Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-14
The object Of the War-ConditIon Of
the Rebeiiious states.


IL cannot be denied that the object of the war,
80 far as the Republican party is concerned has
been changed in every aspect. and this is admit
ted in every action Of the party in power A few
day. ago referred to the resolution of Mr.
HARDiSe in the House. which was voted down.
We give that resolution entire so that we NAV
have clear record Of the Republican party. II
is a. follows
Resoiced That the Union has not been dis
solved. aud that whenever the rebellion in any
Of the seeded States shall be put down
and subdued. either BY force Of the Federal
arms or by the voluntary Submission of the
people OF such State TO the authority of the
Constitution. that such State will be thereby
restored To all IFS rights and privileges a. a
State of the Union under the constitution of
such State and the constitution OF the United
States. including the right to regulate order.
and control its own domestic institutions
cording 10 the constitution and laws of such
State. free from all Congressional or Execu-
tive control dctaton
Mr. HARpIss had spoken upon his resolution
when first offered. early in the session. Previous
TO the vote being taken be made the following
remarhs. which ost>aPpiIy and fsrcibly define
the position of the party in power:
Il take il for granted that no Union man can
object TO this resolution. 1t takes the ground
that the Union has not been dissolved, and the
remainder Is the necessary sequence from that
"Tbc question upon which this whole contro
versy turns is whether the Union has or has not
been dissolved IL IL has not been dissolved
then whenever the rebellion in any one of these
States is subdued the authority of the Constitution
and laws of the United States are Immediately
restored, and reither the President. nor Congress
nor any other department. has any shadow of a
constitutional right TO dictate to the people of
those States in regard % the form of government
which they shall set up. nor in regard 70 any
matter pertaining TO their local Jurisdiction
Whoever contends that this resolution i
wrong places himself in the position of declaring
that this Union is dissolved He must either be
a revolutonist or he il o secessionist A man
who takes the ground that the Union is dis
solved can oppose this resolution, but no other
man can.
Il know, sir. that IL has become quite COM
mon nowadays for gentlemen who once espou ed
the cause of the Union with great ardor men
who once stood where President Lincoln stood
in his inaugural address. when he decla. Ell that
the Union not dissolved and that il could not
be dissolved. who are now repudiating that whole
doctrine. TO take the ground that the Union has
been dissolved. aud that these Southern States
constitutes foreign Government
Sir. IL il be true that the Union has been dis
solved. then nv what authority is il that taxes
are being collected in the seeded StatesY bv
what authority Is II that their lands are being sold
and parceled out : II the Union has been dis
solved. row did IL take placer Was il by virtue
Of these ordinances of seeessionY Il there any
gentleman here prepared 10 Acknowledge that
there was virtue in those ordinances of secession
To dissolve this Union? Ifn,,t. then bow did the
Union become dissolvedl Was il by force of the
Confederate arms! Could that which wac void
and nugatory be made operative by vic
lence aud force and bloOdshedl We're their
ordinances of secession utterly null and void?
Gentlemen say they How tien was the
Union dissolvedi Was void act made opera
tive and obligatory by force and bIoodshedg No
man can say that. The Union, therefore, has
not been dissolved. What then is the matter?
Why. there is rebellion there among portion
OF the people. When that rebellion shall be sub
dued By force OF the Fedctsl arms the only Jus
tifcatioh OF the war will be gone The only
thing that could justify the President In moving
&C all bv force OF Is the rebellion and the
moment that rebellion is subdued aud put down.
the cause of the war ceases and with il the war
must cease also: and il the President or this
Congress should. for abolition purposes. protrAct
the var solitary day beyond the suppression OF
the rebellion. then your become rebels; YOU rebel
against the Constitution; you change places with
the rebels. and become reyoluiionisis aud rebels
yourselves
NV resolution then takes the ground that
the Union has not been dissolved. aud ihat
when the rebellion i suppressed by force of
the FEDERAL arms. or by the voluntary submis
sion OF the people OF those States TO the au-
thority OF the Constitution that that State j.
thereby restored TO sill its rights and privileges
under the Constitution. may send representa-
tses 10 Congress. and do all other acts which /
any other State IN the Union can do
Sir. what difference is there between the
States 10 the Union. the rebellion being sup
pressed. There Is no more constitutional power
10 iutermeddle with The local institutions of the /
State OF Louisiana than with those OF Massschu
sets. and any attempt 10 do It is nothing more
nor less than revolution. as uniustihabe in lis
character the revolution in the South because
ia is equally revolution against the Constitu.
ton Of this Government: 4 seeks to subversion
and utter overthrow
"Aay attempt 70 control State organization /
aher the rebellion shall have been overthrown
proceeds upon the ground that the Union is dis
solved. What right can We have 10 re-estsblish
State Governments IN the South II the Southern
States be still in the Union, The very iiea OF
reconstruction is an absurd and revolutionary
idea. because i admits the dissolution of the
Union There can be no reconstruction OF -
State Government that is still IN existence