Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-18

South, except to subjugate them with the naked
sword Commissioners were at Washington
from the South, awaiting the action of our au-
thorties at the time the vessels were fitted out at
New York and sent to Charleston, that produced
the conflict of arms. What propositions they
had to cffer, whether of conditional or uncondi-
tional submission, we have never been Informed
as they were not received by our Government.
Again Alexander H. Stephens, man who
fought against secession all over the South, but
nevertheless was made their Vice-President,
started 10 Washington on peaceful mission,
and notified our authorities thereof. They would
not receive him. What were his propositions
the authorities and the people know not.
But We had forgotten President Lincoln did,
in proclamation, offer amnesty, upon terms,
TO the people of the South Baf such terBssl
None were promised forgiveness who had ever
offended. Only those who had not offended
were included in its provisions. And none were
entitled to its benefits but those whowould swear
to support and abide by the proclamations he had
issued aud those he might issue What he may
issue is only known 20 the powers Of darkness.
But If any persons insist that sndiyiduals who
have been engaged in the war, on the rebel side,
are included in the amnesty, If they viii take the
proposed oath, then the question arises, does the
fact that man will swear to support the Aboli-
ton proclamations Of tho President, clear him of
the great guilt that is charged TO him as a rebel,
and so purify him as to entitle him again to the
rights Of citizenshipg We ask the question in a
moral as well as in legal point of view. So
far rs any good can result from this measure,
towards ending the struggle, it is not expected.
At Washington il Is viewed merely as a cum
ningly devised trick of the President to manu-
facture electoral votes for himself See how il
works. Florida has about ten thousand voters,
and three electoral votes. He started large
army the other day 10 seize the seat Of govern
ment Tallahassee, which would be Of about as
much use to us, for military purposes, as an ali-
gator swamp, and organize State government.
Under the proclamation, this would require one
thousand votes. Who does not know that after
a large army there is always q troop of camp
followers, making moro than thousand that
could be so used. But the result was that a bat
tie ensued in which we lost over eighteen hun
dred men in trying to get three votes for Lincoln.
No sensible man cXpects-Lincoln himself does
not expect-any State 10 form a permanent GOV
enment under these conditions Nor would any
State, if the citizens alone to act, form even
temporary government. i,
But we must SubjugGte the South, the rebels
must be utterly crushed and botted from the
nation" the Governor says, and any person who
talks aboyt peace upon any other terms "are the
guardians of slavery left on duty in the free
States" He adds: ,.l b.
sUBJUGATIoN
Is the fayorite term now in The mouths of all
men Of this class. In the time Of the revolution
of our sires George Ill. proposed TO "subju-
gate" the people Of the colonics-nothing less
would satisfy him. Bancroff's Hist. u. S., vol.
1928. He would listen to no terms Of compro-
mise. ID, p. l29. He "subjugated" his rea-
soning powers in attempting it, and succeeded in
producing final separation of the colonies from
the balance Of his empire.
as province of that country she rebelled but
only succeeded in spending much blood and trea-
sure and following on, Mexico proposed TO
"subjugate" Texas, when but feeble people un-
der Houston; but after many acts of ruthless
cruelty-such as are recommended by Morton,
had to let the rebelious province 20. But sup
pose you could subjugnte" (that is, from the
Latin, SUD and jugo, to yoke. Web. Dict the
people in the South, what do you propose doing
with them! The Governor says all talk upon
the subject "is idle until the rebellion is crushed"
Not so. The people North want TO know whe-
ther you propose afterwards keeping them down
by the heel of military power if SO, standing
army of not less than three hundred thousand
men viii be constantly necessary, aud then, like
the people of Poland towards Russia, Italy to-
wards Austria, and ireland towards England,
there will be danger of revolts all the time Sol
diers now cost this Government twelve hundred
dollars each per year. Such an army would be
three hundred and sixty millions per year. No
people can stand that. In the old country, where
they maintain large standing armies, the people
are taxed to the last cent they are able to paw,
and vet the cost of supporting and paying an
army is not one efourth what it is here AS long
as YOU keep up the armies they will necessarily
be expensive. If you withdraw them, with
opt making terms, the people will again rise
up, although you may have thought they were
"crushed." 1t is no use to talk; to be friendly,
contending parties must come upon terms Why
not try that thing now as well as after half a
million more precious lives are spent!
Seward was TO see the end of the rebellion in
sixty days-Morton, in December last said in
three months, ard now, we suppose, in six. The
Governor declaims against Lingering" war.
We'll, why has it fingered First because of
the total incompetency of many political parti-
sans of the President and the Governor, who
were placed in commands, the duties of which
they were in most blissful ignorance of. The
consequence was the loss of many brave men by
battle and by sickness; witness Great Bethel,
Balls Bluff, Vienna, Belmont, Fredericksburgh,
Chancellorville, Cedar Mountain, Manassas, and
Winchester Secondly, and chiefly: IL the Pres
ident, in his first CALL had said TO the people, "I
want seventy-fiye thousand men to free the negro
slaves of the South, " how many suppose YOU he
would have got Not many Democrats or con-
seryative Republicans. But, as might well be
foreseen, as the war has been suffered to linger
and drag its slow length along some mems pas
sions have become aroused Others have become
Indifferent as to how the war is pushed, so il goes
forward with a prospect of an early end; and all
this time all the power and patronage of the
General Government is brought TO bear 20 incul-
cate into the Northern mind this one idea, viz:
that slavery was the cause of this war, and
therefore slavery must perish with it." So, the
President said to the Chicago ClergymeD TO the
effect that the public mind not yet ripe for
abolition effort. Feelers had been thrown out.
Fremont was sent west; he issued an abolition pro-
clamation; it was too soon. 1t startled the public.
He was Withdrawn. Hunter was sent to Hilton
Head; he issued like manifesto. From its effect
il was seen the public mind still required to be yet
more wearied out with the war He was therefore
Withdrawn. In the meantime our armies in the
field were not properly supported. They might
do things too quickly If they had, at an early
day. crushed the armed polcer Of the rebellion, the
question would Immediately have arisen TO
the re-estabIshment of government in the Sc
ceded States. Eighteen months ago the admin
istration would not have ventured upon the
avowal that "no State should return without
first abolishing slavery" 1t is thought the pub
lie will now stand il, and it is now made a test
of loyalty, in the States that attempt to return,
and in citizens Of the North. e,.
Lest some may suppose these are mere
crude notions, not supported by facts, we will,
for little while, turn to facts, as written by Off
GERS of the administration, to-wit: Letter of the
Secretary of War to the Speaker of the House
Of Representatives, and report Of Gen. McClel-
Ian in regard 20 the organization and operation
of the army of tho Potomac, as printed by the
Senate. N.
The battle Of Bull Run was fought on tho 2lst
OF July, 1861. On the 22d Mcclellan
1rro m Woc ON The neS cd