Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-22


dent, involves other and quite importunt con
sideratiODs. Ii reaches to questions involved in
the reorganization and reconstruction Of the Fed
eral Union This war caanot continue rever
The time will come when il shall have ec sed to
agtate the world, leaving, il may be, scenes OF
desolation to mar the face of our country; socie
ty distracted; and, scattered upon every side
the broken column and arches" of our in~iitu-
tions. Then will arise the questions that apper-
tain to a state and condition OF peace. To restore
and reestablish will then be the duty of the
statesman. Is it not well. now, sir, to anticipate
that condition OF our affairs, and to avoid that
which may render the duty and labor of recon
struction more dificulti
For myself Individually, for the State which in
connection with my distinguished colleague,
represent, and for the great political party of that
State, of which | am member. declare the
restoration of the American Union upon the ba-
sis of the Constitution to be the highest political
good we seek; and. sir, will aid to dig no deep
bitches and to build no high walls to separate the
people of the North and of the South; but will
the rather labor to remove everv obstruction and
impediment to tear down the walls by this Ad-
ministration already built, and throw bridges
across the bitches already dug, that the people
NAV come together again and dwell in harmony
as in the days of our fathers. This is demanded
by every consideration resting upon the glores of
the past, the interests of the present and the
nODeS OF the future. w hen the war shall have
done its work by breaking the armies aud de
stroying the military power of the rebellion. upon
what principle and plan the States and people
to be brought togetherl The proposition before
the Senate rests upon the measure of the entire
subiugation of the people of the South and the
policy of holding them in such suhjection by the
military power OF the Government. treating each
person who may have been connected with the
rebellion public enemy and dislranchised
sl-
are not sufficient to maintain perm anently a
military force such this policy would require;
firmly tixe1 are the principles OF civil liberty
in the American mind, they cannot Withstand the
influences of staBling army of such gigantic
proportions; and strong our position NAV be
among the nations Of the civilized world for the
great qualities which we have displayed, yet we
may not with impunity defy the Judgment OF
mankind by the treatment OF conquered foe
that would find parallel only in the case of
broken. bleeling, glorious Poland. The civiliz
alton of this age. the perpe'uity of form of
government, and the great interests of the people
which would cluster around a restored Union,
demand that the returning States come with all
their "dignity, equality. aud rights unimpaire1;'
and that TO the people, with such exceptions as
the public safety may require. free pardon be
extended. upon the condition only Of fidelity to
the Constitution, the Union and the flag.
Aside from the considerations Of policy, is not
the sentiment of uagnanimity. kindness and
geDerocily toward fallen foe an ornament to
manhood, appreciated and honored wherever
found. whether in individuals or nations? Sir,
If our country can he we'd and ancient attach
ments revived, who is SO base TO nterpose his
auimosities to delay hinder SO great blessing
to the wOrldl
The appeal to passion is easily made that Da-
Wis, ToOmbs and Sldell, and their associates, the
leaders in the rebellion, must not be allowed to
resume seats in the Senate. ane we often witness
vast deal of patriotic indignation at the mention
OF such possibility. Now. sir. / cannot ex
press sentiments of such decided qualification at
such association as have been attributed TO the
distinguished Secretary of State. i have not en-
tertainei the thought contemplated the posi-
biiity, for the plain reason that they can never
come here as Senator'S The failure 0f the re
bellion is their failure and its fall their fall; and
they will be occupied rather in looking after their
personal safety than in seeking official pOsiIOnsr
For the authors of the rebellion have defense
tn make and apologies to urge Within the
Constitution they might demand. and the North
Democracy cheerluliy conceded and fought to
maintain, the rights our fathers agreed they
should enjoy, but outside the Constitution they
are entitled 10 neither our support nor sympathy
But, sir. in the Southern States there are millions
OF persons who did not contribute To bringing on
the rev OlutlOu. bat over whom the government
dc ficto of the Confederate States was establish
Ell. and which has asserted aud maintained its
authority for nearly three years. Officers were
chosen aud laws enactell whose authority indi
viduals could successfully resist Taxes
were paid wTlfs obey ed. commercial regulations
respected, Confederate currency paid and re-
cevesi. and military leyies enforced and all un
der the authority OF government de facto and in
the absence OF the protecting power OF the Gov
ernment of the United States Is it right. is it
ntls, to whom no pardon shall he extended after
they shall have returned TO their allegiance ex
cept upon terms humiliating and debaSingf Du-
ring the debate upon the cOufscation bill i'm 1862
the honorable Senator from Vermont Mr. Col
laHerl expressed views upon this subject so
forcble in themselves, and coming from SO dis
tinguished source. that | may wi II propriety
refer to them. He said: q 81
II will remark another thing These men
have established de lacto government over that
people II finds himself in n de facto
government which be cannot resist aud has no
power to control, what are the limits and measures
of his oblisa,ioDsg Ii requires a brave man to
SAY that he will resist t because he thinks it is a
usurpatiOn. Ii would be a bold man who would
SAY now, The United States made rebellion
against Eng gland, and all the present power You
have. National aud State. is itself but a usurpa-
ii0a; do not owe it any ce esiience aud | viii
not obey It.' How idle it would be for an indi.
vidual weak man. to talk in that way. just
soft is with the people in those States. However
LOYAL their feelings government de tacto Is over
them; they Cannot get away; they have nowhere
to go; they have nothing to go with. What
would you have man there to dor What has
this nation a right TO demand of him2
But il is said men have actually taken Office
there under that government: they have bad the
audacity TO do that since that government has
been established over them do not profess to
be very highly versed in the ethics OF politics
but am fond Of looking to examples that are
bright and high At the time Of the rebellion
under Cromwell. which had established govern
meut de Jacfs over the people Of England. and
had put down the existing government applica-
tion was made to Chief Justice Hale-a man
whose character stands rs high, perhaps, as any
in The Annals of Christian jndges-to take the
place of Chief Justice. he being opposed 70 that
government Justice HaIe consulted with a
couple of friends. (bshops,) and after full delit
Grafton came to this conclusion: Justice mus
be administered; the rights between man and
man must be adjudged upos; somebody mus
hold courts; can consider il no sin to take an
Office under de facto government. though it is
usurpation' He took IL. and the man was no
aiiudged guilty of treason Upon the restoration
! OF Charles III He continued in position eve
Afterwards. In all the troubles between th'
house of York and the house of Lancaster. il
| the wars Of the Roses, when revolutions wer,
constant aud frequent, one day a man of th
family upon the throne and the next day one o
the other. as early as the period of Henry VII
static was passed which has abided in England
i through all the revolufions afterwards that M
/ man should be adjudged guilty Of treason becaus,
he was obedent 10 the reigning king. no matte
i If he is usurper Such. sir. is the respect p4i'
| by the world. and especially to that part of th
world from which We sprung, to a de facfo gov
a L.. - ~. <l-.I -u.e