Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-22
Literary Motto es,

lted by Il. n. CRALLE. ID. APPLETON x
Co., New York.
The mutability of human events, the GER
tainty of death, and the worthlessness of all
earthly honors, are thoughts which every
graveyard will suggest But when living
genius IS brought face to face with the re-
mains of departed greatness when NAPOLEON
visits the tomb Of FREDERICK, when WEB
sTER bends over the coffin of CALHOUN, the
meditations Of the hour should partake of
more than usual sOlemnitv.
The great statesman of the north followed
his southern brother to his last resting place
i'll the bosom of that State which he had low
ed so well. He saw how the fire of unsatis-
fed ambition consumed the frame of one who
had been sometimes his compeer, and some
times his opponent, in SO many intellectual
struggles, in so many wars OF the giants
The fate of Carolina's favorite son was soon
to be that of the pride and boast of New
England
But though Calhoun died disappointed
man, posterity is inclined to do his memory
the Justice which was denied him in the heat
of political conflicts. The strifes and ami
moslnes OF the past are buried in the grave
with the passions that engendered them.
Tbepeople of the north without distinc-
NON -Rarty, have generously forgiven and
forgotten whatever they deemed oljsctiona-
hla or arranaous In tho oaraar oDd o,;nons of
CALHOUN. They only remember the mmacu-
late purity of his private life, his matchless
abilities, and his long and eminent public ser
vices.
The overshadowing influence of General
JACKSON, and the unfortunate, delicate, and
dangerous difficulties of nullifcation attached
an odium to his name while he lived, alto
gether foreign to his spotless character
The unworthy attempt of Mr.. Benton to
assail CALHOUN has fallen harmless from the
press. Had General Jackson survived him,
the old hero would have been among the first
to acknowledge his worth and patriotism.
We cannot yield assent to the extreme po-
litical opinions of the illustrious Southerner
on State-rights and slavery; but we cannot
withhold our admiration for his genius and
personal merit. To our Young men, in par
ticular, the almost universal respect with
which he is spoken of, is a most gratifying
encouragement to persevere in what they
honestly believe to be the path of principle
and rectitude.
His opinions on some subjects were, and
are exceedingly offensive to thousands in the
north; yet the number is small, and every
day lessening who ever utter discourteous
word in regard to him.
General JACKSON was, undoubtedly, the
great leader, the Ajax Telemon of the demo-
cratic party. To his writings must democrats
look for the theory of their creed to his ad-
ministration, for its practical applications.
Yet CALHOUN, though not, in several partic-
ulars, Jacksonian Democrat, was a repre-
sentative man, hero in history, and an heir
of fame
Our government has often been compared
to the solar system each State moving in its
own orbit in regularity and harmony, by the
combined action of the centripetal and cen
trifugal forces HAMILTON and WEBSTER
were impersonations Of the centripetal, JET
FERsON and CALHOUN of the centrifugal force.
By the struggle between these conflicting
powers, order, symmetry and safety are pre-
served. CALHoUN's position in the political
world was as necessary as WEBsTER's and it
is as the embodiment Of the centrifugal force
in our government that he will be known in
history.
His plan of concurrent majorities, or ma
jOrites of interests, is recommended by It's
Justice and its theoretical attractions. The
difficulty is in its practical applications. We
do not see how it could be brought into ope-
ration in the United States, as an authorita-
tive principle, without anarchy. We are
compelled, therefore, to discard it as beau
tiful dream of an ideal condition of things,
not yet realized.
thoritative principle, or rule of action limiting
the poi0er of government, it comes with most
persuasive equity TO the hearts of our states
men and people. The legislation OF the
country should be so directed that, whenever
it is possible, without the sacrifice of some
indispensable condition, every law should
meet the approval of the concurrent MAORI
ties to be affected by it, La this view, Mr.
CALHoUN's great idea is not phantasy 1t
is all appeal to the heats of the people 1t is
an exhortatiOn to them 10 make a law unto
fthemselves, by refraining voluntarily from
legislation which operates oppressively on
! large classes or communities who are embraced
within the spacious circuit of constitutional
powers. Ii is the opinion of the writer that
such Il measure a. the force bill would not at
this day be permitted by the American peo-
Pile under any circumstances. A great change
/ has taken place in Northern sentiment on
State rights Moderation is the watchword
of wise men now.
Candid men, free from sectional feeling,
and not disposed to dogmatize, are preplex-
ed in attempting to define, with rigorous pre-
cision, what is meant by State rights, in con-
tradistinctioI to the powers of the general
government. The theologian is embarrass-
ed by trying 10 halmOnize the doctrines OF
fixed DEGREES and free agency. and by a sub
lime inconsistency, which finds its justification
in the moral instincts, if not in the intellect,
he embraces both. Nor does the logical in
congruity of his opinions affect the reetitude
of his conduct.
So, the practical Statesman, admitting that
the general government, within the sphere OF
its constitutional action, is supreme, and also,
ethat the constitution is a compact between the
States, may vet avoid both consolidation and
anarchy.