Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07
NOW md Then.

10 lS4S Mr. ABRAHAM LINCOLN was member
of the United States House Of Representatives.
The Mexican war was then in progress. He
opposed it. He did all in his power % discourage
and defeat an American army then in foreign
territory. He did not regard it disloyal then to
severely criticise and condemn the war policy of
the existing Administration. He went further
than this He boldly proclaimed the right of a
dissatisfied people Ito rise up aud shake off the
existing governments. and form new one that
suits them better" This sentiment he expressed
in speech in the House of Representatives on
the 18Th of January, 1913 He thus justified the
position We have quoted:
This is a most valuable, a most sacred right
Alright which. We hope and believe, is to liberate
the World. Nor is this right confined to cases IN
which the whole people of an existing govern
ment may choose exercise it. Any portion of
such people that can, may revolutionize, and
make their Orn of so much of the territory az
they inhsbit More than this, a majority of any
portion Of such people NAV revolutiOnize, putting
down minority. intermingled with, or near
about them. who may oppose their movements.
Such minority precisely the case of the Tories
Of our revolution"
This argument sounds strangely in the light
Of passing events. In the same speech from
which We have quoted, Mr.. LINcoLS Iidiculed the
idea Of vigorously prosecuting the war against
Mexico for the purposes of determination, sub
jugauon or confscation of the property Of ts
citizens. He would not entertain the thought
that Christian people, civilized nation. could
prosecute war for such objects. He remarks:
81 suppose no one will say we should kill the
people, or drive them out, or make slaves of them.
or even con6scate their property"
Is war prosecuted for such ends any more
unsuitable or excusable now than il would have
been when Mr.. LrScoLs altered his philippe
against such measures as antirepublcan and
anti Christiang At that time Mr.. LINCOLN es
tmated the cost Of war TO the country, both in
blood and treasure And the cost Of the war
with Mexico was a mere drop in the bucket in
comparison with that Of the contest now waging.
We cannot present better daguerreotype Of the
perplexites. inconsistencies aud foilies of the
present Administration than by reproducing the
closing paragraphs Of the speech Of Mr.. LINCOLN,
70 which ws have referred, in which be reviews
and criticises the policy of President Polk in the
var against Mexico: -
The war has gone on some twenty months; for
the expenses Of which, together with an inconsid-
cradle old score, the President now claims about
one-half os the Mexican territory, and that by
Ear the better bali. far as concerns our ability
% make anything out oft. II is comparatively
uninhabited. so that We could establish land off,
ces in il, aud raise some money in that way.
And the other half is already inhabited, as un-
dsrsfand il, toIerably densely for the nature Of
the country, and all its lands, or all that are
valuable, already appropriated as private property
How then are we to make nytbiBg ouf of
these lands with this encu mbrance on Them or
how remove The eOcumbrance7 suppose no
one win say we should kin the people, or drive
them out. or make slaves Of them, or even con-
fscate their property Hows then, can we make
much out Of Chs pars Of the territory If the
prosecution Of the war has in expenses already
equaled the better half of tbe country, how long
is future prosecution win be in equaling the less
valuable half is not a speculative but practical
question, pressing closely upon US; and yet il is
question which the President seems never to have
thought Of
AZ to the mode OF terminating the war and
securing peace, the President is equally wander
ing and indefnite FIRST. il i to be done by more