Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-20

The Policy of the Administration
No Opposition to IL to be Tolerated.
When il has been charged that the present
civil war is an Abolition war-a war waged for
the abolition of slavery. the Republicans have
stOutly and persistently denied il. But il now
appears upon the evidence of one of the highest
officers Of the army that it is the avowed policy
of the party in power not only to free the negro,
but to feed, clothe, organize and arm them. Reg
imente Of blacks are being organized, in fact
have been. who are to be placed in all respects
upon terms Of equality with the white soldiers.
Says AdiutAnt General THOMAS. this is the policy
of the Administration and it must be carried out.
Further than this. The same officer, speaking
by authority, declares that no opposition 10 this
form Of negro equality on the part of either off,
GERS o. soldiers will be allowed. No rank what
ever, even the stars, will be any protection to the
officer, who may oppose this policy of the AID
ministratiou. Thus it appears that an officer in
the army will not be permitted to question the
policy of the party in power. He can entertain
no opinion, or at least cannot express any, con-
trary to the policy of the Administration without
subjecting himself to be degraded from his rank
and dismissed from the service. This is the ten
ure then upon which officers will hereafter hold
their commissions.
Adjutant General THOMAS has been upon a
visit to the army of the Southwest recently. The
special correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette,
writing from Helena, Arkansas. under date of
April 7th, thus reports the speech of this officer
to the troops at that point, in which he develops
the policy Of the Administration upon the negro
question. We quote as follows:
Yesterday it was officially announced to the
soldiers of this command that Adjutant-G General
Thomas had arrived at Helena and desired to adj
derss them. Accordingly, early in the afternoon
regiment after regiment marched into Fort Cur
tbs until il was crammed full to overhowing.
After waiting an hour or two, Adjutant- General
Thomas finally made his appearance, in company
with Major General Prentiss. He was received
with three cheers from the crowd. Mounting the
rostrum he spoke as follows:
81 thank you. fellow soldiers, for the warm
and hearty reception you have given me. l re
ceive it not a. an ovatien to myself, but to the
Government which | represent
Il am here o -day TO announce to you the poll
icy which has been adopted by the Administra-
ton in the further prosecution of this war.
come with authority to carry it out fully, and with
your favor and cooperation, successfully.
at is well known that the rebels have had
great advantage over us, in the fact that they
have all taken the field against MS. leaving the
blacks behind at Tome to work for them and sup
port them We NOW propose to take these blacks
to feed, elothe, organize and arm them. We can
starve the rebels into submission, or force a large
proportion of their army to Law down the musket
and take up the shovel and the hoe. The ne
grOes have fled to us for protection, and have
been treated badly. The consequences have been
that many have been driven back to their masters,
while many have been deferred from venturing
within our lines. This must cease. Our pickets
must be instructed to receive these unfortunate
fugitives kindly, and to welcome them within our
lines gladly.
l have full authority to organize a regiment Of
blacks at Helena and to commission white men
as officers of the right character and stamp. We
propose also To establish colonies of blacks along
the river upon the deserted plantations. | was
born in a slave State, was nursed by a negress,
and | think | know the negro's character and
capacity. | believe that the blacks will make
good soldiers. We have already two regiments
that have done good service and proved them
selves capable and brave.
have Just organized at Memphis eight com.
panies as artillerists, and | propose to do the
same here. The policy OF the Administration
must be carried out, and no opposition ON the
part of officers and soldiers will be allowed.
Even the stars will be no protection to the officer
who by act or word opposes the policy of the
Government which / have just enumerated in
your hearing.
A few DAYS ago. a meeting-a Union" meet
ing-was held in Cambridge in this State, at
which the following letter was read from Brigadier
General CARRfNGToN. which. as the account
states. was received with three hearty cheers:
"GESTLEMES: l do not believe | can attend
your meeting Still my best wishes attend any
action tending TO concentrate the sentIment Of
the North in favor of a vigorous prosecution of
this most righteous war. We fight. not alone
for our national liberty; it is a fight for universal
freedom. | have no sympathy with that morbid
sentimentalism which makes a man shrink from
the contest. because, forsoOth, it will emanciDate
the slave Ny theory is. that we must crush the
rebellion; and if, in the Providence of God. the
war is to work the deliverance of the slave, let
Us bless the Providence, and not blight their and
our own best interests at once. This age is
grand in its issuesl America is in the van
Other nations tremble, and thrones totter. as we
advance in the issues Of this war. assure YOU
that the result is certain. Domestic discord and
selfish partisan feeling may delay, but cannot de-
feat. the grand issues to man that will flow from
this war. We are to conquer. We are TO rise
higher in the scale of nations. We shall over
leap all treason. and all the creeds of past times,
and breathe the atmosphere of pure. persuasive
liberty.
"Combinedly coolly. vigorously, push on, and
you shall be proud. and your children will be
proud. that the sacrifices of this war have been
shared by them and you. With nv best wishes,
| am. Yours, truly.
"HESRY B. CARRrSeroS."
We do not object TO General Darlington enter
tanning these views. He may believe shat "free,
persuasive liberty" and so forth, will follow the
policy of the party in power, but it is evident
that he understands what that policy is, and the
means to be used to maintain or enforce it,
Says General Thomas: Even the stars will be
no protection to the officer who. by act OF word,
opposes the policy of the Government, which |
have just enumerated in your hearing" Then
comes the echo -"If, in the Providence of God,
the war is to work the dcliyerance of the slave,
let Us bless the Providence" sc. These are the
sentiments Of the Brigadier General commanding
the District of Indiana. He has the right to en-
terrain them. A short time before this letter
was written. which we re produce in full, the
same distinguished officer said. in an address to
the people Of Indiana: " The ballot hox and
open debate mark a free people. Trust them"
General Darlington expresses his views fully
and freely-and we trust conscientiously, upon
questions Of public policy, and the same " open
debate" he claims for himself, the same right to
criticise or review the policy Of the Administers
10, whicb he axar.isas b;osaff he iii -:,Lu..