Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-21

tersance or means Of life from the enemy; of ths
appropriation of whatever an enemy's country
affords necessary for the subsistence and safety
Of the army; and OF such deception as does not
involve the breaking of good faith. either posi-
lively pledged. regarding agreements enteredinto
during the war, or supposed by the modern Law
of war to exist. den who take up arms s2ainst
one another in public war do not cease. on this
account, 20 be moral beiHgs, responsible 20 one
r The striking contrast TO these teachings and
practices presented by our army when invading
Pennsylvania. illustrates the moral character OF
our people. Though their forbearance may have
been unmerited and unappreciated by the enemy,
it was imposed by their own self respect, which
forbade their degenerating from Christian war
riors into plundering ruffians. assaing the prop
erty lives and honor of helpless non combatants.
If their conduct. when thus contrasted with the
inhuman practices OF our foe. fail to command
the respect aud sympathy of civilized nations in
our day, it cannot fail to be recognized by their
less deceived posterity.
- -ii CONCLUSION. saa
The message concludes as follows:
"The hope last year entertained of an early
termination Of the war has not been realized
Could carnage have satisfied the appetite of our
enemy for the destruction Of human lie, or grief
have appeased their wanton desire to inhict hu-
man suffering, there has been bloodshed enough
on both sides, and two lands have been suffi-
GENTLY darkened by the weeds of mourning to in
duce disposition for peace.
eff unanimity in people could dispel delu-
sion, 1t has been displayed too Enthusiastically not
I to have silenced the pretense that the Southern
States were merely disturbed by a factious insur-
rection, and it must long since have been adj
mitfed that they were but exercising their re-
served right to modify their government i'm such
manner as would best secure their own happiness.
But these considerations have been powerless to
allay the unchfistian hate of those who, long
accustomed to draw large profits from a union
with US. cannot control the rage excited by the
conviction that they, by their own folly, destroy
ed the richest sources Of their prosperity. They
refuse to listen to proposals for the only peace
possible between us-a peace which, recognizing
the impossible gulf which divides Us, nav leave
the two peoples separately to recover from the
injuries inflicted on both by the causeless wal
now waged against us. Having begun the wal
in direct violation of their Constitution, which
forbade the attempt to coerce State. they have
been hardened By crime, until they no longer
attempt to veil their purpose to destroy the nsti
tutions and subvert the government and indie
pendence of these States. We now know that
the only reliable hope for peace is in the vigor Of
our resistance. as the cessation Of their hostility
is only to be expected from the pressure of Their
necessities
1.-THE patriotism of the people has proved
! equal to every sacrifice demanded 10y our coun-
trys need. We have been united as people
never were united under like circumstances be
fore. God has blessed us with success dispropor
| tionate to our means, and under His divine ia ol
our labors must at last be crowned with the re
ward due to men who have given all they posses
ed to the righteous defense of their inaienablt
rights, their homes and their AFFAIRS"