Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-23
Volume IV:.;;iI;#::;..Nuinber 81.

nltional domain its southwestern frontier, is
ANY extension, which opponents deprecate- 1t
is not Texas, such they reject; they would reject
equally country in any other latitude, peoped by
any other bearing other nance They protest
not against anrexatIon for that it mag increase and
perpetuate slavery they protest against it. in 1903
they protested against the purchase Of Louisiana,
I" Under ANY circumstances.
Is the whig party wrong this their great objection!
As whigs am not prepared to assert they are n
Rome, in the heyday Of her power, added province
to province and this extension of her territory but
seemed to hasten he- decline and fall. The mad am
biton of Alexander suficed to conquer half world
yet, within year after his death, the overgrown en-
pire purchased by the blood of millions fell to pieces.
it seemed from its own weight Are these to be held
beacon lights for us, in the present juncture If
ours be a government like that of Rome under the
empire like that of the Macedonian conquerer, I'M
doubtedly yes If it is fated gradually tc approach
such character, still undoubtedly yes Or if, ike
Mexico we are at last to settle down upon Centralsm
if the rights of the States to be stolen piecemea
and the central power here invested with their spells
if this city of Washington is to dispense, did
the mistress of the world from her hills, all laws
to govern osrsand; nay. without proceeding far,
if all doubtful powers ID the constitution are be
assumed Lawful if the sphere of federal legisla
ton is be gradually increased; if to inter-
fere with commerce, avorng under the name OF pro-
tection section of country, by taxing the IN
dustry of another if, closely connected with our gov
ernment there is to be central money power, strong
er in these days and therefore dangerous lib
erty, than standing army if the checks which the
wisdom of revolutionary days incorporated
stuon, arrest the hot haste of party, in its flush
of power if these restricting checks to be swept
away in word, if the progress of our federal policy
is to be from the less to the of legislation then
reject Texas atando Oregon, add not by treaty,
acre more of Indian lands. Nay. if such is to be
our policy, Union is far too large already it
ought never TO have been permitted 10 oyerpass the
Alleghanies.
But will such be the PROCESS of Legislation among
usi Ought it to be In following out, from age TO
age the story of the ceaseless struggle between the
privileges of the few and the rights of the many,
from every page bazoned the experience of every
nation shines forth tie great truth, that oyermuch
legislation has been TIE curse of mankind and that
law has become (alas how few the exceptions y a
weapon of aggression rather than egs of defence.
As we read, we feel, that the protection OF govern
ment has been overpaid for by its ntermeddlings and
that the people might well, in the words of the Cynic
philosopher tell the Alexanders of the world that the
only favor they asked of them vast, stand out of
their sunshine '-..4is & s~.s- s-+ss
Men are not wise and good enough to dispense with
law. Would that they were! Government, like
medicine, is to us necessary evil There is such a
thing the despotism of anarchy; and king is not
indispensable reign of terror The practical ques-
ton Is how many of the Skyline leaves of legisla
ton may safely buru, yet leave the remainder more
valuable than was the entire code.
From the fate of past decisions we may determine
the trendings of future reform. When miner sinks
his shaft and strikes productive vein OF 1t IS his
practice first to follow far observe its leading
direction thea emerging to the surface, with that
observation for his guide sinks remote distances.
other shafts, confident that he VIII again arrive at
the object of his search. So with the rich and hid
den lodes that stretch away into the great mine OF Pro-
gressiYe improvement. Guided by observation of
their past course may predict where an after gen.
Grafton will find them.
But the principle Of progress in legislation has
hitherto been from the more to the less. If we COM
pare the statutes and constitutions of Republican
America with the laws of Monarchical Europe, it may
surprise discover how much OF the difference be-
tween them consists-in omissions. And of the after
thought Of revolutionary aw-gvers-of the thirteen
articles that form the amendments to the federal con
sttution-nine, at least of negative or resrlc-
tive character; circumscrbing, within narrower Inn
it's the province of legislation. So in older countries
and in former ages. All the important provisions oil
Magma Charta are prohibitory. freeman shall no!
lose property or life by the monarchs decision; travel
Ter shall not be prevented from leaving the kingdom OF
returning 1t at pleasure and king servants sha
not arbitrarily seize the property of his subjects
Even the minor privileges secured at Runremede
of similar stamp; as witness one, characteristic oil
q those times, namely, that baron's widow Shall mol
be compelled to marry if she prefer to remain single
So again of the Habeas Corpus AccIed by blackstone
+" that second Magma Charta and stable bulwark OF
liberty" of which the provision Is, substance, thai
man shall not be confined in prison on mere suspi-
con All of these rude efforts to narrow down the
sphere of government And still, In later years
0 the same principle prevails. Throughout Europe
but especially in Eng and that halfllberal mother of
republlcs-religion and the press have for centuries
been struggling against the interference Of law; with
; partial but positive success And commerce, if a.
some distance, has been gradually following then
footsteps All proceed In one direction; all tend tc
one goal. :.
From s1,ch facts the inference is that in repub
lie, as elsewhere, we shall gradually govern less tha
. the province of our federal legislation viii contract &:
: our territory expands If it doesand that it vii
= the past may vouch-safely yes, most benefcialiy
NAV this Union and its blessings spread the entire
:. continent of North America; each independent State
secure its own separate soyereigny and but ncreas
" ing BY its accession the wealth. the power and the
. safety of the treat Confederacy.
: shall notice yet another objection It's that an
nexation brings, In its lrain the scourge of war while
by refusing 10 annex, obtain, surely and permanent
y, the blessings of peace. Let us st this matter
: little. .,
4 Two paths open before u.s. The one, tc declare
. as most righteously may, the legal independence
of Texas act boldly that declaration to accep
what not government in Europe, if similarly sltua
ated would dream of refusing, the proposition tyic
q already made to us that we should receive agln Tex
: as within our borders and thcn-as all men and al
81 nations must be their conduct ever SO scrupuous-
/, to abide the consequences. The other-ah, that vs.
shall be told, is the path of safety and Of peace A
e its etrance, it may be- many path of danger and
to death has fair and pleasant entrance Let us loo
to the end. Say that reject Texas. and leave be
Re and Mexico TO settle their quarrel Very WE'LL B
m so doing, soothe the insaepce of Mexu, and qgie