Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-04
WEEKLY SENTINEL.
MONDAY, k--J JAN. A.


Another New Year.
Theyear eighteen hundred and sixty.three has
past. and It's record is made up To Us. IS peo
pie and nation, il has been filed with important
and interesting events The civil war has been
waged fercelys aud upon a scale that has par
aIlel in history. Over million and quarter Of
men of one nation have confronted each other in
deadly strife and at cost in treasure of at least
fifteen hundred millions Of dollars. Notwith-
Standing this immense drain upon the resources
OF the country, large portion of the people OF
the North have enjoyed an apparent prosperity
equal. if not greater. than in years OF peace We
know here bur little Of the evils of war. Only
those who have traversed a.country over which
a large army has passed, can appreciate the blight
aud curse which follows in the train of war
-, war; what what art thou,
At the proof and scourge Of mans fai'n statei
After the brightest conquest, what appears
OF all thy gOries For the vanquished, chains
Far the Proul victars, whatl aIasi to reign
Ger deSolae natiOns.''
The history of the war for the year can be
briefly told, especially its important events
fresh in the minds Of all There have been many
terrible battles, with fearful slaughter Our arms
have met with some reve-ses. but we have gained
many decided and important successes The area
of the rebellion has been considerably reduced,
and the navigation of the Mississippi river. WHICH.
year ago. was under the control of powerful
rebel armies. has been opened, and is
traVersej by Federal war and merchant steamers
This Is the bright side of the picture, but there
is another and a dark one. These contests have
been fought and victories have been wen, but at
a fearful sacrifice of life. Tens of thousands of
brave and gallant men who during the year Just
closed marched forth in health in all the pride of
life and buoyant with hope, have bit the dust
lives valuable to the nation, to society, and to
their families. But the year cannot be recalled.
IL has fed and il is almost impossible to realize
so fast has been its footsteps, the mighty events
which have been crowded upon it. Let the dead
bury the dead.
To-day opens a new year. What shall be the
history of 1861 At the close. as now, will two
powerful armies confront eich other in battle
array? or shall peace smile upon the land?
ssOh beauieous peacer
Sweet union of a State. what else but thou
Gives safety, strength, and glory to peoplei'
During this year will peace be conquered BY
the overthrow of the rebel armies and the sub
jugation of the rebel States? Our forces will be
vastly augmented by the time the spring cam
paigns open, and it appears to US in o-er
poweriug numbers. From whence will the reb-
els fill up and increase their ranks so as to be
able to meet and resist their foe? Their youths
are maturing, and from that source many sol
diers will come. and large numbers o. their able
bodied men have not vet been in the field. We
must expect that the more desperate their for
times become, as they yet manifest the spirit of
determined resistance. the greater will be their
efforts. They have vet resources left which they
mty use in the last extremity. They well
know that if our armies succeed, the emancipa-
tiOn of their slaves will follow Ia the last ex-
igency they could anticipate this action, enamel
pate their slaves themselves and put the able
bodied in the Geld to fight with them for indie
pendence May we not anticipate that the follies
of the party in power will force this policy upon
the South? And what would be the result if the
slaves should be emancipaIed and some five or
six hundred thousand able bodied negroes put in
the field by them2 Would the abolitionists, in
that event, desire the war to be prolonged when
their object ia favoring its vigorous prosecution
had been accomplished? Would not foreign
nations then recognize them, when they
have OILY refused to do so on ac-
count of slavery? Under such circum
the rebel States or of ending the war, no matter
if we should double the three hundred thousand
additional mes the President has called fort We
hive put negrOss into our armies and would not
the South be JUSTIFIED in using the same weAponl
The New Year is before US. 1t will be an i'm
p0Ftant one for the future of the country. A
Presidential election is at hand, when the people
will be called upon To approve repudiate the
party in power. AHd that election places new
and grave responsibilities uDon each AMI every
citizen. We believe tilrt petce-houo-a5Ie and
jus aeace-cOul1 be conquered AMI the Union
rest,red by the restoration of the Democratic
purity 70 power. representing as it does the con-
sere tism of the nation And every man who
thus believes has duty devolviug upon him.
grave and responsible. from which he cannot
shrink May We not call upon all who sincerely
desire peace and Union to give their time. their
ability. and their me INST accomplish so noble
work. Does it MT 5eho I'VE all ia entering upon
this new year.and my it he blessed year in its
history to labor diligently for the true interests
OF the nation, casting aside all personal ambition
and mere purity preiudIces. 10 restore the glory
AMI prosperity and happiness of the old Union
God gEantit.
Desire not to live long, but 10 lice treLl
Hos long we live, years, but actions tell