Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-25

A year or so ago. distinguished jurist who
has sustained the Administration throughout. de
fined loyalty to be fidelity to the Constitution
This simple definition or statement of the obliga-
ton OF the citizen to the government. is so ap
propriate and just that no enc will attempt to
conuoyert or deny it. Fidelity to the Constitu-
ton. q faithful observance Of the obligations it
imposes. cannot but be regarded then as the
highest duty of all who owe allegiance to the
government. Judged by this standard. it is not
difficult to determine who are the real traitors.
Mr.. GRISSELL. of Iowa, who figures prominently
as Republican leader in the House of Repre-
sentatives. no doubt expressed the honest opinion
Of his political friends. when he gave expression
to the following sentiment in the recent debate
upon the resolution proposing the expulsion
of Mr.. LoNG. Said Mr.. GRINNELL:
/ would rather say. thousad times let the
country be divided, the South go their way all
slave, and the North all Free than to see the
country once more under Democratic misrule.
The proposition TO recognize the Southern
Confederacy rather than the further prosecution
of war for the subjugation and extermination of
the people of the rebel States. was pronounced
by Mr.. CoLFAx and the radical majority in Con-
gress to be the quintessence of treason, but Re-
publican member can say without rebukc from
his political friends, that he would rather the
South go its way all slave than to have the coun-
try again under Democratic rule. The uncon-
ditional unionism of Mr.. GRINNELL and the rad
cal majority in Congress is nothing less than
the unconditional supremacy of the Republican
party.
We notice that the New York Tribune favors
the proposition to expel Mr.. Lone from his seat
in the House for the sentiments expressed in the
speech in that body which we published few
days ago The Tribune pronounces the speech
of Mr.. Lone to be disloyal and in sympathy with
The JEFF DAVIS government. Some time after
the secession OF the rebel States and the organi-
zation of the Southern Confederacy under the
Montgomery Constitution, this same Tribune
thus justified the Southern rebelon:
We have repeatedly asked those who dissent
from our view of this matter. whether they do or
do not assent to Mr. Jefferson's statement iu the
Declaration OF independence that governments
derive their just powers from the consent of the
governed; and that whenever any form of gov
the right of the people to alter abolish t, and
to institute new government, &C., &c. We do
heartily accept this doctrine, believing it intrinsic
ally sound, bene6cent, and one that, universally
accepted, is calculated to prevent the shedding
OF seas of human blood, and if it iusufes the
secession from the British empire of three mil
lions OF colonists III l776. we do not see why it
would not justify the secession of FIVE millions of
SOutherners from the Federal Union in 1861 If
~.
one attempt to show wherein and why? For our
own part, while we deny the right of shareholders
to bold slaves against the will Of the latter, we
do not see how twenty millions of people can
rghtfully hold ten. or even fye in detested union
with them by military force.
Here is an admission that the rebel States have
the right to withdraw from the Union, divide the
nation and thus destroy the Government, accord
ing to the view taken by the indianapolis Jour
nal, vet the Tribune is "loyal" paper, and Mr..
LoNG, for expressing the opinion that it would
be a matter of policy to recognize the Southern
Confederacy, is pronounced by the Tribune and
its sympathizers a traitor.
We copied Yesterday extracts from the speech
of Mr. CONWAY delivered in the Federal House
OF Representatives year ago without being
expelled from that body, or even censured, in
which he advocated the recognition of the South
ern Confederacy. In letter to the Tribune,
the other day, he states that be did express in
that speech preference for such recognition to
prosecution of the war for restoration of the
Union on the old slaveholding basis. or as es-
tablshed by the Fathers of this Republic The
Trbure and the Abolitionists applaud this sen
timent, and pronounce Mr.. CONWAY to be a very
"ioyal" man.
We call attention to the expressions we have
quoted from Mr.. GRISNELL, Mr.. CONWAY
and the Tribune They show exactly
the construction placed by the Abolitionis,s up
on the term "disloyal'' One says that be would
rather see the South go their way all slave, than
the Republican party should be overthrown
Another that he would prefer the recognition Of
the Southern Confederaey rather than the restora
ton of the Union upon the basis of the Constitu-
ton And the Tribune ADMITS that the Southern
people have the right to alter abolish the old
government and institute a new one for them
selves. And yet the men who hold aud ad-
vocate these traitorous sentiments are regarded
as loyal, as pure patriots. for the reason that
they sustain the party in power, while oppo
nent of the Republican party is pronounced dis
loyal. traitor. by those same men because he
expressed the opinion that it the better policy
to recognize. two prominent Abolitionists
willing to do. the Southern Confederacy and thus
stop the war and the terrible waste of blood and
treasure which il occasions.
When the facts in the case are dispassionately
considered can there be any doubt as to who are
the real traitors?