Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-16
WEEKLY SENTINEL.
MONDAY, MARCH Ie.



the country the very evils which it is now suffer
ing IL proclaimed, Immediately after that event.
that if the dissatisfied States desired to leave the
Union, not Republican would throw any Cliff
Guilty in the way, but would willingly let them
depart 1t conceded that secession only
olution; that the secession of South Carolina was
a dissolution Of the Union; that civil war was
worse calamity than the loss of a dozen States
and il discussed favorably the advantages of
separation of the States The Journal not
alone in this view of public policy. The New
York Tribune. the Chicago Tribune. the CincIn-
natl Commercial. the Buffalo Express and other
leading Republican journals set forth and advo-
Gated similar views. These papers. one and all,
proclaimed that Union not worth preserv-
ing which had to be pinned together by bayonets.
What meant those declarations? Were they the
honest convictions of those who put them forth,
the leaders and organs of Republican sentiment,
OF were they uttered To deceive the people of the
Southern States, to deceive the whole country,
and precipitate upon the nation civil war for
the abolition of slavery and to give ascendancy
to the dogmas of the Chicago platform? The
dullest comprehension cannot fail to see that if
the leading Republicans were willing that the
dissatisfied States should depart from the Union
without resistance; that if they meant just what
they said in that regard, the Republican Admin
istration should have received and treated with
the Commissioners of the Southern Confederacy.
sent to Washington to negotiate peaceable sep
ar1tiOn of the States. The very state of facts
existed when the present Administration came
into power which the leading Republican organs
stated would justify a dissolution of the Union.
A number Of the States we're dissatisfied. So far
as it was in their power they had dissolved their
connection with the Government. They be-
leved they had grievances which could or
would be redressed within the Union. 1t
was evident the national authority could
be enforced only BY coerciOn-by military power
If this was attempted civil war, with all its hor-
rors. must ensue, and the seeded States would
have to be pinned to the Union by bayonets. In
this condition of affairs, if the Journal and its
coadutors were sincere in their expressed con-
victions, should they not have urged upon the
Administration the policy of letting the States
which had resolved to sever their connection
with the Government. depart in Deace2 But not
one of them had the honesty or the courage to
stand by their teachings. the doctrines which
they had labored to impress upon the country as
its true policy. Otherwise they were the very
frst TO
Cry havoc
Aud let slip the dogs of war.
They have been the foremost to urge a sangui-
nary strife, serye Instruction. AMI not only the
subiugation, but the determination of the very
people whom they said not Republican would
wish 90 stay in the Union if they desired to
sever their connection with it,
And what has been the history of the past two
years. Nearly all the rights of freemen have
been abridged or overriden by the representa-
tives of the very party who claimed to be the pc
cular friends and advocates of free speech, free
press and free men. And why? Not because
one half of the citizens of the States yielding a
willing allegiance to the Government. were less
loyal or devoted to the Union, OF any less anx-
ious to preserve and perpetuate free government
and free institutions than the party friends of the
Administration in power but they differed
with the policy which Influenced it in directing
the war; or for proving recreant to the objects for
which both Congress and the President solemnly
assured the country il was to be waged.
1t is impossible TO circumscribe thought or
force public sentiment into one and the same
channel. The freedom of speech and OF the
press may be taken away, all outward means of
communication. but arbitrary power can
eh.fp fbo nf and ,rIi ,,.1 ral
judgment. Private opinion upon the conduct of
governmental affairs may be awhile restrained by
arbitrary power, but il is only damming up the
current which will be more fierce in its flow when
il gathers strength to overcome the distractions
which have impeded it. Would there have been
any cause, any necessity for the establishment of
secret political organizations in Indiana, if the
liberty of speech had not been restricted and no
apprehension that the rights and liberties of the
citizen were to be abridged? We do not believe
in secret political organizations. We stand
opposed to them now, as we ever have done.
We have discountenanced them in every way in
our power. In free Government. if that is yet
lett to Us, cause which cannot be openly
sustained is not worth sustaining. We believe
in open and free discussion Then there can be
no occasion for Misrepresentation, while the
objects and motives of secret associations, no
matter how patriotic and pure, are liable to be
misjudged. There are such organizations amung
both Republicans and Democrats. and if there is
any disloyaIty TO the Constitution and the
Government in either, we have no evidence but
the former is more guilty than the latter. There
is no doubt but that these Republican secret
clubs exist all over the State and that arms are
being furnished them by public officials in
political sympathy with them. What necessity
and what object can there be for such organiza-
tons, when the Republican leaders claim TO have
majority Of the people with them. and they
hive the control of the State and the National
Governmental The very fact that they resort to
such agencies is the best evidence that the
judgment Of the people is against them.
Addressing the leaders fthe Democratic party,
the Journal says:
Let every man institute a examination
and determine upon which side he will stand
whether Cor his country or against IL; and ii for
MS country, let him propose maintain it. il
needs be. with his life
This is rather COOL coming from a print which
advocated a separation of the States, and rather
than civil war the loss of dozen States, and il
even vet willing 70 let the Rebel States go, il
they will only lay down their arms. According
to its definition Of loyalty, is the Journal for the
country or against t?