Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-29
WEEKLY SENTINEL.


grossly exaggerated by the press and the tele-
graphic reports. We published yesterday morn
ing a statement of the affair in Brown county.
y hich we are assured is correct. audit changes the
phase of it materially. We are also informed by
responsible persons that the Republicans were
the ageressors at Danville and that the assault up
on Democrats was unjusti6abIe and inexcusable
General DARLINGTON was undoubtedly infuen
eed by the first reports of these affairs, highly
coIored by Republican partsaRs Cor party effect.
when he penned his Order No. g.. Il is one sid
ed, not general, as it-should have been. Every
reader appreciates this. He should have de-
nounced all secret political orders alike. The
very practices which he charges to be criminal
in one order have their counterpart in those of
the opposite side. Why. then. should any dis
t~inction be made between the two? What justice
or fairness in such a cOurse2
The General says that no citizen 'need fear
that any one will interfere with his rights. nor
doubt that be will be protected in their enjoy
ment." This has not been the case. as the militia
~ commandandant well knows. There would not
have been a secret order in Indiana to day. among
Democrats at least. if the rights of the citizen
had not been trampled upon. 1t has been the
gross interference with the very rights which the
General comedies the citizen should enjoy undis-
turbed, that has called into existence secret or
ders. Not knowing any of their obligations,
signs, or signals, we believe the consideration
which Influenced their organization was the ne
cessity felt by the people, to secure, BY such COM
binations that protection Of their rights, and that
exemption from mob law to which they were
Justly entitled, and which it is the duty of the
Government to extend to them. Let the people
feel that these rights are secure, then all occasion
for secret societies viii disappear, and such or
CARNATIONS will not be sustained. The General
or emblems that embitter parties and compromise
or outrage the loyal sentiments of any"
The obligation to avoid the use of emblems
or epithets, calculate to wound or exasperate the
feelings of any citizen. rests upon all alike. Can
it be any more offensive for a Republican to
witness the emblems to which they object. than
it is for a Democrat to be stigmatized by them
as "bu,tefnnts.' or 'copperheads," on account
of his principles2 Why did not the General as
urgently insist upon the disuse of those epithets
by Republicans, which gave rise to what he calls
the Objectionable emblems. as he does the Demo
Gratis to forbear the use Of the latter2 1t is the
application OF the terms treason" "traitor."
and "disloyal," to DEMOCRATS, by their political
or,o,a,,s. ubich sscreatas copSt,Dt conflict and
alarm in more than half the counties of the
State" Let the Republicans treat their party
opponents with courtesy and candor. then the
asperities and conflicts which every good man re-
grets, will be avoided, and General Darlington
will be spared the necessity of l%ecturing the
people upon their duties as citizens. and on the
political history of the country.
This order of the Military Commander fur
nishes many suggestions for reflection. And not
only his orders but his acts. We have a civil
government in Indiana. There has been no re-
~sistance to its authority. Any civil officer, a
township constable even, can serve any writ or
arrest any person without mOlestation or hindrance
if properly authorized. Certainly the citizens of
Indiana are as loyal and law-abiding as Massa-
ch~usetts, yet mark the contrast. The one has a
military commandant, the other has not. In In
diana we have a military police. and alledged vio-
lations of civil law are treated as offenses against
military law. Citizens are arrested by military
authorities without process of law. upon mere
suspicion and at the iustigation of personal or
party opponents or spies. rhe civil government
of Indiana Is thus subordinate to Federal military
authority, exercised by officers who are expected
g recognize no other allegiance but the Admins
tration in power and Weld implicit obedience to
its orders. Such is not the case in Massachusetts
Can we arrive at any other conclusion than In
diana has DO longer a local self government,
except in name2
The present military commandent may act
FROM conscientious convictions OF duty He
may intend no wrong. 1t may be his purpose to
do right in all things. If the functions which he
exercises should be placed in Inc hands Of bad
and ambitious man. what them Even General
DARLINGTON assumes upon his own responsibility
and judgment TO set up a test of loyalty, regard
less Ji the Constitution and The laws, and to de-
clare who shall be considered as public enemie;
ard receive punishment as such.
A few years hence, the present assumptions o.
power will be regarded with establishment. anC
the surprise will be that a free and i~ntelligen
people should have submitted to them. In The
present perils Of the country, there IS bat one
path Of safety and that is to regard the Consti
tuition as the supreme latc of the land. Let it
authority, its guarantees and its obligations bt
respected. We say to our public officials. in al
sincerity, quit this humbuggery about secret po-
litical organizations. Respect and secure to the
people their constitutional rights then all such
organizations will be shorn of the little influence
or power they now possess.
The Democracy will not be the aggression
upon the rights and privileges of any person Oh
any party. They ha e not been. They have
suffered personal detraction and have permitted
their motives and principles TO be maligned. witt
the hope that the storm Of fanaticism which nov
RACES so 6ercely would pass by, leaving the Con
~sti;ution and the Government unimpared, q
which they viii cling with the same tenacit,
as the mariner to the last plank. The Democ
racy want peace in Indiana. They have mad,
and will continue to make great sacrifices TO pro
cure il. The responsibility of the future. how
ever. rests with the public officials. and it is fo
them to say. AZ the guardians Of popular rights
ard administrator OF the law whether they will in
sure dOmestic TRANQUILITY and secure the blessings o
liberty 70 ali alike. "a they have the power to d.
and which should be the first and highest objec
of every good government and all its representa-
tives.