Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-08
Thc Presidents On the Negro Question.

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may desire to adopt a measure Of that character.
lie also dictates the manner tLat Congress shall
express it, views upon tie recommendation. pro
posing. If the National Legislature comedies with
his views Of public policy. that it shall promptly
adopt joint resolution TO that effect. even sug
gesting the language that shall be employed
The President is evidently impressed with the
idea that necessity exists for the policy he sug
gests To end the rebellion. He regards il
measure Of self preservation for the Government,
conceding by his argument in its favor that there
is dangerous vitality in the rebellion. especially
80 far IS the more Southern States are con
cerned.
Emancipation, then. is the policy OF the Ad.
mnstraticn, gradual and not sudden, the Gen
eral Government pledging pecuniary aid "to
compensate for the inconvenience. public and
priuste, Cor such change of system. Ii will be
reco.ecied that the President recommended in
his List annual message that slaves should be
received from the States which recognized that
species of property in lieu of money for their as
sessed quota OF the direct tax and that the slaves
thus received by Government be colonized upon
some islands adj ,cent to the United States. These
are some of the indispensable means" which the
President, "not hastily but deliberately in De
cembcr last though, necessary to be employed to
preserve the Union.
Mr.. LINCOLN earnestly begs the attention of
Congress and the people to his recommendation
and we trust that it will receive such considera-
ton. Slavery is State Institution. 1t is
entirely under the control of the State Gov
ernments where that system of servitude
lists. The Government has 80 recognized il from
the beginning. The Z resident also comedies the
same principle. lie saws, referring to his recon-.
mendation: '.Such a proposition the part of
the General Government sets I'D no claim or
right by Federal authority to .uteriere with
slavery in State limits, referring it docs, the
absolute control ofthe subject in each to the
State and its people Immediately interested"
He urges the policy Of gradual emanci patton upon
the grounds that slavery is public" as well
"private inconvenience" and of economy, as
the current expenses of the would soon pur-
chase, at fair valuation, all the slaves in any
named State.
There is no warrant in the Constitution for the
proposition of the President. If adopted it i'm
poses vast burden upon the people OF the non
slaveholding States which believe they will
be unwilling to assume. The measure can not
stop with the emancipation of the slave. In his
new condition he will have to be provided for at
the public expense until he can adapt himself to
his changed circumstances. There are many
mended by the President What shall be the
status of the freed slave? Shall it be social
and political equatyi Shall he become
citizen. with all the rights and immunities
conferred thereby Or with the policy of
either sudden gradual emancipation shall We
procure a colony for the negro, and undertake to
colonize and support him until he becomes self
sustainingr The people of Indiana DO not want
to increase their worthless free negro population.
Ii is already too large. The Constitution of
Western Virginia provides for their exclusion
from that new State. Aud the people of the
North generally coincide in this policy. And
where is the money to come from to carry out
the proposed EN- ,ncipition schenesG
Under forced system Of labor the negro can
be made producer. and tins add. as he has add
ed. to the wealth Of the country. As freeman
he will become tax upon the Industry of the
nation. The Presidents proposition it to
us will work mischief. whatever was intended
and if suggested by the purest philanthropy. 1t
is against the Constitution. Ii is against the
solemnly proclaimed policy and the pledges OF
Congress to the avowed objects for the prose
cution OF the war. In July last Congress almost
unanimously declared the following policy
That this war shond not he wage,l in the suirit
OF conquest and suhiugltion nor tor the purpose
OF overthrowing interfering with the rights or
institutions of the States. but to defend and
maintain the supremacy OF the Constitution. aud
10 preserve The Union with all the dignity, equal
itv and rights ct the several States Cuimpairei.
aud that rs sooa these objects are accomplished
the ought To cease.
These sentiments received the Endorsement Of
the Democratic State Convention in J Anuary last
Congress mas also declared that. under the Con.
stitution. the General Government has no right
TO interfere with slavery in The States.
The work of restoring the Union j. IN a fair
way of accomplishment. If the policy j. pursued
that has thus far marked the progress of our ar
mics As they advance. let them leave States
behind them with all their dignity. equality and
rights unimpaired. Already has the accu
mula;ed vast public debt. and Increased the
prospective governmental expenses to IN extent
that viii make the taxes 10 pay the interest upon
the debt and to support the Government nearly
fouriold more than the present assessment In
addition Ia this enormous burden. the people of
Intiians do want Co be taxed To buy negroes
They will De satisfied ifthe rebellion * overcome
and the Union i restored. If Congress is wise
II will keep hands of from all emancipation
schemes. aud adhere to the policy of non inter
vention with slavery in States anil territories,
which IN The past has proven safety valve ia the
controversies upon the slavery issue. il will in
the future, II reliel upon. in working out the
problem OF slavery.
sA Nashville cures poudent OF the st Louis
Republican. writing Of the occupation OF Nash.
vile by the Union army. Saws:
Gen aeClernand called the widow of Ex-
President Polk. and she asked that he would pro-
tect the tomb and remains OF our hate President