Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-28
Reconstrucuon and Compromise.

WENDELL PHILLIPS represents the abOlitionsts
of the nation and he probably, nearer than any
other man, reflects their views and purposes. In
his speech in New York the other night review
ing the Presidents message and proclamation he
said he was willing that there should be eompro-
mise when and where the nation pleased, upon the
single condition "that the tap root of slavery
shall be cat" He was even willing that
the Union restored upon the basis of
immediate and unconditional emanci-
patton, should assume the entire war in
debtedness of both sections of the country, esti-
mating it at some four thousand millions of dol
lars, and to accomplish the end proposed, he
thought that would be light incumbrance in
comparison with the advantages achieved. And
and his abolition friends would not grunbIe if
the nation should repudate the whole war debt,
provided "the tap root of slavery shall be cut"
But in abolishing one form of slavery, and that
Of subjective race, is there not great
danger of running into the other extreme
and imposing tasks upon the people of our own
race, grievous to be borne? A large public in
debtedness creates an aristocracy of wealth, and
with it grinding taxation. This is the history of
nearly all the governments of the old world
The taxation occasoned by the public indebted
ness Of the leading nations Of Europe has driven
thousands upon thousands of their subjects to our
shores to escape burdens which placed them in
the condition Of servitude to the governments
they owed allegiance. They felt it oppression
and gladly escaped from taxation which
was mortgage upon both mind and
muscle. But the aboliiionists think a debt Of
four thousand millions of dollars, greater in pro-
portion than that of the most sorely taxed nation
upon earth but of little consideration if they can
give the negro boon he cannot appreciate
unconditional and immediate emancipation-and
with no advantage to either race. And it is not
dollars and cents alone that is sacrificed to achieve
this single idea of aboIitionism. The slaughter
of life, the manning of bodies which the war has
swelled up to countless thousands, and the pow
erty and degradation which has followed in its trair
il regarded by these assumed negro philsn.hro
pists as of but little or no consequence
That class have not yet felt the evils of war
uOst Vi tnc ~ q" Lug iduu aooitiOulSto arc Tdpiu
ly making money out of the troubles of tn.
country. The present prosperity cannot last al
ways and the longer the crash which will eventu
ally come is put of. the more severe and wide
spread It will be- Then and not till then will th,
visionary theories of emancipation, reconstruction
and compromise which the fanaticism of th,
country has forced upon the Administration b
properly ss<inased, and revolution sudden ant
sweeping win osertake the men whose counse
and influence have fastened upon the nation th
caiamities which have and will grow out of thi
war.
-- From q verbatim report Of Mr. PHILLlrs' New
York speech we copy the following extract which
gives the abolition IDEA Of reconstruction ant
compromise:
Now all civil wars are ended BY compromise
There never was q civil war in which one part
got clean vict5ry, TO my knowledge, in history
In wars between two nations il has sometimes
though rarely, been the case; but in nation di
vided on its own soil there never a strife tina
was not ended By compromise. Ours will no
be. The only question is, what shall we compro
mise ont Once launched on the stormy AM
turbid waters Of politics, you cannot tell; bu
with The helm In our hands. you and /, if faith
ful, can say 70 the nation, you may comprvmis
where and when you please. with one exception
and that is, the tap root Of slavery shall be cut
[Cheers.l Let thirty Senators and Representative
enter Congress under this proclamation and wba
viii be their first demand7 1t will be, .sGentIe
men. fund our debt" Your Representatives vii