Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-27

upon The rivers and the mountains aud the whole
face Of the land. and craven thence upon the
hearts Of the people IL was this, not anti.
slavery which held the border slave States In the
Union. and stirred. for good or evil. the whole
North and West 10 such .xertions Of military,
naval and hnsncial force as never before we're
put forth by any nation. And IL was this grand
and pervading national sentiment, hedged by
the sanction Of destiny. which, according 10 the
measure OF my ability. undertook TO expound
and justify in the House OF Representatives. 10
1868. and by this line OF augmentation to estab
lsh that the Union through peace vas inevita-
Ole. Nothing but the violence OF an intense
counter passion. and the terrible pressure Of civil
var, could have suppressed, even for time.
the power OF this sentiment among tie people
OF the South also Had their leaders forborne
70 demand separation aud distinct Govern
ment adhering 20 the old Aag. and. within
the Union under the Constitution. firmly but
justly, required pew guarantees for old rights
believed 20 be in peril. they might not. indeed.
have bad barren ana deludiDg sympathy
from subjects. and fa e hopes Of assistance
from Kings and Emperors in Europe eager
for the decline and fall of the American Repub
lc but they would have been eheered by
the cordial greetings and the active support
OF finally overwhelming msjority Of the States
aud people OF the West and North. But when
they established n permanent distinct govern
ment and took up arms for Independence, they
marked out between them and US. high wall
and deep ditch which man. North or West,
could pass without the guilt aud penalties Of
treason. They went beyond the teachings of
their greatest statesmen OF the past age, for Mr
Calhoun himself bad declared In 1891. that "the
abuse Of power, on part of the agent (the Federal
Geverpment), 10 the injury Of one or more D
the members the States, would not justify
secession on their part there would be neither
the right nor the pretext to secede" No matter
who was responsible originally for that condition
OF things which led finally TO war. nor what the
motives and character of the war after its incep-
tion-and upon both these questions entertain
and have expressed opinions as fred as the
solid rock-so far as the South fought for a sep
araie government, she stood wholly without
sympathy support in the States which adhered
to the Union. Whatever else may happen, her
vision OF independence has now melted into air
10 the appeal to srms-msintained upon both
sides for four years with a courage and endnr-
snce grsndly hefoc-she has failed: aud though
il had happened otherwise. still. in my deliberate
conviction, her experiment OF distinct govern
men, would have failed also. But the sole ques-
ton really decided by the war, as by peace years
before IL bad been settled, was that two several
Governments could not exist among the States
of the American Union. Aud here the whole
controversy ought 20 end with or without slav
cry. care not so il end here.
IL upon this point, the "Criitenden Resolu
ton" Of July. lS6l-proposed too. at the same
time in the Senate. by Andrew Johnson-should
be- modified, let IL in all else, both in spirit and
letter, be exactly carried out. But whatever
policy may now DC decreed-and trust il will
be wise, liberal, healing pclicy--it is the
par, OF wisdom tor the people OF the South to
acquiesce; returning wholly and cordially to the
Ueon, thus making II once again union OF
consent a union of hearts and hands. our
fathers aud their fathers made il at fret. Then
will the passions OF the recent terrible strife
speedily be hushed Already millions in the
North and West regard them as brethren still.
and 10 a little while these millions will become
vast majority of the peopl-. and will see to it
that the solemn pledge be redeemed aud the
Union restored with all the dignity. equality
and rights of the several States unimpaired %
With sovery, the people Of the South will pros.
per within that Union, as before Without
slavery, il ia wise and judcious way, il shall DO
abolished, they must, 10 less than a single gene
ration-except possibly a. to two or three States
become more popuous, prosperous aud power
full than any other section Aud though
every Southern State Government should be
re organzed-an act both impotic and IN
necessary-yet in ten years, IL our Federal
system survive. the whole people of every
State will be restored TO all their rights within
the State. and the South hold. along with all her
citizens. the same position Of equality and inhu
ence which she held fifty years ago. This is tho
lesson Of history. the law of human nature; and
no narrow, suppressng spirit Of revenge. or OF
bigo,ry and sectionslism, in the form Of test
oaths and teasing. restraining. denying regula
tons without number, can stay the inevitable
result-no, not even though il should succeed
now in controlling the civil and military power
OF the Federal Government, and,
Dressed In little brief authority
Play such fantastic tricks before high Heaven.
As make the angels weep"
But 10 return: To the time aud manner, as
well the results of sbolishing slavery, and
grayest OF all what shall be done with the negro
the power and responsibility are alike with the
Administration; and again il will be for the Dem
ocrstic party, guided by the light OF its ancient
principles and looking only 10 the public good,
simply to accept or reject.
The question OF the political and social status
of the negro, il essentially aud totally distinct
from the issue of African servitude; and any man
may have been or be yet radically anti slavery.
without being friend TO negro suffrage and
equality. Party spirit pressure, indeed, have
driven many into support of the doctrine, con-
trary TO both impulse aud conviction; but now
the issue is changed. Outside of slavery, the
negro, where admitted 20 reside In a State, ought
TO be the equal OF every other man in all legal
rights and remedies, just as is the female or the
minor But political rights and social usage are
questions which each State aud community or
individual must be permitted alone 10 decide.
And four millions OF Africans not to become
the wards and pupils of the wole American peo-
pie, nor the Federal Governments vast elemosy-
nary institution made up of guardians and trus-
tees and professors and school masters for the ne
gro population Whatever party now. with the
pressure of anti slavery and remove ed, under
takes the task, will fall before the popular re
action. Not the people only but large majority
of the army and of its bravest and ablest officers
and foremost among them the gentleman |
whom have already named with honor, are de- |
termined in their hostility to the whole doctrine
of negro suffrage and equality and TO its natural
and necessary but uBclean corollary, miscegina
ton And it is not a question of religion or
philanthropy, as slavery was assumed TO be, but
OF pure poltIcs Women, minors aud aliens are
alike excluded from political rights upon grounds /
of public policy; and vet all are OF the human
fsmily-nay, of our own race. and more yet, are, |
many Of them. our own mothers and sisters and |
wives and brothers A far higher and impelin |
public policy. enforced 10y the policy of Mexico /
aud other republics aud countries of mixed rsc . |
not OF one common stock. and fifty fold more /
essential now il four millions OF African slaves i
are TO be set tree at once among ". forbids po- /
litical equality TO the negro, where deny il TO
our own flesh and blood. and TO those of our owl |