Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-25

ssJustice."
The second object specified in the Preamble of
the Constitution, is. "ro ESTABLISH JUSTICE"
The kind of justice contemplated by the prac-
teal men who framed the Constitution, was not
the abstract and tr..nscendental Justice which
might suit the judgment and conscience of any
man. however wise or pure. 1t was a practi
Cal and positive justice, such as would make the
people Of all the States feel that their rights aud
interests we're protected by the Union with an
equal hand. 1t justice learnt by commerce
and intercourse with the world, and not by the
study % treatises moral philosophy. II WIS a
justice that commended itself to practical men.
rather than 10 hair splitting casuists and to schol.
ara in their secluded and dreamy meditations IL
was such justice could he appreciated by
men Of different IDEAS and customs, by the North
erner and the SOutherner, the merchant and the
farmer. the scholar and the mechanic che lawyer
and the sailor
In pursuance OF these practical ideas of Justice
tile peculiar property OF the inhabitants of the
South recognized in the Constitution
a really existing, and special arrangements
were introduced for its security and inviOlabilty
Concessions were made to the owners Of this
property. and they in return conceded privileges
received. All this was done for the pur
pose, in part OF establishing justice among States
and between classes and sections.
La the progress OF our country and of political
events. in consequence of an ambiguity in the
provisions of the Constitution, a controversy
sprung up between those interested i'm free labor
and in slave labor respectively, in regard TO the
settlement OF the immense public domain-each
OF the parties Tor their politicians) being too
much disposed % claim the whole for their own
use. Disputes also arose in regard To the validity
and the practical operation OF the fugitive slave
law. The dangerous and irritating discussion al
tie North of the subject OF slavery gave bitter
ness and edge To the quarrel A political party
at the North. based upon sectional PLATFORM
took upon it, shoulders this odiOus and incendi
ary budget OF political denominations, and after
two attempts succeeded. partly through the sin
ister operations OF class OF Southern politicians
in electng President Great social disturbance
and financial embarrassment and n complete
paralysis OF commerce and industry were the re
suit; aud attempts began to be made TO dissolve
the Union, which were likely to produce civil
war, with all its train of mseries and horrors.
When the crisis impending, il seemed to
u.s. in common with myriads of conservative men
in the country, that concessions Gin the form of
constitutional amendments) should be made to
the South, both f0i the purpose of setting our
selves right and TO supply material ambiguity
in the Constitution itself Good men said that
forcible means to restore the Union should at
least be postponed till we had thus set our
selves right, and that the removal of doubt in
regard to the meaning of the Constitution
(Which even judicial decision had practically
failed To sOlve) could only be attended with ben
etcial results To accomplish these Objects the
venerable and patriotic Senator from Kentucky
John j. Crttenden, presented in Congress his res
olutions for proposing TO the people sundry
amendments of the Constitution which would re
move ambiguity, do justice to both sections of
the Unon and silence the agitation of slavery in
the National councils. THIS proposition was
greeted with favor at the North and the South,
and ii adopted, would have restored peace and
union to the country
But the dominant party in Congress did not see
ft TO make the concession. Swayed by party
platform a,.d by party views and interests and re-
gardeSs OF the interests OF their country they
refused To allow the people to upon the beneh
cent aud saving proposition party platform
was worth more than fifty Unions" Their
chosen President did not see fit To favor the prop
osItion; and perhaps il too much to expect
that men of such II style of manhood and patriot
ism should favor plan which he did not approve
The consequences of this policy before our
eyes. The Government and Congress have act /
Ell with full accord. and the fruit of their doincs
Is spread before Us. What year of National 4
distress from March. 81. to March, 60, What
anxiety-~hat alarm-what embarrassment
what desttution-what hunger-what exposure
what dlseaSe-what cOrruption-what treason +
what slaughter of human beings
what procession of weeping, widowed. or
phauei. broken hearted people, Alas for our
eountry-ior human depra,ty-for party fanat- (
cism. corruption and ambition, The whole land
i covered with dark and gloomy pail which
the glare and sPlendor of military proves can
not nradiate or remove Our national prosperi
ty aud glory can not be restored bv any thing but
justice aud maSnanimity. We still think, there
fore that justice and patriotism require that those
concessions proposed year ago should now be
made We have not yet ser ourselves right
Though the Southern people (or large proper
ton OF them have since done wrong that does +
not better our position. Their wrong does not
make our previous conduct right. The ambigui-
", moreover, still remains IN the Constitution
The same multiplying legislation still disfgures
the pages Ut many OF the Northern statute books
The same need also exists OF quietins the appre
tensions OF cur Southern brethren in regard 20
their property. The powerful efficiency of such
concessions III cementing and restoring the Union
J. conclusive reason why we should make them
ere Il clear that the apprehensoas expressed At
the south were a mere pretext for rebellion the
case would be very different But in the present
case. thousands of thoughtful men at the North
have expressed tie opinion that the felrS of
Southetn meu were not entirely without grounds
The views We express in favor of eollce~ sion will
receive new strength If it shall appear that the
revolt waS not cordially coneurred ia by the mass
" Tie Southern population. Such may prove to
have been the case Butwhe,be. il should prove
trne or not, Jet u SIT oURsELvER RIGHT and do
not Al ASb ExAcr JrsrIcK" even TO the erring
a. b. j.
New Haven. February 10. 1862.