Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-09

theh as lhtenued 10 dtCide The people an the UiQOT
Gus prosecution Of The car Ii is for the President
to adopt war policy for the army in the field, and
IL is the RICH. OF the peoples Representatives in
Congress and in the local Legislatures, to adopt
such wise and prudent enactments in regard to
the cicit administration OF public affairs as will
most surely bring all the States back into the
Union, after the war is closed This power and
duty we claim for Congress and the local Legis
latures, and, without the righful and free exer-
else of this power neither the soldiers in the field
nor citizens at home would have institutions
worth lighting or contending for. II the Presi-
dent can DO as he pleases. and there shall be no
limit to his power. then popular elections are
farce and State Governments nullity. We
know you too well to believe that you would ever
consent to the establishment of doctrine SO
slavish The gallant soldiers would be the first
victims of such despotism.
The people and the State Governments are
your own strong and sure defense against onpres-
sion now and neglect hereafter Give neither up
at the bidding of those who would degrade you
and your father. brothers. neighbors, aud fellow
citizens to the condition of serfs and the bondage
of slaves Neither the soldiers or the people are
| prepared for such political humiliation
Let Us look to the history OF our action here
and elsewhere. and the causes which have led TO
the ascendancy of the majority in this Chamber
IL was nantes: before the adjournment of Con-
gress, at the first regular session. that the whole
policy of the Administration in conducting the
war had been changed. and that new and startling
measures were inaugurated at Washington. This
created wide spread alarm amongst the people in
all the free Safes, and aroused IA sentiment which
/ demanded the convention of Mass Convention
OF conservative and loyal citizens at lndianap
oils. That Convention was held OH the Both day
July, 1862 1t was called to give utterance
to its sentiments in regard to the measures to
which we have alluded We cannot better define
the position of the majority of this Senate and the
other House, and of the people of Indiana, than
| by giving the resolutions adopted by the vast
concourse oil your fellow citizens which assembled
on that occasion. They are as follows
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT TaE MASS MEETING OF
THE DEMOCRATS AND OTHER CONSERVATIVE oITI
zENs OF INDIANA. JULY Both. 1862:
ReSOlued That the Constitution, the American
Union, and the laws made under and by the au-
th0riiy of the Constitution, must be preserved aud
maintained in their proper and rightful
premacy-lhaJ The rebellion now in arms against
them must be suppressed and put down, and that
it is the duty of all good citizens to aid the Gen
eral Government in all measures necessary and
| proper to that end
ReSolced That the Democracy of Indiana, with
patriots everywhere. have made and will continue
To make, every sacrifice to the end that the re-
belliOn may be suppressed, the supremacy OF the
! Constitution maintained, and the Union under it
preserved; hut they are unalterably opposed 10
war of conquest or subjugatOn, aud they will
/ never consent that the on their part shall be
waged for the purpose of interfering with the
rights or overthrowing the established institutions
OF any of the States In the language of Senator
Douglas, uttered at Chicago Il few days before
his death: 1--WE must not invade constitutional
| rights. The innocent must not suffer, nor women
and children be the victims. Savages must not
be let loo.e."
| ReSOired, That protest. in the name of our
selves and of children. and in the name of
all that we hold dear in the future of our beloved
country, against the mischieyOuS measure OF negro
emancipation in the District of Columbia, and
the plyment for such negroes out of the National
Treasury: and we further protest against the res
olutiOn of Congress pledglng the nation to pay
for all negroes which may be emancipated by the
authority of any of the Southern States; that we
1 regard such measures, Involving as they do an
expenditure of two thousand five hundred millions
OF dollars, rs measures of transcendent enormity.
and fruitful only of national beggary TO the land
we love; tina, we are unateraby and uncondi-
tionallv opposed to all schemes having for their
object. immediate remote, the taxation of the
white man for the purchase of negroes anywhere;
that we DENY the constitutional right of the Pres
ident or Congress TO adopt policy which taxes
| white labor to pay for negroes, which would
make the Government or people slave dealers; a
policy which, if not arrested by the votes of the
people. will entail upon unborn generations of our
kindred a debt more overwhelming and appalling
than cursed any nation of ancient or modern
times
ReSolusd. That in opposition to measures of
this kind we desire to interpose the peaceful and
powerful agents, the ballot Of free people and
say in the language of another, I'VE will neither
surrender our rights nor forsake them. We will
maintain our constitutional liberty at all haz
ards, and a necessary step toward that end, we
will maintain the Union in like manner. We
are for the Constitution as il Is and the Union as
il WAS
Resolred That. in the language of the Tesolu
ton OF the conservative members Of Congress,
the doctrine OF the SecessioniS,s and of the Abo
tionsts rs the latter are now represented in
Congress, are alike inconsistent with the Con
stitu,ion and irreconceable with the unity and
peace of the country The first have already
involved us in a civil war; and the others
(the Abolitonists) will leave the country but
little hope of the speedy restoration OF Union or
peace.
Resolued, That the happy accord of the Border
State Union men of Kentucky. MARYLAND, Mis-
souri, and Western Virginia with the Democratic
delegations ia Congress. in their joint efforts TO
arrest the tide o.. ianaticiSm in both houses, has
filed all national hearts in this State with senti-
ments of deep affection for our brethren of those
gallant C0mmonwealths and we hereby pledge
to them and the country our best efforts TO Sc
cure to the councils of the nation statesmen who
will labor to restore the Union of the States on
the basis and in the spirit OF our matchless and
revered Constitution
) Resolued That the people justly view with
alarm the reckless extravaganza which pervades
every department of the Federal Government
that.a return To rigid economy and accountability
is indispensable to arrest the systematic plumber
OF the public treasury by favored partisans, while
the recent startling developments OF frauds and
corruptiOns at the Feleral metropolis show thar
an entire change of administration is imperatively
demanded.
Resoired, That we approve OF and indorse the
resolutions drawn by Hon. John j. Crittenden,
and adopted by the conservative members OF
Congress on the 22l day OF January, lc6l, as a
clear and Just declaration of the objects which
ought to be had IN view by the American people
in the present fearful emergency OF their national
affairs.
Resolred That we recur with patriotic pride to
the bravery and vaor OF the officers and soldiers
of all the Indiana regiments. exhibited in the
struggles upon the many bloody fields in which
they have been engaged, and that this Conven-
ton in behalf of the Democracy of this State,
tender to them a united testimony to their valor
and devotion 10 the Constitution and the Union,
and offer the friends and families of those who
have fallen in the service of their country its sin
cere sympathy and coincidence, and that we will
ever cherish in grateful recollection the willing
sacrifice made by the noble sons OF Indiana. in
exchanging the peaceful avocations of life for
the hardshps and perils of war.
The Convention which passed these resolutions
was attended by forty thousand citizens of In
diana who had come up from every neghborhood
and county in the State.
IL. CT