Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-16
rhe 8mnestya Pretext for DEsunton
EdiCt.

The radical press admits, with exultation that
Mr. Lncoin's so cal Ell proclamation of amnesty
renders reunion impossible until slavery shall
have been abolished " e not prepared Tor
this bold confession of a ruth, and therefore sub
United IL irrelutabe demonstration the public
but The prompt avowai, by the organs Of tie Ad
ministration. of the uaiLorous intent of tie proc
lamatioI has caused our iaIor TO be SUI erogs-
tory. Lei Us ROW cpnsiIer this uNase I'LL
der other aspects, aud reflect upon lhe effect II
may produce with the Southern people.
Hau our former social. Commercial md poiti-
cal relations with the South been 80 suIe. fc.al
to have given no nsigbt intJ their popular
Characier>tics, the events OF the war must have
given ample evidence that the Southeruers are
brave, resuiute, proud anu tenacious uf those
things winch the, consider point, o honor Their
valor in Tie iieid, their forti,uae privaIion
aud tue stern hxeduess OF purpose winch they
have exhibited : well Ia the hour Ui dc;ett ol
victory, makes u imperative tor IL, Is sensible
beings. 10 accord them equality vita our
SEW a. in regard To those personal attributes
which Impel men stand by each other il
tie hour of triai. he Radicals themsel WIS
could harslis wish them TO be an ungenerous and
cowardly raee, for, although they evidently in
tend to close the doors of our political house,
they must have some recollection of the citations
tina. once existed and some respect for the asso-
Citations of the past Now, lex the North in up
position, and without reference 10 the right or
the wrong exchange positions with the South, so
far rs concerns the danger OF mourning the pen
atty Of treason. While any means of resistance
remained, while there was crust of bread TO
sustain life, an arm with strength enough TO
WELD weapon and weapon To b. welded,
would any Northcmcr that eSteem> himself an
honorable man accept AN amnesty whose proyi-
sions would consign to the scafioid his compan-
ion in arms, the cliicfan who had shared with
him the fortunes of tie field, his brothcr-soldier,
his brother, his father perhaps and the public
officers whom his suffrage had elevated TO the po-
sition that exempted them from pardon. Yet in
accepting the terms of The amnesty, tie South
ern people would sign the death warrants of
all their field officcrs-oftlleir commanders, some
of whom they scvere and love with an intense
devoiion--of their officials, whom they desired
to accept the post Of danger and res ponsibiity,
and, in MANY cases OF their kindred and bosom
friends. II Stonew all Jackson lived. what man
of those whom he go often led along the embat-
tied plain. of those whom he had cheered in the
hospital and cared for with unwearyng solicit
tude amid the vicissiudcs Of war; of those whom
he prayed for while they slept upon the eve of
battle, and who was 10 them a hero and an idol
what man Of them. except some m -rcenary
craven that would sell his soul TO purchase his
bodys safety would accept pardon whose price
that leaders blood! Does any Northern
citizen, with heart and human instincts, believe
thar The Confidence army in Virginia would
surrender Robert Lee 10 the gallows. TO paw with
his life devoted 10 their cause. the ransom OF
their own existence' Mr. Lincoln must have
forgotten that he dealt with the descendants Of
men who fought for Independence with hslters
shout their necks, and fought none the less I'M
hcnhingly. If the Americans who unmur-
muring endured hunger and cold amid the
SHOWS Of Valley Forge, had in their dark hour
betrayed Washington TO the mercies Of King
George, then might we have supposed that
Americans of this day would seal their bond of
safety with the blood of their comrades and COM
manders. Whether their cause be good or bad,
whether they be patriots or traitors, whether they
are strong in hope or feeble with dependency,
they have az least in their veins the same IN
freacherous blood that ennobles the people of the
North--toyether thew resolved 70 tread the burn
ing plowshare together they will pass the ordeal.
We do not think that Mr.. Lincolns estimate
of his countrymen is so low, nor that such base
msgivings pervaded his brain, that he issued
that amnesty with hope Of its acceptance. He
desired to oriain by proclamation either disunion
or the extinction of slavery, and the amnesty was
his preeext In that he succeeded. The North
cannot now fail to understand that under the
present Administration the Union cannot be re
stored except upon the condition Of abolition.