Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
The Law of Equilibrium in Politics


The United States are composed of tw
great classes, the planters of the South who
with their slaves, raise tobacco, cotton ant
sugar, and the farmers, manufacturers an,
merchants of the North. Between these tw,
sections of our confederacy there may an,
must prevail great diversity of Interests. Th'
difference of productions, pursuits and eli
mate renders such diversity almost inevita
BILE.
A government which is the joint agent ant
representative of both sections which hold,
its powers for the benefit Of all, should dC
no act which is oppressive and unjust to one
part because it may be acceptable 10 tho
other. There should he such checks and
balances in the practical working of the sys.
tenn, that each great section or great interest
should be saved from the encroachment ot
its rivals
Situated as our confederacy is, this princi
pie can only be carried into effect by preserv.
ing the equilibrium which formerly existed
between the North and South. Altogether
apart from the question of slavery, this equi-
librium ought never to have been destroyed
though as an historical fact. it has ceased
some time ago. S'fffre The United States de
clared their independence, they have acquir
ed more than two million square miles o
territory, of which the free States have re-
ceived nearly three-fourths, the South tut
little over one-fourth. The Northern sec
tion has preponderanee in every department
majority of States, and a majority of the
population. But the equilibrium was, to :
certain extent, practically maintained hy the
forbearance and sense of equity in Northern
statesmen. Now, forbearance and equity ara
no longer virtues save with the unchangins
Democracy.
The addition Of a few more free States ana
a slight increase in the intensity of the anti
slavery feeling will convert our beautiful fed
erative system into despotism of the numer
ical majority.
Snch result will be dearly purchased b,
the emancipation of the African race in on
midst. Better, far better than they should
remain slaves through all revolving time
Let their bondage be considered, if you please
blot on onr republican institutions, stain
on the fair face Of humanity; but let that
blot and that stain continue forever if its re.
moval involves the destruction Of the only
wise fabric of government ever invented by
the wit of man.
Agoyernment of the simple numerical ma
iority, without checks OF balances, must in.
evitably end in Capitalization, that rock OF
which the hopes of freedom have been Sc
often wrecked. France for example car
never be free, whatever may be the form o.
name of her institutions, until her policy O
Capitalization is changed. Let her restor,
her Provincial Parliaments, and establish
capitol on the banks Of the Loire, and sh'
may become a genuine republic. Never be
fore.
But what cares fanaticism for the preserya
ton of the equilibrium of our federatiye sys
TEN. What care the discordant screech-owl
of the night for the music of the spheres.
Capitalization of power is an evil more to bt
dreaded than African slavery There is nc
African slavery in France, and LOUIS NAPo.
LEON processes to regard it with great horror
But who would exchange the Federal Union
of these States, though some of them have
to sustain the odium attached to slavery, fol
the government of France, whether admins.
tered by LOUIS NAPOLEON or by LAMARTINE
and CHANGARNIER?
Yet the whole tendency and drift of the
Abolition movement is to annul that perfect
equality which was designed by the Consti.
tuition TO exist, and which once did exist be.
tween the different members of this great 20.
litical partnership The fanatics of the day
think themselves wiser than the trainers o
the Constitution. A French atheist once said
that if he had been consulted at the creation
of the world, he could have suggested i'm
provements. The spirit of the French athe
ist actuates the American abolitionist, for tn,
man who would change the work of WASH
INGToN and MADISON has no reverence il
him.