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

bultc lCaIt W udtcNtl u FccpcCts UT COatoCuNS,
or affection existed az the comnencementof our
troubles, has been effectualy crushed and fogever
DESTROYED There is not even the shadow Of
possibility that respect can be revived, or conf
denee restored, or affection renewed The chain
that bound us together has been broken and can
never be reunited-the magnificent structure
reared by Our wise and patriotic forefathers has
fallen into ruins, aid il eau never be reconstruct
ed The Union thsy formed, the government
they established, have had their allotted time, and
are now Numbered with the things that are gone.
A people imbuej with sound principles and ami
mated by proper spirit. who hate US with the IN
tensity which the northern people have exhibited.
and who know that We detest them would not
desire longer alliance. Honor. Justice, propri-
ETY., every consideration that should influence
good and patriotic men. show the necessity of our
eternal separation.
Ii is said we have some men among who
are the advocates OF what they call an honorable
peace, which, when properly interpreted, means
nothing less than submission. Ii is
pleasant to know that the number of such men
is small; but whether large or small. spurn them
as You would the viper. Men who preach peace
under present circumstances are false to US and
to the Confederacy. IL Is time enough TO speak
of an honorable peace when Lincoln shall have
Withdrawn his armies from our soil.
So far we have accomplished ALL nay, more
than we could reasonably have anticipated. We
have an army in the field well appointed and well
equipped. unsurpassed in spirit, unequaled in
devotion TO the cause, Injured to service. dsci-
plined, true and courageous Our people, old
aud young, male and female, are of one mind in
their hatred of the Yankees and in their determi
nation to separate from them. Can such people
be brought under tyrant's power, and be forced
to submit 10 tyrant's exactionsf Can such a
people be conquered and subjugated2 Neverl
Men who had no right to ask or expect exemp
ton from active service in the field, are found
comfortably ensconsced in the Commissarv
Quartermaster's Departments. or in the lying in
hospitals, prepared BY the nitre and mining bu-
reau which has scattered its operations over the
whole of the State. All these places could be
filed, with infinitely more advantage and profit
to the COniederacy, by men of age. experience,
and mature judgment, who are beyond the mill
tary age aud unfit for service. Young men, in
too many Instances, hold such positions, and Just
ice demands that they should be in their appro-
pirate places in the field. The fact that these
men are kept in such positions for which they
possess no superior qualifications over hundreds
of Others exempt from military duty by reason of
age physical disability-operate prejudcially
TO the public interest and sows the seeds of dis
sension and strife which will sooner or later pro-
duce harvest of mischief. These NAV be re-
carried by some as unImPortant matters, but still
they are worthy of consideration and it is hoped
will be speedily changed and corrected. The
public interest demands this, and what the public
interests demands no representative of the people
should be afraid 10 execute
The manner in which the impressment system
has been cJniucted has produ.ei incalcuIabe
mischief The agents selected have too fire.
quently been men who possessed neither manners
nor business qualifications. and the result has
been that they have caused in the minis of we'll
meaning men great dissatisfaction with the Con
Tolerate government If men of age, experience
and practical judgment were selected to fill those
positions, the ends which the government has in
view would be accomplished. and prejudice in
the public mind would be created. Young and
inexperienced hands have too often been charged
with the execution of this branch of business
and. from all have learned, am satisfied that
they have not unfrequently been sent out without
the necessary written instruction, and the man
ners in which their duties have been performed
has created the utmost dissatisfaction. Legsla-
ton is required for the protection of our people
against the impositions practised by impressment
officers and persons claiming TO be SUCH and
trust t will be had at this session
Reunion and reconstruction are but synonyms
for submission. The who can assent to
reunion or reconstruction is unworthy to enjoy
the blessings of liberty and free principles, and
deserves to suffer the horrors of subjugation at
the hands Of our vandal enemies. They have
already proclaimed the purpose to strip US OF all
our slave property; and as far as this purpose
could be accomplished by them they have re-
moved it. in common with every other species Of
property. They have destroyed our dwellings,
devastated our lands, and avowed their purpose
to staryc US into submission They have omitted
opportunity wreak their vengeance upon
unOffending women and innocent children. Even
the implements OF husbandry have been destroy
ed, as one of the means of accomplishing the
starvation of our people and their devilish work
of extinction When chaplain in the Federal
army can avow the atrociOus sentiment that if
the extinction of slavery requires the extinction
of the STAKEHOLDER, he was for his extinction,
what expect from a people represented
by such cleTgyI ANY fate would be
preferable to union with them. They are deaf
30 all appeals for justice, insensble to all
the claims of humanity, Indifferent alike to all
social. moral. and christian principles. and recl.-
lessly bent upon the extinction of people whose
blood in many Instances flows in their own veins
Can we again reunite with them? Every con-
sideratiOn Of duty to our God. to ourselves, and
TO our posterity fOrbids il. Our peace, our hap
piness. the prosperity of our country. forbid it.
As friends and advocates of liberty, independ-
ence, and the principles of free government, our
judgments, our feelings-all the nobler impulses
of our nature-rebel against the idea of reunion
and reconstruction. Every blow struck BY our
enemy since this cruel war began. has only in
tensifed the more deeply our hatred towards
us, and has widened and deepeued the gulf be
tween US and them. We are now separated, and
the public sentiment of Virginia and the States
of the Confederacy is that we shall remain as we
are. II we are to form union with any peo-
~ple,-let il be with some nation of high toned
honor aud elevated principles.
The indications ajmonish us that the war may
continue for some time to come, and that we
shall be called upon to endure much. Ii behooves
US therefore to be patient, firm and energetic,
self-sacri6cing and determined. and to omit no
thing calculated to aid in securing success. The
occasion, the cause, and the hopes and expecta-
tons which success inspires. appeal TO all to re
double their exertons. their energies. and efforts
:. II we determine with fixed. and resolute purpose
TO succeed, and if we move as one man in every
thing required to sustain the cause, we cannot
fail. A people resolved to be free never die
slaves All the glorious recollections that adorn
the history of our ancestry, and gave TO them in
the eyes and estimation of mankind. dignity and
character-all the sufferings which have been in
hicted upon our peope--all the bright gnticipa-
tons which crowd the future, and which promise
peace, prosperity and happiness to and our pos
terity, appeal to US be faithful to ourselves
aud our county The people will be true. and
the day of deliverence will come. Ii is useless
TO attempt to conceal the fact that the northern
people are as thoroughly united and determined
we are, and it is proper to look the matter
sternly in the face. and make our preparations to
meet il with equal frmuess and decision No
people ever lost anything by properly estimating
the power and strength of an adversary. We are
thus better prepared to maintain rights. and
We can do it with greater success and effect.
Many battle has been lost, because the power
and Eumber and preparations of the enemy were
underestimated IL Is always wise 20 look dan
ger fully 10 the face, and meet it calmly with
spirit and decision, energy and courage Pru