Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-02
Preamble and Joint Resolutions on
thc State of The Unio snt reduced I'M
the Indiana senate by Mr. Wolfe,
January 27, 1863.

WHEREAS, The present civil war into which
the people have been forced by the wicked and
fluatcal factions North and South, is detrimental
To she best interest of the country and of man
kind, aud reproach upon the civilization of the
age-hlling the land with widows and orphans
and mourning households; bankrupting the Gov
ernment and depressing the people with taxation
beyond their ability to bear; destroying the pro-
ductive industry of the laLoiing and filling
the Golfers of the wealthy; h.ling the Northern
section OF the Union with avagabond and servile
race to compete with or prey upon the industry of
the white man. imposing unequal burdens and
commercial restrictions upon the different por
tions of the North thereby increasing the dan
ger aud the evil of further di-iutegratlon; sap
ping the loundition of religion, morality and
public virtue; corrupting rulers by an increase
OF political patronage; destroying personal lib
erty under the tlrnt's pea of necessity; and
obueraing from the hearts of the people the
spr OF nationality and brotherhood, which is
the only sue bord Of union; and,
WHEREAS, Experience has taught the costly
and bloody lesson that war alone no remedy
for the evil of disuniOn, but when waged in the
spirit of sectional hatred. for an unconstitu
tiona purpose. or in manner not sanctioned by
the laws of civilized warfare, it is the strong
est ally of disuniOn. and If persisted in
will result, not only in the bankruptcy of the
nation and the impOyerishment of the people,
but also in "a final separation of the different sec
tions and the destruction of our admirable form
of free government; and
WHEREAS, The people of Indiana are de
sirous that no effort. which inspires reasonable
hope of success in restoring the Union as it was
under the Constitution, shall be omitted; and
being solemnly impressed with the conviction
that arms alone, under the recent and present
policy of the Cabinet at Washington, will never
accomplish that desirable object; and invoking
the prayers of all good men and the smiles of a
God of Petce in the furtherance of our patriotic
purp0s e.; therefore,
Be it RcsoIued by the General Assembly of the
State OF Indiana, l. That while we will con-
Time to obey every constitutional requisition
which true patriotism shall demand for the pur-
pose of restoring the Union and preserving our
constitutional liberty, yet we opposed to a
war for the liberation of the slaves; and, while
that policy is maintained by the Administration,
the hghe-t dictates of patriotism impel US to
withhold from it our support; ;-believing that a
war for that purpose is unconstitutional, and a
wicked usurpatiop, and if persisted in, will
lead to the inevitable and lasting destruction OF
the Union.
g That no Union can be maintained in this
country until fanatIcism on the negro question,
North and South, is eradicated, and the doctrine
of Popular State Sovereignty is acknowledged as
Il fundamental axiom of the Government. The
people of the North must yield up the heresy OF
AbOlitOnism, or else yield up the blessings OF
the Union. Aboltionsm and the Union are in
compatible; the one or the other must triumph
war for Abolitionism is against the
Union: war Tor the Union Is war against Alb
oitionsm. Abotionsm is moral treason. and
but for the forms of law with which it is clothed
by the Administration, is actual, legal treason
No patriot can be an Aboltionst.
g. That the interest Of the white race, vel
t,o A. A. flaff fba md In
cality # the latter should not be interfered with
and a war. or legislation, or Presidential procla
nations to accomplish the purpose Of the negroes
freedom and consequent migration to the North
are acts OF fragrant violation Of the Constitution
and in wicked disregard of the peoples voice anc
the best interests of the country, and all such
acts ought to be constitutionally resisted by al
outraged people
A. That President LincoIn's scheme of Com
pensated Emancipation" which proposes TO ta,
the people of Indiana to- liberate the slaves o
the South, is unconstitutional, aud monstrou
iniauity, which 4 tax ridden and over burdenet
people will not submit to- The freemen of Indi
ana will not consent to Impoverish themselve
and their families to carry out that insane an6
wicked policy, but will resist IL by every consti
tutiona means in their power.
5. That the system of arbitrary arrests, ant
the wanton disregard OF the Great Writ of Lib
erty, commonly called the habeas corpus, by tn
Cabinet at Washington. are acts of tyranny ans
usurpation, justly alarming to a free people
against which the State of Indiana protests witt
indignation; and in the name of constitutions
liberty she demands that the accursed system
shall cease within her borders; and we decar
the unualterabe determination of the people Il
maintain the liberty Of speech, the liberty of tn
press, the right TO the writ Of habeas corpus AM
speedy trial by jury, at every hazard of blood an
] treasure.