The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-10
A CHAPTER ON OLD ISSUES.

and conservative editorial against the can
onization of Jefferson Davis, The article
was not written against the possibility of
such a consummation-a proposition so
absurdly impossible as to be ridiculous-but
against the spirit that would keep open the
grave of dead issues that went down in the
late war, let US hope, never to rise again.
The News and Courier declares that Davis
was not guilty of treason, because he could
not be convicted of that crime under
the constitution. This is the old
Democratic cry of unconstitutional that was
raised aga; nst every measure undertaken by
the Republican party in its labors to save
the Union from dismemberment 1t was
unconstitutional to raise an army for the CO.
ercien of the South. This belief kept Blu
chanan from doing his duty and from there
by saving millions of treasure and hundreds
OF thousands of lives. 1t was unconstitu-
tional to Invade" the South in the war for
the Union. Unconstitutional to free the
slaves. Demonstrations to clothe
them with the right of suffrage.
The Democratic party was more solicitous
concerning the constitution than it was of
the republic that owned it. In its zeal to de-
fend slavery and State rights it sought to
make the constitution the owner of the peo-
pie, a chain about their necks rather than a
bulwark about their freedom. The war for
the Union was made constitutional by force
Of arms, and the force of arms was backed
by the people, the source of power and the
origin of constitutions. The same right that
Endorsed the war for the Union pronounced
Jefferson Davis guilty of treason. That
he was spared the penalty is a miracle
of l%eniency. In any other country in the
world he would have been put to death.
The North has nothing to regret. Jefferson
Davis is but al unsavory draught from what
was once an ocean of bitterness. The Dead
Sea of State rights and slavery is drying up.
Only a few unsightly and unhealthful pud-
dies remain. The sun of increased enlight-
is draining the stagnant pools,
The South is Weather to-day, more indie
pendent and altogether happier than ever
before. Her future is bright with promise.
She is growing more loyal because she has
more in the common treasury. With in
creasing wealth her desire for protection will
grow, and North and South will stand united
in the bonds of common interests.
In replying to the Journals article the
News and Courier is guilty OF making state
ments that the facts of history do not sus-
tain. When it says that the Norch is as
responsible as the South Isl for the crime of
slavery, it declares that which every man
and woman in the land knows to be untrue.
The abolition North" was denounced
serve the title. The Republican party was
known as the abolition party" and it was
an abolition war" that put down the rebel
lion. The issue was fought over in Con-
gress at every step. New State territory
was disputed, inch by inch, by the
North to make it free; by the South to add it
to the domain of slavery. Men of the North
were made slave-hunters through the infu-
ence of the South and their Democratic al
lies of the North. These facts may be denied,
but it will be futile. The people know too
well the origin of the war, and he who writes
history to endure will be compelled to declare
that the South's devotion to slavery and de-
termination to perpetuate II at all hazards was
the impulse that precipitated armed rebellion
months before the Republican party took
hold of the reins of government. The Journal
has no disposition TO quarrel over this point,
but is content to leave it to the near future.
What is writ is writ. The assertions of any
or all Southern newspapers can not change
the record of 1861-'65. You might as we'll
deny the Crusades or the campaigns Of Ma
poleon. That history will perish that does
not lay bare the leprosy of slavery as the
great underlying cause of the rebellion.
The News and Courier is disposed TO sheer
at the idea that the North was magnanimous
could fight 10 longer. 1t matters not why
the South surrendered, nor how bravely
Southern soldiers fought. When Lee capt.
ulated at A~ppomattox the entire South lay
bound hand and foot at the feet of the
North, and the overwhelming question arose:
What shall be lone with the originators
of the war? A hundred thousand families
in the North had given fathers and sons to the
slaughter. There was mourning and bitter
ness in every loyal household. What should
be done to appease the cry for justice that
went up from all these? Nearly three thou
sand millions of money had been expended
in preserving the Union and extinouishinp