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


cember 3, 1861. as follows:
"The inaugural address at the beginning of
the Administration. aud the message TO Con
gress at the late special session, were both
mainly devoted to domestic controversy out of
which the nsurrection and consequent war
have sprung. Nothing new occurs to add or
subtract to from the principles or general
purposes stated and expressed in those docu-
ments."
These repeated assurances we're given to the
people at home that they might be united
nj the support of the war. upon the con
viction that il was and would be pros
ecuted for the sole purpose of restoring the
Union. and not at all for any purpose of the
abolition of slavery; but il became important
also to give the assurance to foreign Govern
ments, SO that they might not interfere by
recognition or otherwise, aud to that end Mr..
Seward, ia his letter of April %. 1861, to our
minister to France, said:
1.-THE Territories will remain in all respects the
same whether the revolution shall succeed or
shall fail. The condition of slavery in the sever.
al States will remain just the same whether it
succeeds or fail There is not even pretext for
the complaint that the cisaffected States are to
be conquered by the United States, il the revolu.
ton fail; for the rights OF the States and the
iition of every human being in them, will remain
subject to exactly the same laws and forms OF
administration whether-the revolution shall sue
ceed or whether il shall fail In the one case.
the States would be federaly connected with the
new confederacy; in the other, they would as
now be members of the United States; but their
constitutions and laws. customs habits and insti-
tutions in either case, will remain the same.
at is hardly necessary 20 add to this incontest-
able statement the further fact that the new Pre-
sident as well as the citizens through whose suf-
frages he has come into the administration, has
always repudiated all designs whatever and wher
ever imputed to him and them, of disturbing the
system of slavery il is existing under the con-
stituton and laws. The case, however. would
not be fully presented, il were TO omit to saw
that any such effort on his part would be uncon-
stitutonal and his actions in that direction would
be prevented by the judicial authority. even
though they were assented to by Congress and
the people"
Under date OF May 6. 1861, to our Munster to
Russia, Mr. Seward said:
"All existing interests of slavery are protected
now as heretofore, by our Federal aud State Con-
stitulions, sufficient tn prevent the destruction or
molestation of the institution of slavery where
il exists by Federal or foreign Intervention, with
oct the consent of the parties concerned"
These extracts taken IRON letters of gene-
raj instruction foreign ministers, furnishing
l the glounds they should assume and the argu-
! ments they should urge in maintaining, before
/ the Governments to which they we're accredited,
that we are in the right; that we prosecute the
war to re establish the rightiu authority of the
Government, and not to destroy or disturb estab
| lished Institutions
/ But that there should remain no doubt in the
country or in the world, upon the great question,
at the special session of July, 1861, Congress,
with great unanimity, declared
That the war is not waged on their part in
any spirit OF oppression. or for any purpose of
conquest or subjugaton. or pLrpose of over
throwing or interfering with the rights or estab-
| lished institutions of the States but to defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution
and preserve the Union with all the dignity,
1 equality and rights of the several States unim
! paired, and as soon as these objects are accom-
plished the war ought to cease"
will quote from the writer upon this resolu
ton:
Here was distinct and formal declaration by
the National Legislature, at an early stage of the
war, of its objects:
II 1t was whsed for oppression. conquest.
or subjugatiOn. or to overthrow or Interfere With
! the rights or institutions of the States
80 1t was waged 10 maintain the Constitu-
tion-to preserve the Union-with the dignity,
equally, and rights of the several States unim-
paired
ance Of the Constitution, preservation of the
Union. and protection of the rights of the sew
i eraI States) are accomplished the war ought to
cease"
What was the immediate effect of these SOL
emn aud unequiyocal assurances given by two of
the departments OF the Goyenmeuti The Con-
federase States, although recognized as belg
erent, failed TO secure their recognition gov
ernment de Jure, and theirposition abroad became
every day more embarrassing; aud although they
urged the arrangement Of trade ami commerce.
\ the short supply of cotton. and their own gigan
I tic efforts to maintain Their Independence, yet
they could not win a recognition. for the govern
! ments of Enrnpe had been assuIe ed that the war
was prosecuted ON the part OF the United States
to re-establish legitimate authority. But at
home, sir, the effect vet more astounding
The call for volunteers was responded to with
fierce ze,l in every state aud county throughout
the North; men rallied to the standard, without
distinction Of political parties, and a mighty army
! sprang into existence If called up by the wand
OF magican--that shook the solid earth be
/ meath its heavy tread The patriotic fervor knew
no abatement until the country was shocked by
the proclamation of September, 1862 i:
Senators ask what has discouraged enlist
menis, why it Is so difficult to fill up the army,
1 and why, in the language of another, men have
to be dragged by he draft like balocks to the
slaughter pen, let the inquiry be made at the
other end of the avenue, and of those who ad-
vised that i'll starred measure. Even in Massa-
chusetts we have not an equivalent tor the losses
in the more conservative sections, although her
/ Governor did, as believe, assure the President
and the country that. il radical policy were
adopted, the highways and byways would be
thronged by crowdng, jostling Tutitudes, eager
for the places of rendezvous.
Mr.. President, ask Senators If they do be-
leye that the Presidents proclamation and the
proposed rule of the Senate will promote and
hasten the return of an honorable and permanent
peace? Very recently one OF the most powerful
journals OF the country in the support of the Ad-
ministraton, said: ~ - ... ....., ~.
I'VE must not shut our eyes to the fact that if
we are to restore the Union at all we must do it
With the assent aud co operation OF the great
II body of the people in the rebel States - 49,,
a What believer in popular Institutions can hesl-
tate to adopt the septimentY And yet, sir, by
the rule OF the Senate resting upon the act of
1862, il is proposed to close the doors OF the
Senate and House and all the avenues to posi-
4 tions of honor and profit against all the people
of the South who cannot come without fault
! touching the rebellion, and by the proclamation
i of the President TO exclude from pardon and
i citizenship all who will not abjure their rights
and privileges and the rights and prerogatives of
their States. Sir need not deceive ourselves;
these are not peace measures. they are not in
| spired by hope 10 restore our once glorious
/ Union: thew are hindrances and impediments,
deep bitches and high walls, 70 be in the way of
the people coming together again. We know
that If the desire be for permanent peace and
/ reunion must throw the proclamation TO the
1 winds. aud again, high above all. raise the ban
nef and Constitution Of our country. Then, IT
suffering and desoiarion have opened the eyes
i of the great body og the people of the South to
the error of the past and the hopelessness of the
4 future. we may hope that they will come back L
4 we but open our arms TO receive them
In the Northwest we want peace, we want
i peace in restored Union and upon terms hon