Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-23
What is NoYaItyI

Loyalty and disloyalty are ~favorite terms just
now with Republicans and Abolitionists. What
is their meaning? Ina Democratic sense loyalty
is fidelity to the principles upon which the Gov.
eminent is founded, and which find expression OF
representation in the Constitution. In a mon
archie ! Government the term is used to denote
Fidelity to a sovereign"-to the King; while dis
loyalty conveys the opposite meaning-"infdeli
ty to a sovereign" Under our form of Govern
ment these terms are not applicable. We have
no sovereign. All the power and authority of
the Government is derived from the consent of
the people. The majority do or should rule
The present Administration does not represent
the majority of the people; its policy is not the
policy Of the majority of the people; hence it is
absurd to say that the majority can be dislOyal
to themselves. If the measures of the Admins
tration we're to day submitted TO the judgment
and unbiased vote of the people of what are
termed the "loyal States" they would be repudi-
ated by an overwhelming majority. There can
be no reasonable doubt but such would be the re-
suit. The elections of last fall. and since then.
influenced as they we're by all the power winch
tile ADMINISTRATION ~ ~ " COuttOi, AuuSS SAT-
isfy every candid mind that the heart of the peo-
pie has no sympathy with the party and the men
who by accident have the direction of the Gov
eminent. Now it is not a Government Of con
sent, and therefore its administration is in antag-
onism not only to the majority of the people, but
even to the theory and principles upon which the
Government is based.
Who then are disloyal. if we may use thatterm?
Who else can be, but those who are unfaithful-
false to the Constitution? Who else but those
who refuse to let the wishes. the will of the ma
jority control the policy of the nation2 Those
only are disloyal who trample the Constitution
under foot. and disregard the voice of the majority
of the people.
Fidelity to the Administration is not loyalty to
the Government. unless the policy of the Admin
~istration is in harmony with the Constitution
and has the approval of the majority of the
people. We may go even further than this. A
citizen may criticiSe and condemn the acts of an
Administration, and yet be loyal to the Govern
ment. The mouth-piece Of the present Admin
ministratiOn comedies this position. In one of
his dispatches to the Minister at London. Mr..
SEWARD says:
In this country, especially it is a habit not only
consistent with the Constitution, but even essen
tial to its stability, TO regard the Administration
at any time existing as distinct and separate from
the Government itself, and to canvass the pro-
ceilings OF the one without "A thought of disloyal-
ty to the other
And with this admission from the high priest of
Republicanism. we find Republicans all over the
country crying out against every man who has
the manliness and independence to " canvass the
proceedings of the Administer ion !" "crucify him.
cruelty him" The founders of the Republic
left the despotic governments of the old world,
because the tongue and pen were manacled, and
now some of the descendants of the men who
periled their lives and pledged their fortunes and
their sacred honors to establish a free govern
nent, are unwilling to tolerate freedom of speech
and the press.
The meanest treason is in6delity to the Consti-
tuticn. and Che basest traitors those who disregard
that sacred chart of freedom. And the men who
are willing to crush out freedom Of speech and
the press, ard who Justify the despotic usurpa-
tons Of a faithless administration. may justly be
branded with disloyalty. Such will be the record
of history. and blind is he who cannot now antici
pate the " sober second thought" of even his
OWE judgment upon the acts of despotism which
are committed under the sacred name of liberty.
The best test of loyalty is the determination to
maintain not only the form, but the spirit of the
free government won by the valor and moulded
~ ,ha u;,do, of a truIv n,tr;otic ancesfrv