Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-08

j UE.l UrUfM Uu FfIELAC4 III ~ ~ ~ tIuN1gAi4
results. I : would have held my peace. Bat mas
much - 10 attempt was ever made By negota-
ton 20 restore The union on the basis Of the con-
s~situfion, I am az much. and | think more au-
thorired from my knowledge OF affairs, 20 assume
that the union could thus have been restored
than you are 10 assume without proof. when proof
was 90 easy TO be made, that 10 could not. For
merly vbeo this subject vas discussed the inva.
risble ansver vas that our honor .. a nstiol for
bid Us talking With armed rebels With = view to
peace and union. ] never thought this a good
answer. and the republican party can &C longer
make u since The president waived the point and
went TO Fortress Monroe
Bot Why were negotiations which bad so often
been Refused and so bitterly denounced at last
granted sud resorted 10 BY Ar. Lincolnf | think
| csD give 81 intelligent and candid answer. In
the first speech which ! delivered upon ny en-
trance into congress ! predicted that the war
which the honest masses believed was a war 10
restore the government Of our fathers would be
perverted by politicians into a var for partisan
ideas and revolutionary purposes. Every word
Of that speech IL today prophecy fulfilled. Then
10 man Of any party Was found bold enough 10
say that q state should not be permitted to return
to her allegiance with all her rights as a state
Under the original compact Nov the man who
says that q state ought thus to be permitted to
return IA denounced as a traitor to his govern
ment. Then no man would have dared 20 say
that this war should 20 on until the slaves were
all set free Now the man who says that this
fearful carnival OF death shall cease while a ne
gro in the south remains subject 10 his master Is
branded a. d~isloyai. and all the dogs OF party
war arc turned loose upon him Then no man
was found who announced that il vas the true
policy Of the government TO pass an inhuman
and unchristian cOn6scailon law by which The
iDnocen, and guilty 10 the south would be in
volsed in = common fats-by which women and
children would De beggared 10 tho latest genera.
ton. Now whoever questions the wisdom and
patrioti-m Of this code ofbarbaric hate ana worse
than savage fury IS supposed 10 be in deep com.
plicity with the rebellion. These cbanges-this
progress. as some style i'll thought ! %ioTesaw,
and time has proved that ! was correct.
But Why, again 1 ask. was the attempt at ne
collation. de!ayedr Il vas delayed in order that
this very progress, these very changes should
hrst be made, in order that they should stand
IS on everlasting barrier against the return OF the
southen states except upon the idess OF aboli-
tiOnism and all it kindred theories of govern
ment the war was to 20 on in silence. until 4
case was made by pr~oclamations and legislation
which thoroughly revOlutionizsd the government
TO suit the political dogmas OF the party 10 pow
er. Hence when the three com missiODers from
the south were in Cansds last summer Mr. In
coin communicated 70 them through his commits
sioner. Horace Greedy, that slavery must be
abandoned on their part before be would talk
with them The case on bis part was not ) e. fully
made. He relied greatly on proclamation. con-
f~scaiion and the sword, but there was one plead
ing not vet fled which be conceived TO be nee
css,ry before he seat Mr. Blair to Richmond ard
opened negotis ions With rebels IN arms. This
WAS the passage of the constitutional amendment
sbolishing slavery This made his csse-his Do
litical. partisan idea complete. and here IL The
flee Of these changes Of the government he ne
gotisies fr a return Of the southern s,stes. Can
you imagine 2 stronger case n 46e TO prevent
their returnr Can you Imagine reasons more
powerful 10 the public miod OF the south TO in
duce them 20 fight ora than are thus presented?
Their state governments overthrown-their
slaves set free, aud armed 20 hold them in sub
jec.ion-their lands con6scsted, not a foot left
them on which TO live an hour. not a roof TO COW
er their heads. these sre the exact terms which
Mr. Lincoln had to offer IL The way Of negotiation
TO the rebel commissioners 1t Fortress Monroe.
Did YOU ever read OF any people who had once
been tree. in al the vide page. Of the world
I history. who would not rather die than accept
themS II YOU have your reading has been more
extensive than mine They we're rejected by the
south. OF course they were, and the adrninistra
ton expected them TO be rejected. The move
ment was for political effect, but will fail 10 lie
purposes. Had ihe attempt been made on the
contrary TO restore the Union on a constitutional
basic. then the political effect in the north, and
indeed in the south too, would have been i'm
nense and every one can readily perceive what
shape it would have taken. The north would
have been substantially united. while the south
would have been divided and distracted.
So much for negotiations and the relation OF
the two parties 20 that subject No doubt at this
point some of my republican friends have done
me the honor 10 hear me 10 day, and | see MANY
are ready 10 say that ! must have great sympa-
thy with the rebels or ] would not thus dwell
upon this iniquitcus legislation which has been
leveled against them. | avov my sympathy tor
human suffering wherever il may be on the broad
earth. Even the criminal, whose guilt | de
nouncc and whose execution | approve, has my
sympathies and my prayers at the foot OF the
gall0ws. But how much more will a just and
christian hear, sy mpathizs with the niSiortunes
OF nnOcence-with the widowed mother and the
orphaned babe. and with the tens of thousands
of men throughout, the south who are under
arms. but who 1T heart are ~guiltless Of this rebel
lion. l could no, hope for mercy IN the great
day for my sinful soul If | felt otherwise than
this towards my fellow man. But | have not
thus cwelt on these questions from sympathy To
rebels, but because OF their effect upon you. !
sympathize Vith my own people. This war has
been prolonged and embittered by these political
ideas which have been fastened TO its ErOgres by
legislation. and YOU are now paying the penalty
OE cAndustinE uIalt- anu MOUNTAINOUS tdxttiOn.
la order To establish a new creed Of government
your sons have been bleeding and diving. Ia
order TO carry out sbolitionism and confscstion,
YOU are sccumul ating a debt which FIVE hundred
years Of future generations cannot pay.
/ ask my republican friends 10 10 k candidly
az these questions | speak in all kindness.
have no other feeling. The times sre now calm
and I ak YOU TO pause hereafter when you feel
disposed 10 cast severe censufe on the democratic
party, and reflect whether il j. not your own
party which il responsible for the burdens which
you bear, and which are rapidly increasing. Il
10 common. | know. to charge that We have p.o-
lOnged the war. HowI | have shown how you
have done il. IL Is COMMON 20 charge a sym
psthy between he rebels and the democratic
party. Had | time | could show the Richmond
papers, and indeed the press all through the
south. teeming With abuse OF the democratic
party and hopes Of Mr.. Lipcoln's success last
fall. Aud Why ! have no doub, a large por-
ton Of the southern masses ardently desired Ne.
Clellan's success, for that 10 them looked ike
peace and union on = constitutional basis Bot
the leaders, the public men. openly proclaimed
that tuch 4 result vas ruin. by dividing them.
They knew thar Lincoln re elected and his mol
lev unchanged. gave them = united south. You
thought, and no doubt honestly 10 the last can.
vass, that bis re-~ election you'd c,use them 20
lay down their arms. Instead Of that, We have
bad two terrible drafts to fll Up our armies. and
debt is increasing with fearful rapidity. | do
not sav these things nv vac ~ rsnroach Enr