fail The condition OF slavery In the several
st.,es viii remain lust the same whether il succeed
fail There Is not pretext fer the complaint
that the dsaected States TO be Conquered by the
United States IL the evolution fall for The ris hts Of the
and the condition of every human teng in them
will remain subject 20 exactly the laws and forms
OF admins raon whether the revolution shall succeed
fail. In the the would be fcdersy
nected with the cOnfederary: In the other, they
would be members Of the uuitei States; bat their
constitutions and laws. customs habits and Institutions
In either Gaze viii remain the same.
ut hardly Necessary add to this ncOniestibe
statement the further fact that the Preside MT aswe
the eitizcns through whose surages he has
the administration has always repudated all designs
whatever and whenever imputed 10 him aud them of dis
turbing the system OF slavery existing under the
u>ttution aud laws. The Gaze, however. would
b. fuy ene n were TO omit 10 saw that any such
ed"rt his part would be UNCONSTITUTIONAL and all his
actions IN that direction would be prevented by the
deal authority, though they assenttd to by
Congress and the people"
Sir this language needs no comment IL
speaks plainly for itself. Ii Is the solemn pledge
oil the Government that under no circumstances.
viii il interfere To change rr abolish modify
any of the laws or Institutions of the States
which are in rebellion. Will that pledge be kept?
What say the leaders of the movement for uni
verssl emancipation To thsg Mr.. Seward saws
that such a measure would be prevented 10y the
judicial authority. though the President and
Congress and the people should all act together
Tor it, promotion What say the profound
LAWYERS the opposite side To this barrier raised
IN an unexpected quarter against the fultillment
oi their fond hopes! leave them To dispose Of
il by some slight of hand more familiar TO them
than 90 me-
Under date Of April 10, 1861. Mr. Seward
wrote Ia Mr. Adams. the American Minisfe r To
England; and M his official Instructions 10 him
spoke as follows:
''YoG will indulge in no expressions Of hardness OF
disresPeci. even iri enoc. encerninS the scccded
contrary all the While remember that those States
they always heretofore have been. and. notwh
standing their mporary self delusion. they aiwsy
be. equal and honored members o. this Fed
ersl Union and that their citizens, throughout all pci
eai MISUNDERSTANDING and Alterations siri
ways must be our Kindred and eounirymen-
On this doctrine sir. take my stand. IL en-
braces the deliberate conclusions OF my mind and
the sentiments ct NV heart | believed ia the
principles laid down hy the Secretary OF State
on the 10Th dav Of Anil. when they were written
and | believe in them now. Ii Others have
changed since then. | have not The Union
which ! seek @ have restored j. the old Union
a. IL was made by ancestors: not a new and
different one. shaped aud fashioned 90 suit the ca
precious notions OF modern politicians | long 90
see The States once more reunited ~ equal and
honorei members Of this Federal Union. !" with
the Constitution unchanged in letter or in spirit.
extending is protection aud is blessings alike %
them all have no wish however for the kind
of a Union which now seems 10 meet the appro
baton of many Of the distinguished leaders OF
the dominant party Rome had her subjusatel
provinces, reduced 10 sqraEd wIetcl edueSs by
her vast standing armies. Her trembling tribu
taries wailel and biesi beneath her cruel power
Her conSnis went forth To govern. 10 rub, O.
piunder, 10 scourge aud 10 cruelty. Size e.ucel
inderendeu, sovereign States To territorial
vas-alage. She received their enforced hom
axe n cOnquerr She cunfscatei their
lands aud Their substance She filled her lar
with extortei wealth. But does the sad seluel
20 her history commend her policy to u Tor
ssl0ptong Standing armies proved upon her vi
tails aud smote down her liberties. Unwilling
unequal. and dishonOred States arose against her
when ever the opportunity offered The Gaul
he Britoa, the TanIr. the Han. the Goth. III,
Vandal all.
DIAL, upOn ths sssen-hnled city, pride
1fed her of her glory. and repaid her a thousand
fold for the hitter humiiiati0ns which her AFRO
gance had :-.a;eted All history repeats the sam,
teaching,
England. in modern time. has contributed her
example 20 this great lesson Of history Hei