Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-13
FRIDAY MORNIFG, MARCH IS.


ssWherc ~ az 10 Eud.~
Ever since the election Of Mr. LlScoLS the
Journal Ia. iabOred Ass'duOusly TO bring upon
the country the very evils which il IL nov suffer
ing IL proclaimed. im medistely after that event.
that Il the dissatisfied States desired 10 leave the
Union. not Republican would throw any eIfii-
Guilty IN tie waY. but would willingly let them
depart. IL conceded that secession was only rev.
oIsticn; shat the secession OF South Carolina was
q dissolution Of the Union: that civil war
~orse calamity than the loss Of a dozen States,
and IL discussed favorably the advantages Of a
separation OF the States The Journal vas not
alone in this view Of public policy. The New
York Tribune. the Chicago Tribune. the CincHn-
natl Commercial. the Baffalo Express and other
leading Republican journals set forth and advo-
Gated similar views. These papers. one and all.
proclaimed that Union not worth preserv-
ing which had 90 be pinned together by bayonets.
What meant those declarationsf Were they the
honest convictions OF those who put them forth
Che leaders and organs Of Republican sentiment.
or we're they uttered To deceive the people Of the
Southern States, TO deceive the whole country,
the abolition Of slavery and TO give ascendancy
TO the dogmas Of the Chicago PLATFORM The
dulIest comprehension cannot fail to see that if
the leading Republicans willing that the
dissatisfied States should depart from the Union
without resistance; that If they meant just What
they said in that regard. the Republican Admin
istrstion should haze received anil treated with
the Commissioners Of the Southern Confederacy,
sent to Washington to negotiate a peaceable sep
ar.tion Of The States. The very state of facts
existed when the present Administration came
into power which the leading Republican organs
stated would justify dissolution of the Union
A number of the States were dissatisfied So far
as il was in their power they had dissolved their
connection with the Government They be-
heved they had grievances which could or
would not be redressed within the Union. 1t
was evident the national authority could
be enforced only by coercion-by military power
II this attempted civil war. with all its hor-
rors. must ensue. and the seeded States would
have be pinned to the Union by bayonets. In
this condition of Affairs, il the Journal and is
cosdjutors were sincere in their expressed con-
victions. should they not have urged upon the
Administration the policy of letting the States
which had resolved 20 sever their connection
with che Government. depart in peace? But not
one Of them had the honesty or the courage to
staIid by their teachings, the doctrines which
they had labored To impress upon the country "a
it, true policy. Otherwise they were the very
hrst to
Cry havoc,
And let slip the dogs Of war.
They have been the foremost to urge a sangui-
nary strife. servie insurrection. and not only the
subjugation. but the determination OF the very
people whom they said not Republican would
wish to stay in the Union il they desired to
sever their connection with it,
And what has been the history of the past two
years. Nearly all the rights of freemen have
been abridged or overriden by the representa-
tives Of the very party who claimed to be the pc
culiar friends and advocates Of free speech. free
press and free men. And whys Not because
one half OF the citizens Of the States yielding a
willing allegiance to the Government. were less
loyal or devoted TO the Union. or any less anx-
ious to preserve and perpetuate free government
and free Institutions than the party friends of the
Administration in power. but they differed
with the policy which influenced II in directing
the war or for proving to the objects for
which both Congress and the President solemnly
assured the country IL was To be waged.
IL Is impossible To circumscrbe thought or
force public sentiment into one and the same
channel. The freedom of speech and OF the
press may be taken away, all outward means Of
communication. hut no arbitrary power can
chain the freedom of thought aud individual
Judgment. Private opinion upon the conduct Of
governmental affairs may be awhile restrained by
arbitrary power. bat IL Is only damming up the
current which will be more fierce in It's flow when
Il gathers strength to overcome the distractions
which have impsded IT, Would there have been
any cause. any necessity Tor the establishment Of
secret political organizations la Indiana. it the
liberty Of speech had not been restricted and no
apprehension that thc-rights and liberties OF the
citizen we're TO be abridgedy We do not believe
In secre, political organizations. We stand
opposed to them now. We ever have done
We have discosnIenanced them in every way N
our power, IN Tree ooNetnfnent. ~ mat ~ vel
lett TO u. cause which cannot be openly
sustained Is not worth sustaining We believe
In open and free discussion. Then there can he
no occasion for misrepresentation. while the
objects and motives Of secret associations, no
matter how patriotic and pure. are liable to be
mi.judgcd. There are such organizations among
both Rspublicans and Democrats. and IL there Is
any d'<loyaIty tn the Constitution and the
Government Ia either. We have no evidence but
che former u more guilty than the latter. There
l. 10 doubt hut that these Republican secret
clubs exist all over the State and that arms are
being furnished them by public officials in
political sympathy with them. What necessity
and what object can there be for such organiza
tons. when tho Republican leaders claim To have
a majority OF the people with them. and .hey
hive the control of the State and the National
Governmeatsr Ths-sery fact that they resort to
such agencies Is the best evidence that the
Judgment Of the people Is against them
Addressing the leaders OF the Democratic party .
the Journal says: #
Let every man institute self examination.