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


be emancipated by the authority of any State.
Ii was pledge which Congress had no right to
make, and one that The ireemen OF this country
will decree shall pot be carried out. Ii was made
without notice TO the people. without even an
ailnsion to il rs a probable measure of policy
and in defiance. We are bound 90 say. of every
constitutional power. How the purchase of three
or four millions of negroes by the white labOrers
of the North could 'Dut down the rebellion" or
restore the Union, no department OF the Govern
ment and no member of Congress has ever had
the candor to explain. pledge for such pur
pose. by whomSoeyer msde. and all similar
schemes for mixing up negro EN- sncipatiOn with
this war for the Union received the open condem
nation Of that Convention. IL was but a reflex
of the peoples voice in July--it the voice OF
Indiana in October That condemnation. we now
echo from this chamber and there are more who
will defend that pledge, or make an issue on il
before the people.
If the Administration and its advisers desired
to keep the people united" for the prosecution
OF this war; why we're those measures of negro
emancipation and purchase forced upon the nation
at a time like this! If they did not know that it
would divide the citizens, and make men doubt in
regard to the objects of this war. then
only say that they have too little sagacity to con
troll the affairs oi a great nation. But when the
/ proclamation of the 22d of September 1862, fell
the widest confusion was added TO the doubts
which took possession OF the public mind. There
stood revealed before the world two measures
which invoked The condemnation oi the people of
Indiana and they received Il No one dared 20
defend them They got 10 defense The candi
dates sustained bV the minority stOOI mute at the
giant measure OF oppression they were expected
/ to Decentralization for the purpose of freeing
/ African slaves, and horde OF free negroes
/
! those with whom we acted. opposed measures of
trauscendent enormity ike these, and those who
apologized for them-they had no defenders
went under the wave OF popular Indignation in
| Indiana. Was this opposing the WARP In de
Tending you and ourselves from oppression and
bankruptcy and keeping the Government within
| the scope Of its constitutional power. we were
only dsciarging duty to our great ana uniortu
nate nation For doing this. we havebeen de
nounced 70 YOU traitors, and by men. too, who
have followed your camps, not Is share VOC
hardShips and dangers but to gather up the crumbs
which have fallen from the table provided by the
generosity and sense of justice of the people Of
your beloved State We knOtc these men, and
whether of high or low degree. have right TO
hold them up To the scOTn and contempt of all
Just men IN the army and out of IT, You ask us
to give this war cheerful and hearty support
that will pour out the treasure OF the State
soldiers have poured out their blood, TO aid the
holy cause OF restoring the Union Of our faith
ers''-thai we should abstain from heated political
discussions and party wranglmgs, until the au
| thOrity of Government is once more established
that we should resist 1.-The internal spirit which
would waste victory in humiliating com
promise and that we should sacrifice
everything, except liberty and political equality,
to National integrity" These requests are reason
able. and they come to Us in pleasant words.
The Senate of Indiana the House of Represent
atives, and the people represented by both
branches have given, and will continue 10 give. a
cheerful and hearty supper: to this war, FOR THE
RESTORATION OF THE UNION. aud the majority
which we represent are prepared 70 contribute
ereR more of the treasure OF the State than on
any former occasion. in aid of the volunteers now
in the field from Indiana These two points in
your request are far as the majority has power,
already complied with. How far il will be in the
power OF that aOrity TO avoid cheated political
discussion and party wranglng" will depend
greatly upon the conduct of the minority and their
consent To accept deeds and not words as the
measure of true mems loyalty. The legislation
of the session has been generally harmonious:
but there are questions which now and then arise
to impede the progress of business There are
no disagreements about furnishing the army with
all that is deemed essential for its comfort. and
large appropriations have already passed this
Senate, and by "A unanimous vote. These disa-
greements and ''wranglings" over measures
which relate to people at home. ana not to the
army from our State. The majority while they
look to your interests, soldiers, have also an
eve to your home interests and the welfare OF
fathers, brothers and neighbors. While you fight
rebellion and treason in the army, the General
Assembly wish to preserve your Government al
home from being turned into an engine oil
tyranny, usurpation and merciless taxation
They don't want YOU taxed TO pay for negroes
nor to have the negroes come into Indiana, TO be
come hired laborers ON the farms of the State
They don't wish to have The people arrested with
out warrant of law. aud imprisoned in dungeons
without trial. They don't want the money ap
propria'ed for your benefit squandered pimps
and flyoriies: aud, above all. they don't want "a
see the free Constitution of Indiana trampled un
der foot for the qualification OF those who aim "a
override the coordinate departments of the State
and engulphed ALL the powers of the Government
i'm their own hands That point of our resistance
is what gives offense, and the political colporteurS
sent among YOU to Islander and yillify the ma
jority at this Senate and the other branch OF the
Legislature are performing only duty imposed
by the nature at their unhappy calling.
The Senate is quite willing to ihdOrse the sen
timents OF your memorial, which counses that
we should resist the internal spirit which would
waste victory in humiliatIng compromises" That
is sound advice and this Senate will lay the same
To heart as - lesson of wisdom. The majority OF
this General Assembly assure their gallant friends
in the army, that there are no such members in
either branch of the Legislative departments
No one here thinks OF Illuminating compromises
or indeed compromise of any kind, for they have
10 power To enforce them, and are too proud Ia
beg them from the administration OF Mr. Lincoln
even il their supplicatioBs could avail at such a
tribunal They know too well what influences
prevail ut Washington to approach the ear OF our
Commander in Chief Not so, good friends. Nc
humiliating compromises are asked for by this
General Assembly and il there be party which
has wasted victories, or failed TO improve them
when won, it must have been those in possession
of the General Government aud not the Indiana
Legislature We have had no power to waste
any victory. or TO turn success into ashes in the
hands of the nation. The assertion that we do
devise such compromises is without foundation.
The Senate and General Assembly OF Indiana
are entirely willing that the President and his
Administration should make this part oil
its history, and that It's compromises shall begin
at such time as may TO them seem beitting. We
had no agency in inaugurating this war, nor IN
carrying it on; none in directing its policy none
i'm tire control of IT'S armies. and it is not our de-
sign TO interfere with it in any improper manner
Our duty is to pay taxes-to take care of the
sick and wounded SOldiers-to look and wait for
the end of this cruel and bitter strife-to take
care OF our State hrs and TO hope that our be
loved country will one day emerge from the
clouds which hang over her, with the Union .e
stored as il was. and with all the States existing
in harmony under the matehess Constitution OF
our fathers.
1t would be wrong to conceal the fact that
there is growing anxiety in the public mind that
this war should be brought TO close in some
! IL h,,,,
nearly two wears, and with great waste of blood
and rreasnre Thousands have fallen in the con