Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-26
sustaining the Administration.


engaged in foreign war He began his oppo-
sition to the Mexican by a letter to Mr.. Win
throp, then Representative in Congress, in refer
ence to his vote in favor of en- act authorizing the
President to call out fifty thousand volunteers,
and appropriatng ten millions OF dollsrs for that
purpose He objected to that act for six reasons,
one of which was that it was by virtue of it that
General Taylor perpetuated the massacre of
Monterey" and that ''the army of the United
States had been thereby converted into legal
ized band of brigauds. murderers and banditti. in
violation of the sanctions of civilization, justice
and humanity"
Another was that 'sthe war is dshonarble and
cowardly, as being the attack of a rich, power
fu, numerous and united Republic upon weak
and defenceess neighbor, distracted by civil feuds.
Every consideration of true honor. manliness and
Christian dnty, prompted gentleness and forbeaT
ance to our unfortunate sister" Ii was probably
a reminescence of the last phrase that suggested
Gen Scott's "wayward sisters"
Mr. Sumner proceeds to inform Mr.. Winthrop
that the war sis certainly the most wicked in
history, as il is one of the most wicked in all
history. The recording Muse will drop tear
over its turpitude and Injustice, while she gibbets
it for the disgust and reprobation of mankind" !"
This was tolerably strong, but "worse remains
behind" For example: "Ohl Mr.. Winthrop
rather than lend your vote to this wickedness,
you should have suffered the army of the United
States to pass submissively through the Caudine
Forks of Mexican power-to perish it might be-
irretrieveably like the egions of Vsrus. Their
bleached bones in the distant valleys where they
waging unjust war, would not tell to
posterity such tale of ignominy this lying
act of Congress"
This loyaI proposition he undertakes to defend
by variety of reasons, and he thus replied To the
argument that il was necessary 10 grant succOr to
General Taylor: ''ln seeing that the republic
received 40 deirment you should not have re
garded its army only; your highest care should
have been, that its good name, that its moral and
Christian character, received no detriment You
should have adopted the words of Sheridan in
the British Parliament, during our Revolution,
that you would not assent to a vote
that would imply recognition ap
probation of the war" After much more
Of the same Sort he again apOstrophizes Mr.. Win
throp "Let your cry" he wrote, "be that of
Falkland in the civil wars Peacel Peace!' Think
not OF what YOU have called, in your
speeches. 'an honorable peace There can be no
peace with Mexico which will not be more hon
orable than this war Every fresh victory is fresh
dishonor 'Uhquestionably, you have strange
ly SAIL we must not forget that Mexico must be
willing to negotiale' Mol no! Mr. Winthrop
" are not to wait for Mexico. Her consent is
not needed nor is il to be asked by Christian
statesman, while our armies are dehling her soil
by their aggressive footsteps. She is passive
We alone are active. Stop the Withdraw
our forces lin the words OF Colonel Washington
Retreat! Retreatl By so doing we shall cease
from further wrong, aud peac will ensue"
This impassioned appeal closes with this
hortation: "Let me ask you. still further. to bear
your testimoney against the Mexican war and all
supplies for its prosecution, regardless os the
minority in which You may be placed"
Not content with thus addressing his Repre-
sentative i'm Congress, Mr.. Sumner made public
speech at a public meeting in the fremont Ten
pie, on the 4th of November, 1916, against the
Mexican and all supplies for its prosecution !"
In the course of his TRADE he thus upheld the
Administration: Viewed as a question of dol
lars and cents, The Mexican war overshadows all
other questions while. if viewed in the dark ness
of its guilt, il compels them to the ooscurity of
n total eclipse. Ii is base in its object
atrociOus il its beginning, immoral in all its in
fluences. and vanv prodigal of treasure and life.
It il war of infamy, destined to blot the pages
of history with iudebe blackness"
That his position entirely consistent with
patriotism aud loyalty, Mr.. Sumner endeavors to
establish nv the opposition of Chatham. Camden,
Burke. Fox and Sheridan to the war of the Rev
OlntjOn, who, he SAYS. denounced it at the out
set aS unjust. and never during its whole pro
gress, failed to declare their condemnation of it,
voting against supplies fur its prosecution, and
against Trunks tor the military services by which
il was waged " Some at his citlioES may not be
without interest to our readers.
Al the close of debate in the House of Lords
OH an address OF thanks after the battle of
Bunker Hill in October. I775. protest was
sgned by several Peers, containing the following
clause:
"Because we cannot, as Englishmen, as Chris
la mr. mon pf m u m nifty
to the prosecution of a cruel civil war, so liltle
supported by justice, and so very fatal in its
necessary consequences, that which is now
wagng against our brethren and felew subjects
in America"
Mr. Fox said, in adebate on the same address,
that
"He could not consent TO the bloody codse
qaences of so silly contest about silly an OBJ
iect, conducted In the sl!iest manner that history
or observation had ever furnished an instance OF,
ana from which we were likely to derive nothing
but poverty. misery disgrace, defeat and ruin .
la another debate on the Budget, on April "a,
l776. Mr. Fox said
''He could not conscentiousIy agree to grant
any money for so destructive, so ignoble pur
pose as the carrying on of war commenced un-
justly and supported with no other view than the
extirpatiOn ui freedom
Many Others. equally decided are quoted by
Mf sumner Win approval, anu ne ehucu HIS
harsngue bs calling upon his fellow citizens "to
hang out the 1hte banner of peace"
Nor was this ali. In a speech at Faneul Hall
on the 4th of February. l847. he again called for
the withdrawal of the American troops from
Mexico, aud he stigmltized the war as ''uncon
stitutonal, unjust and vile in its object and char
acter." In reply to the doctrine that - the coun-
try is engaged in the war, and that, therefore,
it must be maintained, or, as il is sometimes ex-
pressed, vigouor-ly prosecuted" be said. Gin
other words. the violation of the Constitution and
the outrage upon justice are to be dsregarded,
while all are to join in continuance and repet-
tion of the violation and the outrage By wha,
.necromancy do these pass from wrong to rightf
They who admit the n,conStiiutionality and in
justice Of The war. and yet ssnctioa iss prosecu-
ton. mist recognize the heaven de'ying senti-
ment. our c.,un'ry. right wrong"
Such in lc47. were the views OF Charles Sum
ner as to the duties OF an American citizen in
time of war; bur. though they expressed
not only freely but in language needleSsly often
siye. il never occurred To President Polk that he
could suspend the constitution ami Danish him
from the country. And yet now, when men who
have sustained the Administration. as its own
committees admit, with libera,y never before
eQualed, protest against violations OF sacred
pledges and niringements OF the law, this very
Mr. Sumner is foremost i'm denouncing them as
traitors, aud justifyng their illegal Imprisonment
and exile Philadelphia Age.
From the st. Paul Press
A Severe winter Expected.
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