Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-28
For or Against the Old UnfOni-Under
Which KING!

The people of this country are soon to take
sides. either for or against 1.-The Union as it was,
and the Constitution as il is" There can be no
other issue. The radicals are determined that
there shall be no end to the war until the South
will give up the institution of slavery. Conserv-
alive men ale willing to see each State return to
its duty and its privileges under the Constitution
as il is. As an evidence of what we say, we
copy the following from the Boston Common
wealth-the organ of Senator SUMSER-the
closing part of an article commendatory Of Mr..
Solicitor WRITINGS letter. in which he says the
South must be considered as conquered provinces,
TO be held in subsection, until they will volun
tarily abolish slavery. The editor says:
The Constitution as interpreted BY our lawyers.
is as great a puzzle as the old problem Of motion
was to the Greek sophists. Mr.. Whiting will
have with posterity the great credit of having
discovered that Salrdtor ambuiando, or 'jumpuD
and try" method, which is swiftly transforming
the compromises of the Constitution into statutes
of freedom. By his essay on the "war power
ne took away the breath of nunberless Judges,
jurymen and pleaders," while he only laid down
a chart Of the course we were actually sailing.
In this letter he has attempted some sailing direc
ltJllSs VI hulIus ~ CA tlt aOFLa = ODI y
take a pirate for a pilot" The good sense which
God has vouchsafed to all other men, and to some
lawyers, will sooner or later make the country
see the force of this advice; but for the present
there is great recalcitration, even among the Re
publicans. Let US then briefly sum up Mr..
Writings arguments.
These are his assumptions and differences, ex-
pressed or implied:
The war has a cause-an Idea .1siff
n IT,. Lie. o,n .mt ~ e1.fn a.. haffla L
Ill. Consequently it must be overthrown BY a
Policy
w. This Idea is protection to slavery, and its
great balwark is State rights.
v. Until the Idea is overthrown. the bulwark
cannot be surrendered by the enemy. We wish
to "repossess ourselves of the forts"
vi. Reconstruction. as commonly understood.
is to give back the forts to the enemy, and arm
their garrisons.
VII When the rebellion became a territorial
war, such reconstruction became an absurdity.
VIII. 1t is a fallacy 10 suppose that conquered
traitors are citizens. Consequently they have no
claim u the rights of citizens.
TX. Our true policy is the destruction of
slavery. AS u means of self defense against fu
ture wars.
X. To destroy slavery, the loyal States
must hold the disloyal States under control,
till the people are willing to consent to its de
W. ~ L
XII The Government is pledged to this by the
proclamation Of emancipation.
XII. The Constitution not only permits but
requires it.
Now if there are any who Doubt that slavery is
the cause OF the war, Of who admit that. and yet
do not desire its destruction, they will stick at
propositions " and TX. If there are any who
think there is a better way to destroy slavery than
BY national legislation. they will question propo-
sitions X and XII. But the "logic of events" is
fast converting all patriots to the views so ably
illustrated bv Mr.. Whiting. 1t is the duty of The
press TO see that the country is not betrayed in the
meantime by cunning politicians. who cry out for
the :, U MON as it was. and the Constitution as il
is" but who mean only TO defend slavery and
perpetuate their own power"
This tells the whole story. At the coming
Presidential election men will vote for or against
1.-The Union as it was" 1t viii be the entire
conservative element of the country against
those who would sacrifice it for the 'idea" of
anti-slavery. 4ars