Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-18

Ell TO turn traitors Never has the faith Of this
Journal w the final triumph of the Government
~svered Tor single instant. a. every daily reader
OF IL can testify: but Heaven save IL IRON the az
rogance OF denouncIng and prescribing IS traitor
every ures- which has at times shown appre-
hensi0n or dependency. Treason Is not thing
which lodges in the nerves: il has seat IN the
heart. And until We see the evidence of il there.
se call 20 nan traitor
Freedom of debate in Congsess we say. can
not be constitutionally restricted. We say de
bate. tor that il the constitutional word.
These sentiments are in striking contrast with
the intolerant ut,ersnces Of the Republican or
gan here and OF the Republican pres. and party
generally 10 this connection We give the fol
lowing extract from the New York Journal Of
Commerce. which in clear aud forcible manner
illustrates the necessity Of maintaining the free
speech and vote Of member OF Congress to pre-
serve our Republican institutions:
member Of Congress is in his sphere rs much
4 constituent part Of the administration OF gov
| eminent ns the President of the United States.
| He ia bound to think for himself. speak COR him
self act for himself IL he believes that the
/ country will be best served by prosecuting the
war 10 the expenditure of the last drop OF blood
c
suade If he can, hs associates to vote with him
! II he thinks the hour has arrived when the ia
/ ton ought 10 consent To the dissolution oil the
Union he is free 10 express that opinion. ana II
| i his duty to express IT, On no other principle
can the people govern. On TO other principle IS
| the nation free If Mr. Lincoln thinks the war
hopeless, he will at once act with reference to
that opinion. Is he a traitor il be 50 actsE
/ Wherein is be the superior of member OF Con-
gress in the right TO judge, TO speak. aud to act
| in his own place? What is a republican govern
ment worth if members of legislative bodies. rep
! resentatives of the people, are forbidden to act
I'D 70 their responsibility? What will be the
state of things il every Congress expels members
whose views OF government do not suit the
MAJORITY member OF Congress IL the repre-
sentative of sovereigns He Is the man who,
with his mind and voice and vote. is to WELD the
governmental power far a. IL resides IN his
constituents He is as high as the President
higher indeed. within the proper sphere OF his
labors. On the floor of Congress. he ~ the su-
peror Of the President, the peer OF all who sit
with him He must not be FORBIDDEN to determ-
/ inc and speak and vote for himself on every sub
je { within the scope of governmental power. Is
/ it within the power of Government to end the
war and divide the Union? Then he must be
free to be for against that proceeding, as he
thinks best, and 10 speak his views boldly IL is
not for the majority to decide what is or is not
treason. The Tree speech and vote of a member
of Congress il more sacred than the person of n
king so long as he does not violate the roles and
decorum of the House. and it is folly to charge
him with treasos Tor any opinions he may have
on any subject within the scope OF his official du-
/ ties
Mr.. Colfax has made b.under in this matter
which, il be remains ia public life many years,
we venture to prophesy. will reco on his head
with damaging effect. We suggest a method of
dispOsing of this subject Let rule be adopted
1 by the House OF Representatives, follows:
mo member OF Congress shall advocate any
| plans of government. make any speeches on
/ the state of the Union, which shall c0ntrovert
the views of the majority, or propose any other
1 way of governing the United States than the way
determined on from time To time by the caucuses
of he majority"
/ Such rule will place the whole thing where
radcalism j. determined to have il: aud the pe0-
I pie of the United States will then see the end oil
+ their freedom, which has long ago been determ-
ined on 10y the radical leaders