Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-14

States submission to the very anticipated evils
which they took up arms 10 avert Are not
these requirements entirely Inconsistent with the
CRirrKSDxs resolution and the Presidents own
declarations as to both his powers as Chief Mag.
istrate and his intentionsf In his first official
communication to the country Mr.. LINCOLN
stated that he had no right OR had he any inten-s
ton Of interfering With the domestic institutions
Of the States or in other words with negro slavery
And the CRrrrKxpES resolution says .sthis war is
not waged for the purpose of oveFthrowing or
interfering with the rights and established insti
tutions of the States. but to preserve the Union
with all its dignities, equality and the rights Of
the several States nnimpaired. and that as soon
as these objects are accomplished the war ought
to cease" But Mr.. LINCOLN makes new test
unknown to the Constitution BE il unwilling
that any of the people of the revoted States shall
return to their allegiance with the rights and
established institutions of the States unimpaired,
but he prescribes as one Of the condi-
lions that they shall "abide by and
faithfully support all proclamations of the Pres
idant made during the existing rebellion having
reference to slaves" In 1861 the House of Rep
resentatiyes by almost an unanimous vote, its
majority representing the President and the par
ty in power, solemnly declared that the war is
not waged to impair the rights of the States, yet
he imposes conditions which unnecessarily dis
franchises every citizen of the insurgent States,
who, yielding allegiance to the Federal govern
ment and its constitutional authority at the same
time upholds and maintains their rights and es-
tablished institutions. If the President has no
right to interfere with the domestic institutions of
the States, as be declared he had not, what right
/ has he 10 require an acknowledgment of his
thority to do so as test Of loyalty? If the con-
sent to an unconstitutional act is made test Of
loyalty in South Carolina and Georgia, the same
conditions may be demanded OF the citizens of
Indiana and Illinois. which would necessarily
disfranchise large. if not the larger portion of
them.
clause of the Constitution which says, "The
| United States shall guarantee to every State in
the Union a republican form Of government"
In a republican form of government, under its
Constitution, the will of the majority governs.
But it appears from the proclamation that the
rebel States cannot return the Union unless
they abide by and support the edcts of one
man. And then Mr.. LINCOLN further proclaims
that one tenth of the voters in any of
the States of Arkansas, Texas. Louisiana, Miss
issppi, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida. South Car
china and North Carolina, who have taken the
prescribed oath, can re-establish State govern
ment and shall be recognized as the true State
government and this he calls guaranteeing
republican form of government One tenth of
the population of State, and they the minons of
a dominant party. TO rnle nine-tenths. Is
this republican?
The proclamation throughout in spirit and
purpose is anti-Republican and unconstitutional
1t is fanatical and radical. The argument and
scheme is specious-cunningly devised to deceive
the people with an appearance of moderation
and fairness. 1t will require but little pene-
tration to discern the sophistry, hypocricy and
injustice of the proclamation. 1t is not made
with any hope that it viii restore the rebel States
to their allegiance, but to stimulate the prosecu-
ton of the war for the purposes of subjugation,
conquest and emancipation, which the House of
Representatives in 1861 solemnly declared were
not the objects for which the war was to be
waged.