Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-27

i
country TO arms, aud raised the military arm OF
the Northern States against the institution OF
slavery.
If more proof is wanting do not these men
claim slavery TO be the cause of the war; that
they do but need TO conquer slavery TO conquer
A peaceg
The whole admission is made in this sentence,
slavery is the cause OF the war. Let US see
If the relation Of master and slave is a cause of /
war or a disturbing element in States or commu-
mites where it exists. Did it breed dsunion, an
tagonism or strife in the coloniesl When every /
State in the confederation, save ore, was slave
holding. was there any evidence of III Is Brazil
or has she been more warlike than Engandl
Has Spain exhibited more propensity for war
than France7 What evidence have you in the |
Southern States that this institution incites TO
war! These questions any school boy can an
swer The slave States and countries have been
universally the most peaceful. No greater
unanimiiy OF feeling and of action can be point
ed to than that Of the people of the colonies and
Of the confederation, save that of the people OF
the Confederate States" Yes the Confederate
States" believing in their rights sovereign
States to confederate, and being forced by the
history of the last three years, to recognize their
ability to maintain independent position
MOI slavery is no cause Of war. 1t is those
who wish TO strike it down that make war. 1t is
the anti slavery principle that is the cause of this
war, Joined with the mOnied and bond ariSt0craey
and high tariff oligarchy of New England
Another reason might be assigned to show that
interest in slavery is not the cause OF the war.
The Federal Executive and the Governor of In
diana both claim that half Of the Northern peo-
pie are rebels and traitors. that they have sym
pathy with the South, and that by not being IN
favor of the war their moral power is sufficient
to retard. if not to defeat. the overthrow Of the
Southern armies
Can either of these distinguished gentlemen
inform me how slavery eEgenders opposition 10
the Northern mind? There may be, and doubt
less are, few men in the North, who from ties
of consanguinity, of long residence or property
in the South, incline from such considerations to
look with favor upon their cause. But what shall
be said of the great mass who, like myself, never
saw plantatiOn-was never in seeded State,
who have not a relation or even an acquaintance
in them not the slightest pecuniary interest any
where except in the North? What has slavery
TO do with our opposition to this WARP For
far as am concerned, | am opposed to it, and
have been every day, hour aud minute since Its
inauguration. and stand ready to stopit if it were
/ in my power to morrow, upon The basis Of the
s0uereiqnty of the States, as contradistngushed
1 from centralized power sufficient TO reduce the
States TO territories, by any process and for any
purpose
The opposition of Northern men to sectional
| ism, TO anti-slaveryism, to the whole regime of
this administration, is not caused by love de-
votion to the institution of slavery. but because
the blow aimed at one artery strikes also the
heart To overturn slavery you must first
turn the power which regulates il. The institu
ton of slavery is an attribute of which a sover
| egn State is possessed, the people of each and
every one having the unqualified right TO adopt
! 1t or not, a majority may decide One has the
same right to deny this right to another it has
to force it upon her.
For myself am firm believer that the rela-
ton of master and slave Is the only practical or
philosophical condition ofbacks and whites when
placed together on this any other continent
| But many who do not so believe stand firmly OPP
posed to this war because leveled ostensibly
against slavery. 1t is really leveed against SOW
erelgnty.
This is not all. While planting battery to
destroy sovereignty, it is at the same time en-.
gendering and compelling central power not
warranted by the Constitution, and dangerous to
liberty.
As, under the plea of miIitaryor State necessity,
or BOTH recourse for outrages and wrongs to the
civil authorities have already been denied; ap-
peals 70 the public through the press have been
largely restricted and the last great privilege be-
longing to a free people have, in some instances.
been shamefully abused, in others destroyed, so
that it Is question, this very hour, if the people
of the North can rely upon the balot-box. In
deed the question may be asked, Are we free
people to day?
If this is the result of coercve war in three
years, what may we expect in eight fifteen, or
| thirty years?
For, believe me, my friends, that the Abolition
milnum that is to follow the conquering the ar
mics of the South overrunning their land ex-
terminating their people, and liberating their
slaves, will not occur in your or my life time.
Then why should we not be in favor of peacei
| IT'S better to resolve ourselves back into the
condition of free and independent States than
to suffer the loss of liberty, the loss of life, the
waste OF treasure, bankruptcy and general ruin
that a continuance Of the war must inevitably
bring
The Northern mind is being brought round to
the true condition of affairs and. opening its eyes
to the fatal step that has been taken the cry is
now, "what shall we do be saved?" | answer
repent US of the folly and injustice of the war
Let believe in the right and in the capacity of
the people for self-government, and let US be
baptized in an eternal peace and equality of rights
between these States as to all differences arts
ing, leaving them hereafter to the arbitrament
civil, and not resort to the military authority.
There is a crisis seemingly in the progress OF
| the war itself which makes it fitting to offer the
meditation of the Democratic party. The cam
paign against Richmond is virtually over the
army of the south west is brought to a stand
still; another army is to be raised or the contest
must be abandoned
Shall another 500. 900 be sacrificed. Shall the
entire resources of the country be swallowed up?
Shall our brave brothers, fathers and sons, who
have enlisted i'm alleged for the support of
the Constitution and the maintenance of law be
degraded TO the work of setting negroes free
periling at the same time the best interests oil
their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers al
homes.
But why multiply words. Why elaborate rea.
son. This war is right or wrong, If right it
becomes patriotic duty 70 prosecute it;
if wrong to stop is Is this war right? No
| Why2 Because the northern States, first viola
ted awritten agreement have not kept the faith
OF the fathers. propose an endless and a relent-
less upon the southern States, because hav-
| ing political majority they ere not allowed TO
destroy the sovereignty Of States, by denying the
| exercise of reserved rights and powers.
The sovereignty of States is greater than sla.
very. greater than the Federal government 1t
existed before the Union. before the Constitu-
ton, and will continue long after both have
passed away.
The Union of States was effected by the Con-
stution Annul the Constitution and what is
| the RESULT Whv. the states remain. The States
their Constitution and sovereignty are not de-
stroyed because the Constitution is annulled and
ernments still exist by and through which other
general governments or considerations can be
made dissolved at will, IN accordance with the