Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-21
The League women and slavery.

The League women ana StuNerys
From the Springfield (Mass) Republican, Strong Ad-
ministraiion paper
The Women's Loyal League, which il only
the Garrison Anfi-slavery Society under another
name, is circulating petitions to Congress for q
law to abolish slavery throughout the Union.
Congress will not, of fcourse entertain the propo-
siion, because there is no member of that body
who does not know that they have no power in
the case. Somehow our radical friends, who
have been denouncing the Constitution for the
last quarter of century as covenant with
death and an agreement with hell, seem 10 have
got the idea that the war has abolished the Con-
stitution. The rebels think so too. Both arc
mistaken. The Constitution still lives, and will
not only survive the war, but bids fair TO stand
for some blessed centuries of national peace and
prosperity yet TO come. And il will stand all
the firmer, and he the more ardcntly loved and
reverenced for that il has wiflstoOd alike the
saults of the friends and enemies of liberty
through this time of darkness and tempest.
But why do the League women agitate for
what they know is impossible! Do they suppose
that the Government, now that IL is achieving its
final triumph over rebellion and seeing the con-
sequent and inevitable death Of slavery at hand
I. by means accordant with constitution and law,
can be induced to pass an unconstitutional act
that can have no other effect than 10 make It's
authors forever infamous? Doubtless these wo-
men, and the men who are in the plot with them,
expect no such thing. But they have hitherto
been in the van Of progress, as they suppose, and
now seeing the object they have only talked and
scolded for, accomplished by the labor and blood
Of practical, working and fighting men-so leav-
ing them without an irritating theme, they must
even take what they absurdly call ''an advanced
position" and demand impossible and absurd
things, so as to keep ahead. They may be well
and benefcently mentioned though IL Is some
times hard to see il, but we must believe that IL
is this feeling that events are taking from them
their stock in trade which leads them TO make
new and preposterous demands upon the Govern
menf. ...
Now there Is abundance of healthy, necessary.
patriotic and Christian work in these times for all
genuine reformers There are tens of thousands
of freed negroes to be fed.cloihed aud instructed
There is work in hospital aud field for our SOL
diers who are fighting the battles of freedom, and
doing more for actual progress in day than ten
thousand takers in convention can accomplish in
generation. And this work is growing upon Us.
All the maiden philunthropists Of whatever age
may find all the employment ihey need
in such works OF charity and mercy. But they
should also be told, if they DO not already know
il. that by asking the Government 20 violate the
Constitution in order 70 manifest sacred aui-
mostly to slavery, they are really doing injury
TO the cause of the Union IL l. OF the utmost
importance that the government should keep
faith with every State Of the Union. and 90 at
tempt TO interfere with the rights Of Kentucky or
any other loyal State could only have the effect
TO create hostility and distrusf, and to justify
these feelings The border States viii abolish
slavery If not unjustly interfered with. No man
can doubt this who watches the course Of events.
The anti-slarery progress in these States is now
more rapid than Il ever was in The free States.
Let the League women possess their souls in
l.
philsnthropic work offers itself on every hand.
lf they do this, and have faith as grain Of
mustard seed they shall live TO see slavery abol-
ished everywhere and no damage done 10 one
word of the Constitution, and no indignify 10
one State Of the Union