Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-19
NATIONAL AErAIRs.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Constitution makes it my duty to com
muneate To you the condition of the State. |
can not do this without speaking of our Union and
of the war which aifiicts our country. and which
also affects the extended commerce of New
York; taxes all its pursuits; has taken more than
twenty thousand men from our workshops and
fields. and has carried mourning into the houses
of our citizens. The genius OF our Government
and the interests OF our people demand that the
aspects of this war should Le discussed with en-
tire freedom. Not only is the National lie at
stake, but every personal, every family, every
sacred interest is involved. We must grapple e
with the great questions of the day We must
confront the dangers or our position. The truths
OF our financial aud militiry situation must not
be keps back. There must be attempt to put
down the full expression on public opinion. Ii
must he known aud heeied to enable the Gov
ernment To manage public affairs with success
There is yearning desire among our people to
learn their actual condition. They demand free
discussion. This should be conducted in an
earnest, thoughtful, patriotic spirit The solem-
nifty of the occasion, and the sufferings of the
war, should revive the virtue, the intelligence
and the patriotism Of the American people. The
decay of these have brought our. calamties
upon US. -
There are now no causes for diseord that have
y,
not felt by our fathers in forming the Union.
They had the greatness, the magnanimity and
virtue to compromise and adjust them. The
value of the Union they then formed has proved
70 be greater than they hoped. Yet we became
Indifferent TO il when we were in the full enjJy-
meut oil its blessings We became ignorant of
the character and resources of our own country
men, while We had the full benefit of an untram
meled commerce with all sections OF our-land. IL
and wealth growing out of National Union, that
sectional prejudices and passions were active in
destroying fraternal affections and generous love
OF our country. While we bOI>teI most of our
intelligence. there those perssteatly and la
bOriOuSly engaged through the press, and in
legislative halls, in teaching the people of the
North and the South to undervaue and despise
each other Hostile legislation and the division
Ot our churches impaired religious and social in
tercourse II the North and the South had un-
derstOod the power and purposes OF each other
our contentious would have been a. 'justed This
Misrepresentation, 50 bloody and terrible IN its eli.
fccts was Systematically aud laborously incul
Gated.
CAUSES or THE WAR
Affri=hted at the ruin they have wrought, the
authors OF our calamties at the North aud South
insist that this war was caused by an unavoidable
contest about slavery. This has been the sub
iect, not ths cause OF controversy. We are 10
Look for the causes OF this war in pervadne
disregard OF the obligations OF laws and cOnsti
tutOns; in diSrespect for constituted authorities
AMI. above ALL in the local prejudices which have
grown up in two portions of the Atlantic States
the t~o extremes of our country, whose remote
positions have made them les well informed, and
whose interests have made them less cOnsderate
with regard 10 the condition. and character OF OuI
whole people. than those living IN the great cen
trail and Western sections OF our Union There
Is 10 honest statement of our difficulties which
does not teach that our people must reform them
selves, rs well as the conduct oil the Government
and the policy of our rulers There is not ca
lamity we are suffering which not clearly
foretold by our fathers. the result Of the pas
sions and local prejudiees which have grown uE
during the past fifteen years.
IL Is not too late 10 save our country If we vii
enter upon the sacred duty ia The right spirit ans
In the right way. When We do SO. the effect viii
be seen and felt throughout our land and by th'
civilized world. We shall then strengthen ou
Government; we shall weaken the rebellion; VI
shall unite our psUple; and the world will rec0g
nize our capacity ior self government when vi
show that We are capable of selfrelorm.
RESPECT FOR LAWS AND RULERS
In the first place. we must emulate the con
duet of our fathers, aud show obedience to con
stltuted autnOrlucss anu respect iOT ieri hi
constitutional obligations "fhe very idea O
the power and right OF the people 10 estabIis
Government, presupp0ses the duty Of every Indl
vldual TO obey the established Government" 1e
spirit of disobe,iIeBce has slpped the i0unda
ton Of municipal, State and National auth0rIt
In every part Of our land. IL is not only the un
deriyins and prevailing cause of the war. It
also the immediate occasion OF our cilamities-
When the leaders of the insurrectlon at On
extreme South say that free and slave State
cannot exist together in the Union. and whe
this i echoed from the extreme North by th
enemies Of our Constitution. both parties simpl
say they cmnot. because they will hot, respe'
the laws and the Constitution. This spirit Z
disoyalty must be put down. Ii is inconsister
with all social order and social security, wit
safety Of person and property.
In order TO uphold our Government, it is ais
necessary that we should show respect for Oh
authority of our rulers. While acting within III
limits of their jurisdiction, and representing tl
interests the honor and the dignity of our PEE
nle they are entitled TO Difference. Where u
their right % decide upon measures and policy,
is our duty TO obey and give ready support
their decisions This is vital maxim OF lbert
Without this loyalty no Government can coildn
pnblic affairs with success. no people be safe
the ENJOYMENT Of their rights. This duty
peculiarly strong under our system. which Civ
the people the right at their elections TO sit
Judgment upon their rulers, to commend or co
denim them, TO keep them in, or expe' them fro
cffcisl stations.