Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1860-01-02
The Political Troubles OF the
CoumtrF.


A few, very few though, OF The Demo {
ratio press Of the State, are disposed to fad
Ault with the vieEs We have expressed UPON
be present political troubles OF the country.
And Whas IS mere singular, th0se who com
'laia profess TO be great sicklers for the na-
iOnsl Democratic platform adopted by the
he Convection ct Cincinnati, in 1856. To
relieve those parties Of any apprehension they
may entertain as to our position We will inform
hem hat we are, as We always have been,
for the Constitution and the Uaion, ald we
shall 10 all 10 cur power to maintain theif
integrity upon the principles upon which they
we're formed and the objects for which thsy (
were founded. We believe, however, iaat
the Union eau no. be maintained by force With /
out subveriing cur political institutions AID
cbargng the Character Of the Government. This t
vas the idea Of the founders of the Republic, .
aud al parties st nat tine alike, whetbsr they .
lie7sd with HAMILTON or JEFFERSON, Tepudi /
ated the idea Of cosrciDg State into allegiance
% the Federal Government. We advise those
Democrats who are disposed TO be cspti1u1 aitn
our course to 6rst stndy the political history OF
the county and he oft-avowei doctrines OF tn
Democratic party, before they set themselves Up
for political seers ard ceusors- lie, us bri,ag re
fer to the position OF the Democratic party upon
the Issues now bslore the country il vindieatlon
Of our position The Cincinnati Convsniion
sdoptsd the following resolution:
Resolue9. That we reiterats with renewed en-
ergy OF purpose the well considered decl rations
Of fcrner conventions Bpon the sectional issue Of
domestic slavery, and concerning the resersed
rights OF the States.
What are the 'Eell considered declAratio O.
former conventional" We give a few 'bieh
point directly to the issues involved in the pres
ens Controversy. The first are from the PEG OF
THoMLs JEFFERSON, Who probably understood The
theory Of our Government and Democratic dec
'rines. They read thus:
Reso'ped, That the several States eOmposiug
| he Uuited States OF America, are not united on
l she principle CT unlimited Submission to their
/ General Gsverumen but that By compact under
the style and title Of Constitution for the Uni-
/ ted Statse, aEd of amendments thereto, tney con
! stifuted a general government for special puT-
poses, delegated 20 that government certain def
mite powers, resegving, each State 70 itself, the
residuary mass of right TO their own self govern
ment; and, that whenever the general govern
ment assumes u1delegated powers, IFS acts are
unaushorative, void and OF no force; that TO this
compact each State scceded as a STA e, and il an
integral party; that this government, created by
this compact, was not made the exclusive or
final judge OF the ex'ent OF the powers delegrc
ID itself; sir &c that would have made its oiscrc-
ion, aud not the Constitution, the measure OF its
powers; but, that as il al other easssot compact
amoos the parties having no common Judge, ereh
party has equal right TO Judge for Itself 'rsi
Of infTaciiORs as OF the mode and measure Of re-
dress.
We call another witness to the stsn5, JAMss
MADISON, who probably understood the nature
of our Government and the views o! those who
framed Is, equally as well as these who eel
themselves up now. s.dsys for Constitutions
expeunders, par eresIeHes. Read what Mr.
MADISON said:
RssOlred, That this Assembly virginia. m1s'
soleuniy declares a warm attachment 70 tht
Union of the States, TO maintain which i
pledges It's powers; and, that for this end, u ],
their duty TO watch over aud oppose every 10
fraction Of those principles which const tute tbs
only basis of that Union, because a iaish'ul CD
serTance Of them can alone secure its tx.sienc'
aud the public happiness.
That this assembly doth explicitly aud per
emptorily declare that it views the powers Of th'
FEDERAL Government as resulting from the com
pact to which the States are parties, az limitef
: 81 the PLAZA sense and intsuiion OF ths ins'iu
msnt constituting thss compost, as no turtle
valid than they are authorized by the grana
enumerated in that compact, and that il case o
a deliberate, paiDable aud dangerous exercise o.
other powers, not granted by the said compact
the States, who are parties thereto, have th'
right aud are in duty bound TO inteTpose, for r
resting the progress OF The evil, ana for maintan
ing within their respective limits the authorities
rights and Liberties appertaining to than
That the GeRersl Assembly doth also express
ia deep regret that spirit has, il suodry irstin
e ces, been manifested BY the Federal GoTernmen
r TO enlarge it's powers by forced constructions o
the constitutional chsF.er which defines tom
: and, that indications have appeared Of desigl
to expound certain general phrases (Which haEIns
Z been copied from tie very limited grant q pow
ers in the former articles of confederation, uer'
the less liable to be miscols,rued) Sd az 70 de-
stroy the meaning and effect OF the particular
3 enumeration which necessarily explains an.
limits tee general phrases, AID 50 as to conscii
date the States BIZ degrees into one sovereignty
: the obvious tendency sad inevitable result o
! which would be to transform the present Tepub-
lican system of the Uaited States into al ALSO
lutte, or at best, mixed monarchy
Such are The teachings Of the Fathers Of th
Democratic party and the RSpablie since thei
Organization, and these doctrines have beel
, affirmed BY every National Democratic Coz
. ventioa which has been held. We think il SAT
, to stand BY the ancient land marks of the part
sud follow the path they direct And re be
lieve there would be no difficulty in main
tsining the Union, If the principles W
, have quoted are adhered to in the Rdninie
tration of the General Government. Al v
, depart from them, as expsrieoce has proven
contentious ard difficulties are the result
and the objects for which the Government va
formed "mors perfect Union" and to "insur
domestic tranquility are defeated. At 81
events We shall prove our faith ip ihe Prlaci
!, pies, policy and organization of the Democrat
party. as laid down by the Fathers, BY frml
adhering 10 them az the best security 70
maintaining the Government in peace and bar
mony-that voluntary support and obedience Q
> every State shich can be maintained by no
( ONLY the guarantee OF political and religion
: liberty, and the equal rights Of ell, but By 9
, administering the Government that these end
may be attained in both the letter and the spin
Of the Constitution.