Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-30
sound Principles.

From all directions we receive most gratifying
assurances of the increase Of true conservative
sentiment, and the desire and determination Of
the people to sustain the Union and the Constitu
ton. The ISLANDERS which political opponents
hurl at the conservative majority IN the country
are falling harmlessly to the ground. and the
truth is gaining power everywhere.
There are certain conservative principles which
are so manifeStly true that they ought not TO re
ouire any repetition. But they cannot he too
often repeated in times like the present. when
among men who make the loudest protestations
of loyalty are found so many secret enemies OF
the country.
The Constitution must be sustained. supported,
defended as the supreme law Of the land. The
specious doctrine that an enemy Of his country
has forfeited right TO claim the protection or fs
Constitution is heresy 20 be everywhere put
down The murderer may claim all the profec-
ton of the law he has outraged and violated.
The Lynch law doctrine that man who is noto
riously guilty of great crime may be hung
without conviction, is no law for us. Our own
lives and property are dependent on enforcing
always and everywhere the right of the criminal.
the murderer, the parricide, the traitor, 10 all
those formal projections which the Constitution
throws around the accused, whether iunocent or
guilty. Abandon the principle. and we have the
mob law Deny enemies Of their country any
rights under the Constitution. and you at once
encourage the violence Of majorities, and Aboli-
tionsts here and conservatives there would be
adiudged traitors by the mob. and hung in spite
Of protestations of LOYALTY.
In defending the Constitution, conservative men
keep practically before them the support of con
stitutional officers. The worst possible fate that
could befall the country would be break in the
constitutional succession Of Presidents. The
most dangerous plot in the North was that plot
devised bv radical men In New York 10 super
sede Mr. Lincoln. which progressed much farther
than men mey imagine. It's history viii perhaps
come out before long. Mr. Lincoln is the con
stitutonal President, and will remain 90. II be
lives, till the 4th Of March, 1865. He Is recog-
nized as such by every loyal American, and no
conservative man will have any connection with
leagues, plots. conspiracIes or plans tor revolu
tionary purposes looking 10 break in the sue
cession of American Presidents Netrust the
day of such ideas is over The insanity Of rsdi-
calism alone could seriously look on such propo
sitions with favor.
The maintenance OF the supremacy OF law
everywhere is another conservative principle.
weignore the so-called higher law doctrine. We
deny the right Of erery man 90 erect his cou-
science into law higher than the Law Of his coon
try. That doctrine Is not TO be pleaded on the
one hand TO Justify resistance TO Government
and its demands, For on the other hand 10 justify
mobs aud popular violence nominslly In the
interest Of the Government. No illegal act can
be in the interest Of the Government
These are all general principles, but they have
practical value If the people adhere to them.
we shall sustain the Government Of the United
States through Its present troubles, and the fo-
ture prosperity viii be greater than all that 10
in the psst.-gNew York Journal Of Ooumercs