Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-21

tanned, and the Uuion preserved. Without inter.
fering with the rights or established institutions
OF the States The trainers Of the Federal Con
sttuiion 80 believed and acted upon that theory;
and Il Vas not unit, those great and good men
had passed away, that some of their degenerate
sons, in the one section fired with On unloly am
biiion for empire and 10 the other led by a blind
isBsticism which would Oserfun constitutional
rights. brought this dire calamity upon us. The
events of the past three years will never be efaced
from the memory OF tire living. and history will
tell - sad story Of desolation and death. There
is no danger OF repetition Of such bitter expe
riences 10 neither section will the people again
listen TO the counsels OF such as led them into
these troubles There would be greater danger
of the renewal OF hostilities. should Teace be
made by striking the old States from existence
and creating rev ones under the pledge OF the
Federal Government, even after the war had
ended TO sustain small minority Of the inha5i
tants in hoididg the majority IN Subsection. To
do this an Immense standing army would be re
quiFed Such action, in direct conflict with the
Constitution would inaugurate many coniplica-
ted aud exciting questions in reference to repre-
sentaliOn in Congress aud the electoral college,
in which the people OF the populous loyal States
wOalu be deeply interested.
But tue question nav be asked, how does the
present amnesty delay AMI hinder the repentant
rebel from accepting its terms, it he sincerely
desires to renew his allegiance when the oath he
Is required take binds him abide by, and
faithfully support al pSoclamations having REL
erence 10 slaves only so far as ihey shall not be
modified or declared void by the decision Of the
Supreme Court Is bot proposition reasonable
which offers to submit the title of property to the
cOurtsI The answer is, that such 4 proposition
might be reasonable, for all the questions grow
ing out of the rebellion must be finally settled by
judicial decision.) provided compliance
with The conditions of the annexed oath did not
in advance practically destroy the very property,
the title OF which it is proposed to submit TO the
opinion of the courts IL would be better 10 deny
entirely the privilege OF judicial investigation.
than 10 Oiler it in such 4 manner as 20 present
the shadow of justice without the substance.
The question j. hot whether the masses IN the
rebeliouS States are entitled 20 the terms OF
pardon, for that has already been decided by
OiferiI terms, on the ground that Il majority OF
the people had been deladed bv ambitious lead
ers: but whether the terms offered to those who
will lay down their arms and become loyal citi
zeus, are practicable, and calculated to produce
the object the government should have in view,
that is to eGd the war soon possible, by di-
vlding Southern sentiment. and aTrayng the peO-
pie against those in power. Take the case oi
Union man i'm the South. who has been compelled
through fear OF violence passively 10 submit 10
Confederate rule land there doubtless many
have driven the enemy from his neis hboihood, he
desires avail himself of the amnesty. would ne
be encouraged in loyalty by being informed that
he cannot take the prescribed oath without sur
rendering. a condition precedent, the title To
all his slaves constituting perhaps the whole OF
his property, but that in years 10 come, it the
Supreme Court should declare the Proclamation
in reference To slaves void. he can have his prop
ertv it he can find it, Indeed, il Is doubtful if
n, bo briu
claim Of property before the court, because he
would not be supporting the proclamations in
attempting To have them declared void. Just
here is one of the radical defects in the profferej
amnesty mole of pacihcation. IL should
have required allegiance only 10 the Constitution
and laws. leaving the court subsequently 10 de
eide upon their validity and upon the legality Of
all acts Of the Administration, including the pro-
clamations, and permitting the who desires
TO renew his allegiance, to retain the property of
which he is the pOssessor and prima facie owner
until the title is decided so that he may have the
benefit of the decision if it be in his favor.
But suppose there constitutional ob-
jections to overturning the established institu
tons of the States, and that the rebels had no
rights. and deserved no consideration whatever in
the settlement of these difiulties, and that the
people Of the North and the serVile race at the
South were the only parties interested the ques
ton whether thew would be benefited by
the sudden emancipation of three millions of de
pendent beings, ignorant. indOlent, and not self
supporting, claims serious reflection. To effect
emancipation. the war, with its immense attend
ant expenses, must undoubtedly be protracted
and il finally effected. the burthen of sustaining
and providing for those liberated will OF necessity
devove on the government and the people of the
North.
Ii is the part of wisdom, sometimes, 10 pause
and take a calm view of our financial condition.
According TO the most favorable statement, IT
the war should end now, II is probable that The
expenses incident TO its close would swell the
national debt TO over two thousand millions OF
dollars Add the State, county, city and town
ship debts. which are constantly accommodating
and you will find that our Indebtedness exceeds
the almost fabulous debt of Great Britain, il the
difference in the wealth and rate of interest OF
the two nations be considered The annual in-
terest of debt is more than the expenses of
the government before the war. We do not vet
fully realize our re d condition, because we are
not in the whitl OF excitement, anil have only
begun to feel the weight of taxation / 20 not
take this view To discourage but think it right
to state those facts about which there is no secret
] in reference to subject in which we are all
deeply interested. in solemn warning a faithful
pilot will not close his eyes in security when the
ship is in peril but will use every effort in time TO
escape the Danger Let each one inquire for
himself how much debt in proportion to its
wealth. a nation can carry in safety
Ii the war be brought to close within reAs
enable time, and united country be the result
this great ration, with its immense resources
will spring into new life, and under the blessed
reign OF peace will ultimately shake of its bur
deus We should be prepared TO make still
greater sacrifices than any that have gone before,
if necessary to save The Union but the consider
atoms To which have adverted. admoush Us not
To prolong the another moment longer than
Is necessary To effect its legitimate object Let
us be careful lest in seeking to attain fancied
benefit for others, we do destroy ourselves
say fanciei benefit. for history informs us Of the
sad condition of those countries where large slave
populations have been suddenly emancipatei
What is the history we are now mskiugg The
fortunes OF war, in the advance of our armies,
have brought within our lines large numbers OF
t slaves. ami their deplorable condition IS portray
+ ell by trustworthy eye witnesses. Who are appeal
( ing 10 our sympathy 10 aid the unfortunate suf-
fefers We are aoid that thousands upon thOus
ands are scattered along the baDkssof the Missis-
sippi. collected in Camps, almost naked. suffer
+ ing from sickness and exposure. and diving in
startling numbers IL is stated. that during the
las, shutter out OF 900 collected in a single dav
+ 200 died IL Is the duty Of all Christian aud
humane people 20 contribute even from scanty
means for their relief. But the very grave ques-
iion presents itself. il such lie the suffering and
such the claims upon our charity when ,here are
only hundred thousand To care for what would
be the condition OF things should three millions
OF these poor. dependent, landess and homeless
. h.fp Ia