Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-28
Correspondence of The New York News.


WAsHINGT0N, March %
The ncohereut utterances of an illterate pres
ident are perhaps scarcely more worthy of note
than tue incOherent utterances' of drunken vice
president. Yet this much has been found to be
true Of all OF President LincOln's speeches-that
they contain an expression oil what is uppermOs,
in his mind at the time. and are faithful index
of his views and intentions, and of the state of
mind TO which he has been brought during the
preceding days by the counses and persuasions
of the men who surround him. Consistency is
not to be looked for in his speeches. His policy
is the policy OF expedienoy, which changes from
day to-day with the fluctuations of the war
What he advocated in 1861 he abandoned in
1862. and what be urged in 1868 he opposed with
all the power of his executive influence in 1864
The last speech which he made in public has
excited an unusual degree of interest here, be-
cause it relates TO the topic which, more than any
other, is Of vital importance to the confederstes
just now: namely, tina, of the armng aud max
ing soldiers of their negro slaves. What Mr.
Lincoln says on this point now is very different
fIom his deliberately formed opinion expressed
four months ago, which was that the slaves
would beyond all doubt make good, faithful
and efficient soldiers. But what he SAYS now is
what is believed now by the leaders Of the re
publican party. and is therefore, entitled to great
consideration. It IL for this reason that his
last speech has excited so much comment here.
IL is ielt to be authoritative exposition of the
relations which now exist, and which will exist
in future, between the republican party and the
black race in America.
The substance OF Dir Lncoln's argument is,
that negroes ought TO be allowed the right TO
choose whether they will live ss slaves TO kind
masters or free iaborers; that if the slaves re-
ally do fight for their masters the tact of itself
will constitute powerful argument in favor of
slavery, and that ell white men shO are in favor
of negro slavery ought themselves to be slaves.
That except the fallacy that the rebels have
now drawn upon their last resources, and that he
can see the end Of The war is the pith and mar
row, the sum and substance Of Dir. LincOln's
speech IL will be seen that the rankest New
England Purtansm constitutes one-third of it.
All men must believe rs he believes. If they
do not, they deserve to be slaves them elves.
Washington, according TO this logic, deserved TO
be slave. for he was strongly in favor OF negro
slavery. Nay. according TO his most illogical
reasoning, Mr. Lincoln himself deserves TO be a
slave for he says that in certain contingency
he himself is in favor of keeping the negroes as
slave namely, if they themselves wish to be so
kept and il is notorious that ninety nine slaves
out of hundred would, II the alternative YVES
fairly presented to them, choose TO remain in
their cheerful. comfortable, happy homes at the
kind masters. rather than TO embrace the cold
and uncertain freedoms Of the fugitive slaves at
Il north, dying Of starvation and cold by tens
CT thousands they do
1t is startling and significant fact. however,
that it is now stated for the first time. and au-
thortatiyely stated, that so long 50 the republi-
cans remain the dominant power in the state the
negroes are to be allowed TO choose their coudi
ton. The boon Of freedom is not TO be forced
upon them They may choose for themselves
whether they will have il or not. Seriously, this
is the kindest thing Mr. Lincoln ever proposed TO
do for the blacks. If he adheres to this declsr
alton be will indeed be their benefacior
The results of his admission that " If the
slaves fight FOR their masters, that they will de
serve to remain in slavery, for that fact will con
sttute powerful argument IN favor OF the IL
sttution.' knocks away the last props that
tain abOlitlonism The war is not yet near its
end; the negro slaves will yet take part in it
soldiers; and they sil fight well and faithful
ly; therefore they deserve TO remain slaves, and
therefore this var. wsged TO e1terminate slavery
is wrong. and ought to be stopped Such is the
logical deduction from Mr.. Lncoln's arguments,
and he cannot escape il