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


copy below that portion ielating to Federal At
f,irs:
We have now arrived at that stage in the pro
gress Sf the when We are forced 10 consider
auestious Connected 4th the re- toratiOn Of peace
During the past year the national armies have
achieved iRspsFlaRt sissories- a large part of
the territory originally occupied By the insnrgeni
forces has been wsc-tei from their grasp. and the
military power OF the enemy. with sOale IncOB-
siderable exceptions. j. to~ confined ~ithia the
narrow compass OF the Southern Atlantic States
The failure % obtain foreign recognition. and
the Geranged condition of the fuances have Grip
pied the energies 81 the rebel government The
greatest suffering exists among all classes. and
while iarse and powerful ArEnies still in being
and determination 20 continue the war TO the
last extremity Is manifested BY rhose in power.
there j. 70 believe th1t general d-zatisfac-
ton aud Encouragement pervade the masses and
that 10 some localities the people sn1iosls 10
their allegiance to the Federal Govern
meut. il conciiaLory terms be extended to them.
The plan of restoration proposed b. the Nation
al EXECUTIVE in hi- late annual message 10 Con
gress, accompanied by the assur.nce that IL would
be abhudoned il better ~ny could be devised,
opens the question OF paciicsti0n 10 the people,
and invites discussion.
The great question be considered j.. how
eau We have peace and the Union in the shortest
Time! FOR, however desirable peace may De. We
should he united in the deter m atiOn that when
it comes il should bring with il the Union OF the
States under the Federal Constitution. and the
re establishment of the national authority over
the whole country. The prosecution OF the war
by all constitutional means for the purpose of
destroying the military power Of the rebellion;
accompanied by an amnesty, Offering 10 the peO-
pie Of the rebel States such conciliatory terms
are constitutional. Just and practicable, will
md he hat
terms should be extended TO the peoplel In
what way should the States resume the functions
OF government 90 long in Allowance ia cOnse
quence OF the Iebellion. aud agaiu become sctive
members Of tie Federal Union? These are the
absorbing questions Of the hour. and upon the
answer depends speedy peace, or the aoonga-
ton ct this terrible strife
To determine the right basis OF a peace. we
sboald ascertain tie purpose for which the war
wa commenced. because the plan OF pacifcaton
should conform TO the declared object Of the war
This object the part OF government
explicitly stated by resolution passed unani
mouSly BY the House of Representatives soon
after the COMMENCEMENT of hostities, and which
still stands the authoritative declaration of the
popular branch OF Congress. That resolution
declares that "thc var is not waged for the pur-
pose OF overthrosing or interfering with the
rights and established institutions of the States
bot To defend and msintain the supremacy of the
Constitution. aud to maintain the Union with all
the dignity equality and rights of the several
States unimpaIred.' aud that soon rs these
objects accomplished the ought to cease -
In the published spondence of the State De
partment, the same idea is forciby expressed i'm
the following language The rights OF the States
and the condition of every human being in them
will remain subject TO exactly the same laws and
forms of administration. whether the revolution
should succeed or whether il shall fail.
In the one case the States would be federaly
corrected with the new Confederacy; iD the
other, they would be. now, members of the
United States: but their constitutions and laws
customs. habits and institutions in either case
would remain the same In reouiiating indg-
nantly any intention the part of the Executive
TO disturb the domestic institutions of the States
the writer ndds: ANY such effort on his part
would be unconstitutional. and all his actions in
that direction would be prevented by the judicial
authority of the United States, even though as
scented TO by Congress and the people"
According TO the principles thus deliberately
announced on behalf OF the executive aud legis-
lative branches of the Government, the States
were to be regarded as in the Union anu the re-
belou considered as a revolt OF the people a. in
dividuals: and whenever they should lay down
their arms and renew their allegiance TO the Fed
eral Government. the States. as bodies polite,
were TO resume the exercise of the functions thai
with the same constitutions, laws and institutions
as before tho war began.
An amnesty has been offered to the insurgents
Do It's terms and con iiton5 accord with the de
carations voluntarily made to the people of the
loyal States. and published to the wOrdI Is
restoration OF the State Governments TO their
former position under loyal administrations in
vited, or, in iced. any provision made for such
returnI Does the plan. the contrary
restore the existence of the States with their
constitutions and forms of administration" and
provide only for the creation of new States, with
new forms of government founded on new prin
ciples dictated IN advance by the central powerf
Are the conditions such calculated To di
vide our enemies. and draw the hearts of the re-
penting people of the decaying Coniederacy to-
wards our Government or will they not be more
likely TO unite them aud give their crafty leaders
material - inf lme their hatred lni impel them
TO renewed reSistsnceI Under the amnesty at
present extended. il the entire population OF Ger
tain States should TO day lay down their arms
sue for peace and take the oath of allegiance to
the Constitution and laws of the United States.
not one man OF the number loyal or disloyal.
could be received and paIdoued. unless he should
also surrender his Stue GOvernm ent rs il ex-
isted when loyal before the outbreak OF the re-
bslliou. besides yielding the greater portion of
his property. and virtually acknowledging by an
oath that he thought Il was right to do l.
thiS the klud OF conCilIatiou 10 accompany anu
strengthen the arm of power
This plan is the natural fruit of the emsncps-
ton proclamation. and i preicated on the idea
that the abolition of slavery IS OF primary inn
portance. Ii i not in accordance with the de-
clareG object OF the The Union is the ali
important object, and slavery should be subor-
didate question
1t is acknowledged that as a mntter of civil ad
ministration. the General Government has no
lawful power to effect emancipation in any State,
but the RICH; 10 do j. claimed on the ground
OF military necessity" The line of argument
which justihes the emancipation proclamation as
a military measure. renders the Constitution in
operative in time of war and makes all our rights
subject 10 executive discretion. Ii this be so the
trainers of orr Constitution were mistaken in
supposing they had created a republican form of
government
But suppose the emancipation proclamation
does not violate the Constitution sill il is uii-
wise. and not demanded rs means 10 aid in the
successful prosecution OF the war. On the con
trary. il i now proving the truth of the preiic-
ton that it would be obstacle in he way of
peace II that policy had not been inaugur;ed,
there is no doubt that IN some Of the States the
mass OF the people. before this time. would have
Supplanted their rulers and returned to their al
legiarce IL j. a great mistake 10 assume that
the emancipation policy has contributed 10 orr
military successes during the past year Our
victories due To the skill OF our officers and
the indOmitable courage o. our soldiers Who have
aChieV II In If 81