Indiana State sentinel., 1845-11-13

more than passing The national government
was an aer-tiought, and set up exclusively for national
ohlecis but by iaacy OF construction which was found
convenient 10 the power Of the few the ma
ny, and in defiance Of thar Just OF the Con-
stuilon which made that instrument altogether ac-
eeplabe but toerabe only 10 the sturdy of Treemen
who fought out the Of Inc Revolution Congress haye
proceeded 20 eeslae and the federal Judges have pro-
eeeded TO enIaIge and extend their jurisdiction until
Stale legislation, which The primary of the people
Is abrogated al will by parafnodnt federal power. No
one can fail TO see the necessity of restriction upon the
legislative and Judicial action OF State, where il is
ried beyond its legitimate sphere but the federal power
aided by judicial assumption and professional obsequOus-
ness, rides State legislation will whenever the
abused people lave succeeded procuring the passage
of law protect their natural rights against The
croacbments of monopoly. And this, too, in where
the federal interests degree implicated and up
ground forbidden to federal power and sacred TO the
State and to the people.
Let for moment again to the Declaration of
Independence which proclains all 10 be free, and
entitled TO equal rights, that neither be yielded up
nor taken away. SeEgovernmeDt, which Is inds-
pensabe attribute of free people, be
dcred The agents for the administration of the laws
but the servants OF the peoples appointed to execute
their WILL and at all times responsible TO their consttu
for Just performance of duty. The people the
fountain Of power, and each individual integral part
Of the great sovereignty of the nation. AS such is the
duty of each and every understand the laws and
guard againsi that abuse. Now let inquire how ma
ny of attend this duty Not one. A know ledge
Of the laws of The nation is denied in any shape
>
the British common law which is incorporated into the
administration Of boh is but mperecy understood by
who have devoted their lives the study. know
ledge of existing law is therefore mpracticabe and
we indulge in i.i-founded and preposierous idea
than the expectation Of eecing any useful reform a.
mongs people who profoundly ignorant of the
laws which control their destiny.
Thie fatal ignorance of the law is so common and has
long been overlooked entirely considered necessary
and unavoidable, that seldom dwell upon It's influence
the interests Of society. But is it reasonable to
HI, IL
laws is left TO few, who alone competent dis
charge these necessary dues the interests Of that few
will be subseryed at the expense of the people' The
Of laws and the whole administration of us
is a trade which for the part limited class
in society who educated for that vocation.
The necessary division of labor which is required in
the mechanic and in the useful professions
er be safely applied legislation because that object
embraces every employment and every condition in ife
The interest OF every citizen is equally affected by the
good bad administration of the government and it is
equally the duty of all TO hold its operations under RI
gid supervision The business OF the
munity perfectly understood by intelligent men, and
when differences of opinion occur jury composed of
honest citizens finds difficulty in settling the question
upon equitable principles. Law do TO pro-
the ends of JUSTICE whilst arbitrary and conflicting
statutes, formidable array of precedents with the
usual accompaniment Of professional ingenuity,
likely subvert justice promote IT. Complicated
frequently which to require great profess
sona skill but it is the uncertainty and the ambiguity Of
law which makes them complicated II is a slander up
gence of free America to say that incapable OF
composing domestic differences without complicated
statutory provisions without recurring to the practice
which prevailed centuries ago amongst semi barbarous
people, and under an arbitrary government
Were it in my power do this subject justice, cur time
does not admit of it but it is important that should
all be fully possessed of the fact that the laws in this
country, like the laws under many other governments
which promise less made not by the people for
the benefit OF the people, but to favor prominent few
No reform can be efectua that does not embrace
of
under them they exist, the government of the
country the hands of associated wealth. and entirely
beyond the control of the mass of the people, who
merely its victims.
The prominent measures recommended by the Nation
al Reform Associations, make the public land free TO
the andess Citizen tangible object which scarce
ecting citizen and leads at once to consideration of
the parent evil in social system the monopoly of
few and the destituon Of the many.
This state OF things could have taken place
amongst intelligent people, had adopted with
out reflection the laws of arbitrary government which
had their foundation in the will and the wants of the
industrious citizen, but In the will Of class that were
bent upon sustaining themselves upon the labor of other
men. The laws relative to property adopted with
essential modification from such prevail in Great
Britain ard they have the effect of creating an arstocra
cy OF wealth which must prove as fatal to liberty the
form of despotism The industrious but conscen-
Ious who would fulfil the duties of good citizen
struggles through life with labor and difficulty whilst his
less scrupulous neghbor who sacrifices all the charities
Oi Tile 10 the lust OF gam becomes rich. With this
suit all familiar, and with the fear of destituton
before US all cultivate the talent of acquiring proper
ty and neglect the better faculties of We mast do
this This abuse of moral and physical ma
ture would be remeded at once were not the habu-
al neglect of the rst the solemn and perave duty
of American cizensthat possess thorough know
ledge of the fundamental principles Of free government
and maintain a yigant supervision of every essential
in its operation But turn our backs upon the
whole. The acts of national legislature the laws of
State the whole system of Federal and State urs
prudence is sealed book TO the great of the Amer
lean people-and whilst boastng of free institutions
and right of seligovernment we are cringng and
pershing under the influence of laws that never made
never consented to-and never understood.
The greatest abdse, however the Right of Property
This is important right and it should be placed on sure
and just foundation II is right which can Justly
wrested from But under the sanction of certain
legal FORMS permit the accumulation of property to an
unlimited amount in the hands of individuals and
bodies whilst the moderate acquisitions of honest labor are
difficult and insecure Instances known IN our country
of individual propetors who possess the title to more than
hundred thousand of land, whilst millions
deserving and industrious citizens unable procure
square rod Of their mother earth. Here
the inequality is striking and be reconced Just
conceptions of natural right yet the law makes the title to
such and unalenabe to the individual
the moderate sized the hard working farmer In
such case let ii be remarked the large proprietor holds
only by process of law he occupy appropriate
to his and cultivation but moderate portion OF
land beyond this quantity it is valuable to him only far
as he can command the labor of others. 1t is the
relative to all other property. So much fairly
appropriate 10 my own use, with suitable regard to the
rights of Others may he Justly claimed my If
oyereap that bound the value to is not in the property
since can make use of it, but in the bodies of other
men, my brethren and equals under the Declaration OF
Rights whose labor command by any natural right
but by constitutional and legal durss Money invested in
banking insurance, railway and other stocks, is mmed
atey dssipated BY the of the community, and its
value consists in the legal claim which retained upon