Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-30

us. on manifold paper. now in this aud now in
that handwriting, at one, two, three, or four
o'clock. some such proclamation or order. If
we should refuse TO publish one Of these we
should be denounced as copperbeads. II We de-
manded verihcation or pay, we should be hooted
at as traitors. Nay, more, we we're ourselves ar
rested, and our paper was suppressed, on a sup
posed order from Washington, written out by a
telegraphic operator, which General Dix took on
trust. because he had seen others that resembled
il which were truei
We have no defense of ourselves to make.
We had done no wrong. We were victims Of
fraud, and the President, in n moment of evil
Judgment. resolved to punish our misfortune.
and hurled on US the mandate of a strong power,
destroying our property, and ~inficting not alone
q vast pecuniary damage, bat a greater personal
wrong ana injury We have asked no pardon from
him. The clenched hand Of man that strikes with
passionate blow on the rock is bruised and cannot
70. long time recover the self-inficted injury
The arm Of authority, when it wields the sword
of anger against the spotless steel of Innocence,
wastes the vigor of its sinews, and turns the
edge Of the weapons. The voice Of denuncia-
ton Numbered ever so loudly against the pure
dies feebly on the wind, and its tones become
forever powerless. 1t is not we that have been
harmed so much as he who has so fercely struck
at US. We are grieved for him He has with
drawn his grasp, and we are again fee. And
now for the private wrong done Us, we find il in
our hearts to forgive him. IL was. perhaps, an
error of petulance or a mistake of Door judg-
ment. Let it pass for awhile, till he and We can
think il over in calmer times.
The public wrong which involves such mighty
interests-the Constitution, the sacred authority
of law, the liberty of the press. the freedom Of
the citizen from unjust search and seizure of his
person or property, the freedom from arrest.
except on warrants duly authorized, the right to
be confronted by accusers, TO trial by iury-this
great wrong We have no power to pardon. Two
thousand years ago the Romans enacted the law
of Publius Portius Laeca. which authorized an
appeal to the Roman people. In the time of
Paul that had been sadly changed TO the appeal
to Caesar, for Caesar had grasped the power Of
the people. We possess the law in its original
purity. and by that appeal must this whole act
be Judged.
We thank our friends for their hearty support.
We thank many, very many gentlemen of the
Republican party for their outspOken expressions
Of opinion. We leave to their own shame the
contemplate catalogue of men who stopped
their papers, excepting out of that list. and
honoring those who on Saturday cam boldly 10
US and said I'VE stopped because we thought YOU
were wrong. we renew because we know you
were wronged."
But what, Americans, what is to be said for our
country and her prospects under the guidance OF
those who can be so erring, so foolish, so weak I?
Does it shake our faith in the future Does il
open TO Us any new view OF doubt or despair 7
In no wise. Patience, patience On the last
day that we issued our paper we spoke in earnest
tones, beseeching our cOuntrymen TO be patient
and faithful. Faithful to the old cause, the old
Union, the old constitution. These men that
lead US in the mad course of radicalism are but
the men ola day. They cannot save our c0un-
try. They will vanish from cur sight ere long.
Their deeds will follow them into oblivion or
shame aud then by the peaceful recurrence of
our national election we shall be placed in the
position to save the grand old fabric of free in
stitutions.
From the distant battle fields the thunder of
cannon reaches our ears to night. and we know
that our brothers and sons are struggling, not for
a new country, but for the old faith that was
given by our fathers. Let Us be patient and
labor, doing our duty here, in whatever OF pain
and persecution, under all the obloQuy and re
proach IT, at the men who desire to overthrow
our time honored system may heap on US. Let
no personal wrongs or private grieis shake our
faith or lessen our zeal for the truth We uphold,
for the principles by which our nation is TO be
saved, if saved at all. The majesty of the law
must be revered in our hearts even if violated in
our persons, and il will vet be triumphant.
Ii was a sad and somewhat solemn view for an
American, that rush of the busy world along the
street, by the guarded doorway of a suppressed
newspaper. 1t was not for this, some thought, it
was not for this our brave boys were diving on
the field. Men recently arrived from foreign
lands were unable to explain to themselves the
strange sight. Some citizens went along chuck
ling complacently over the accomplished sup
preston of a free press; but these were few, very
few in New York; and the vast throng, in the
main, passed by with ,addened cOunIenanCes.
The dim sight of old men was DINNER with
the mist of tears when this sorrowful exhibition
Of bayonets was made in our great commercial
street. The exceeding beauty of our national
character was married the splendor of our his
toric freedom was furnished the glory of our
American boast was gone. A man of more than
eighty years. born in New York. whose long and
peaceful life had blessed himself and benefited
his country, as he passed along the street, uttered
his sorrowful wish that God had let him die be
fore his old eyes looked on such a scene. Young
men, strong and earnest, were not moved TO
recall the old traditions, restore if they might,
the old laws, and be content when the land was
again, as of old. united and free. to say their
Runc dimittis. Not Till thenl Oh not till then
God grant that we may live and work, till this
story is remembered as a hideous dream. and
from ocean to ocean the breeze that sweeps down
from our mountains shall again be the breath OF
freedom.