Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-19


the large and smaller States.
So long as all the States of our present Union
were represented in Congress. this tendency was
checked by the existence of States with small
populations, distributed in different sections of
our country. and somewhat equally among the
| agricultural, commercial and manufacturing re
gions. Hitherto no injurious or irritating results
have been caused division of the Union, or
! the disfranchisement of the Southern States bv
putting them back into the condition OF mere
Territories, or a representation dictated 10y the
military power of Government, would make in
evitable readjustment OF political power Ii
the Southern States are cut off or DISTINGUISHED
every map of our country will constantly suggest
this to the public mind. In the Northern Union
the group Of six small New England States,
with New Jersey and Delaware. living on the At
lantic coast. far removed from the Central aud
Western sections Of our country, with united
populations only about equal TO that of this
State, would balance, in the controlling branch
of the National Legislature, the great producing
States of New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ind-
ana. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. In
a few years each one OF these will have popul4-
| tOns greater than that of all New England.
This disparity of political power would be in
creased by the fact that the population and pur-
suits of New England, confined within very linn
tied boundaries, have the uniformity of one com
munity. while the larger States have diversified
and distinctive pursuits to prevent :hem from
acting readily in concert.
The danger of controversy would be increased
by our vast national debt This, mainly held by
few Atlantic States, divides country into the
perilous sectional relations of debtor and creditor
regions. The ownership of this debt cannot be
diffused over country so that the same COM
munities which pay taxes will receive incomes.
The incidental advantages of protective tariffs
growing out of this debt would be largely gained
by the creditor States which also enjoy this dis
proportionate share of political power. The great
producing States would be compelled to pay u
heavy taxation TO other communities at time
when the division of Union would deprive
them of their most profitable markets; and heavy
duties would tend TO diminish the demands of
foreign countries for their productions No one
can look forward to such ngitations and discus
sons without the deepest concern.
The smaller States. grouped upon the shores
of the Atlantic, were all original parties to the
Constitution They are glVriousy associated
with the history of the revolutionary struggle.
They bear names that are hOnOred, and have
memories that cherished in part of the
land. They must not, through the folly Of blind
and tigoter leaders, lose the great special polit
ical powers which are given to them by the com
promises of the Constitution. They must not
suffer that instrument, which secures TO them pc
culiar advantages. TO be weakened or DESTROYED
THE UNION MUST BE RESTORED.
There is but one way TO save us from demor
alization. discord and Reputation. Our Union
must be restored, complete in all its parts. No
section must be disorganized, beyond the
avoidabe necessities of war. All must be made
to feel that the mighty efforts We are making TO
save our Union are stimulated by purpose TO
restore peace, prosperity and happiness to every
section.
the public mind aud energies are concentrated
upon The patriotic. generous purpose to restore
our Union for the common good of all sections
Ii cannot be 50 united upon any bloody. any bar
barous, any revolutionary or any unconstitu
tonal scheme, looking merely TO the gratifca-
ton of hatred or purposes of party ambition, or
sectional advantage Every exertion of power,
every influence of persuasion, every measure Of
reconciliation, must be used To restore this Umcn
to its former condition. Let no one demand that
the blood OF his neghbor shall be shed. that the
fruits of the labor of our citizens shall be eaten
up by taxation. To gain this end, and then refuse
to give up his own passions. or to modify his own
| opinions, to save our own country and to stop
| the fearful waste we now making of treasure
and of life. Let 10 one think that the people
who have refused TO yield this Union to rebellion
at th9 South will permit its restoration to be pre-
vented by fanaticsm at the North.
CONCLUSION
| The prevailing sentiment OF the greatcontrol-
ling sections of our country will not only save our
Union. but it viii do in way harmonizing
with the genius OF our institutions, the usages of
our people. and the letter and spirit of our Con
stituton. 1t will mantle 81 itself in the customary
manner by discussion and political action The
| trainers OF our Constitution foreseeing that
events would render it necessary for the people of
the several States not only thus to address our
| Government. but also to produce concert of
purpose and action between different communities
provided in the Constitution that Congress shall
make no law abrdging the freedom Of speech, OF
of the press, or the right of the people peaceaby
TO assemble and to petition the Government for
redress of grievances"
Our present alarming condition naturally calls
for such expressions of public opinion with re
spect to the objects of The war, and the spirit in
hich it should be wased when the public will
is clearly expressed il must be recognized and re
spected by Government. IL will also make itself
effective in our frequently recurring elections.
which peacefully but rapidly form hody OF gov
ernment in harmony with its purposes Ii will
influence Congressional action. or il may lead to
Il convention of th.. States.
ThecOndition Of our country is not hopeless,
unless il j. made 40 by passions and prejudices
which are inconsistent with the government of a
great country. This war. with all ts evils, has
taught great truths. which If accepted by our
people, will the future relations of the
various sections of our Union on the frmest
basis Ii has made us know the value of the
Union itself, not only in internal but in our
foreign relations. Ithas given us a wisdom and
knowledge of each other. which. had We pos
sessed earlier, would have averted our present
! lamites.
Ii the interests of different sections Of our
country are conflicting in some respects. they are
SO balanced and adjusted by nature that there is
an irrepressbe tendency to intercourse. harmony
and Union This tendency must in the end
overcome mutual misappTehension. We have
also learned the great natural strength of the
North and of the South and amid all the bitter
ness of feeling engendeFed by the war, each sec
ton has been taught 70 respect the power, re
sources and courage of the other.
We must accept the condition of affairs as they
stand. At this moment the fortunes of our
country are Influenced by the result of battles
Our armies in the field must lie supported-a
constitutional demands OF our General Govern
| ment must be promptly responded TO
But war alone will not save the Union. The
rule of action which is used to put down or
dinarv nsurrecton is not applicable TO n wide
spread armed resistance of great communities
1t is weakness aud folly to shut our eyes to this
| truth.
Under no circumstances the division of the
| Union be c0nceded. We VIII put torth every ex-
ertion OF power; we will use every policy OF con
ciliation We will hold out every inducement to
the people Of .he South to return TO their slleg-
ance, consistent with honor; We will guarantee
them every right. every consideration demanded
toy the Constitution and by that fraternai regard
which must prevail in a common country. but we
can never voluntarily consent to the breaking up
| of the Union of these States the destruction
of the Constitution.
Humbly acknowledging our dependence upon