Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-25
iFron tie New York Joarnai q con1eTes-l
-,ne vIoraf Position.

From tie New tork JoarnAl OF Io4-1cIe&t
she Moral Position.
Let "a. If IL be possible find point Of view |
which il free from the mi-ts aud clouds caused by /
party spirit. faction and fanalci-m, and endeavor
70 see the condition OF our unhappy country with
clear ewes. l. IL not possible Tor Americans To /
take sueh slandl Or are we 80 enseloped IN
the ,siis Of our and other mems passions
that view such we propose - impossiolef
We began this var with purpose. We are
prosecuting Il with puFpose. II the present
purpose be the same with which We began IL, il
sili not be difficult TO measure the progress We
have made. but If IL has been changed We shtl 1
find that measure more difficult Our govern I
ment il one % moral IS we'll as physical forces
We began the 20 preserve the government of
the United States as unit. aud TO establish the
power of the laws under the Constitution IN each
sud every portion Of the country To this ef
feet placed n grand system IN operation. Meth
or more nor less thar the exertiOn OF every con-
sttutiona power which the nation possessed, for
the purpose 1f SURPRISING the great rebellion
which threatened the existence OF the Cons:itu-
ton and dehcd the laws That rebellion was
greater and more extensive than any but some
far-.eeins Democrats had believed it would be
II is impossible to deny to the leading members
OF that party a clear prophetic vision of the iu-
ture or 10 dOubt that the view OF the opposite
party was imperfect. and in fact, wholly deceived.
The proof OF TINS statement is 10 be found IN
single glance at the speeches OF Democratic
statesmen and the articles Of Democratic editors
in the year 1860 They foretoi not only seces-
sion, but the whole length aud breadth OF the war
which would ensue, and they warned the country
to be prepared for IT, On the other hand, the
opposite party regarded these predictions az elec-
ti0neering tricks, laughed At the idea OF war or
disunion and many excellent and patriotic men.
usually recognized among the most careful
and clear sighted in the country, foretold pros.
ii - L
political blessings attendant on peace and pros
perity. as the result of the triumph of the them
opposition party We recall these facts now, not
20 Justify hud fault With one or the other par
IT, but in order 10 obtain standpoint. or START
ing point in our estimate Ii IS important that We
| look at the facts. aud remember that up TO
/ the time OF the war one party insisted on using
only moral means of preserving unity, and the
other party denied that there was any danger Of
/ disunion. This truth is of great value in meas
uring the progress the nation has made. The
question il not alone whether we are conquering
rebellion. IL is whether preserving the
American system OF government system ot
unity sustained, Al least III part, ~ all must al
nit. 10y moral forces which are vitality important
i to its existence.
/ In examining our present condition il is not
necessary to ask What party or party principle
i caused the We must view 1t "a one IN
which engaged; not as the work oil
one party, not a. the result of one set of meas
ures but the deliberate choice OF the nation
Whatever may he the truth as To the real respon-
sibty OF the collision, whether Democrats are
right in charging it on Republicans. or Republi
CANS charging it on Democrats. we cannot forget
that when the became terrible fact, when
the thunder Of the guns OF Sumter died away OF
that memorable morning the whole country. oil
all political parties. sprang to the war cry and
man assumed the dread responsibility
Democrats cannot escape that responsibility
Had they refused to unite with the Admir-
istraton in going to batre. had one half OF thu
people of the North then refused 10 take part il
the contest, there would have been no. war
They did not refuse Both parties assumed al
the responsibility Ii is then useless to discus
who WAS responsible for the beginning until VI
see the way TO nh end When that end is reach
Ell. il may and will be the duty OF the people q
determine the question what caused the war; s.
that u recurrence OF such IA terrible calamity ma
he avoided in the future But il is the wis
course now 10 sten 10 DUtu paruos, a'.' s.is-. .
to the Union by whatever OF good eIthe
proposes.
The people united on the principle that tn
: war was one of Justice. for the preservation o
the Union. They had but thought. or if an
e men then looked forward TO change in tn
= object of the contest. such persons les
traitors than the man who fired on Fort Sumter
The political duty OF the citizen as well M tn
moral duty oil members OF ulUeteut parties u
each other was then a frank. hearty. open unio
for the Union That ia duty now. No man ha
right to plot the using of the uprising of tn
people for any change in the form or principle
e OF our government. or 10 plan diversion OF th
e war from its one simple object Ii was momer
of danger not only from the enemy in arms, bu
from the very nature of our government: and :
5 great the danger, that if any man in tha
n hour forming plans for changing the funda
mental principles OF the Union. whether he va
Northern Southern. pro slavery or anti-sla
. very. Republican or Democrat he WAS at heart
traitor. and deserved n traitors punishment "
do not say that there were such men. |; may b
: time before long To inquire whether there wer
= any such We can afford to let That inquiry re-
for the present
: But when we compare the present condition
{ the North with the coalition in the summer
ls6I. we cannot fail To be impressed with III
truth that great and most important change hs
taken place The people are no longer united
then Nor is the division so small thing
:, some would have IL think The truth is not
= be bnked. that Just about one half OF the peop
are totally. absolutely. AT variance With the 9th,
half Aud when come 10 examine the poin
OF difference. the line which is drawn between Il
two, We fluid that il is difference arising out
" questions. which did not exist in ls6l. RI
turning 10 The position occupied by men of a
g parties in the spring OF 1851. find sue
r subjects OF di-uHOn raised no questions aglatiI
. the public mind except the one great questiol
shall the Constitution be sustained against arme
opposition To day we find the substantial
: supported by all men as then, but division In
i drawn among the supporters, which i dai
widening aud becoming more straight and sharp
defined. on each side of which we find arrays
hosts of men protesting patriotism. love of [ Mo-
hatred of rebellion. and determination 10 susta
the Government OF the United States against a
: its enemies, while bitterness and hatred towar
- each other also mark both parties.
J" He who attempts TO estimate the future pro:
poets of the country Without taking this dviSio
= into account, fails wholly in his view. Whaiev
- be the present condition of military affairs how
u successful the arms of the Union my
over the arms of the rebellion. il is impossible
]" shut out OF view the important truth which III
- Northern division makes manifest. that 9th
e questions than those of power and force. 9th
~ considerations than those of military success a
IL presented. ia the immediate future of our couI
try. The thoughtless or impatient man M
i sweep out OF his view this greii division OF Il
people. she passionate may close his ewes
az Il or dispose Of IL with threat 10 treat Northe
th,r 49, fha