The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-24

uiooens reutraI CONSTITUTION was adopted,
and the United States formed into one Ma
ton under its provisions In that time.
under the bsnign influence of our Federal
Union, our advancement in all the elements
oil national greatness and power, has been
unparalleled; and now, In the very zenilh
OF our power. in the msrning Of our ma.
tional existence. with all the elements Of
national and individual wealth in rapid
process OF development, we find ourselves
on the brink of disunjon, and from the
high position we have hi herlo enjoyed as
power among the naiious of the earth.
we seem about to fail into the fathomless
depths Of anarchy and civil war. As one
OF the members of this great confederacy
OF states. 1t is cur imperative duty to care
fully and honestly consider the causes that
nave SO much disturbed our federal rels-
tons. and II any remedy can be devised to
stay The progress of disunion, Indiana
should be willing TO seizs upon il at once.
and uss that remed y to heal the dissensions
now existing between the Northern and
che Southern states. The Federal Gov
ernment. based as it is upon written con-
sthution, formed Of delegated powers from
the sewers! states, and possessing no pow
ers that are not federal in their character.
necessarily leaves untouched and TO be ex-
erclsed by the several states alone, all local
rights of persons or property. Its mission
IS to regulate our Intercourse with foreign
nations, and to promote and secure domes-
tic tranquility. lis strength rests with
the affections of the people of the sevs-a.
states. 1t Is government Of Affection no.
of force. and the dangers that surroupd US
arise from the fact thai the fraternal bonds
that have thus far held ia together as q
nation. have been growing weaker and
weaker nntil they are about TO break ayun-
der. The causes that have produced this
alienation Of affection between the people
OF the different sections of the Union, in
my judgement, are all traceable 10 tho un-
wise, and in many instances fanatical sqi.
tatlon of the question of domestic slavery.
The very form of our Federal Govern
ment pre-supposes difference in The local
and domestic institutions of the several
states. and has wisely left each stat. in the
audisturbed right TO control its domestic
policy. At the lime the Fedei al censtitu-
tioa wrs adopted, twelve of the thirteen
original states recognized slaaecy But
The Institution was then in its infancy in
this country. and had been forced upon
the colonies by the mother country. Most
Of the leading men, both North and South,
then looked upon lis existence as epheme--
raj. and contemplated day. at no great
distance. when 1t would wholly disappear
from our system. Fsr-seeing As The l9uu.
iers of this gov srnnlent were, they did
estimate rightly the future of this ins,itu-
ion. Subsequent Developments have fixed
he line of demarkation between free and
slave Institutions This line has been es-
ablished by self-interest and not bv any
principle Of religion or philanthropy. The
Northern States relieved themselves from
he 5urthen when they disposed Of their
slave property to their southern neighburs
md abolished the Institution, and tho
Southern States found in the growing de-
nand for the peculiar productions Of their
climate and soil. a profitable field for the
employment of this species of labor. and
hey have cherished and maintained IL un-
il it has become the basis of their social
system as well as the handspring OF their
wealth, and its productions now form the
taple of the worlds commerce.
From the time this line was formed 4
gradual but psrceptible change in the tons
# sentiment, both North and South. began
o manifest itself Iu the beginning OF the
citation of the slavery question ia the free
tates, the advocates Of aati slavery senti-
nents found but few sympath.zsrs, and
he abolition lecturers met with but an in
;fferent reception at the hands of the peo-
lie. The honest instincts of the masses
ecoiled from the danger with which
hess sentiments were pregnant, and the
ear ofthe popular mind has been fearfully
eriied IN the events that are now trans
iripg around US. In the change Of pop-
lar sentiment on this subject. the politi-
ian and the demagogue have had mach
D do: but their efforts would have bsen
ewerless but for tbs aid they have receiy-
d from a much more powerful a. we'll ~
angerous class. | refer TO that class ef
olitical teachers who belong to the minis
ry and who claim 10 speak by authority.
D all ages of the world, the ministers and
riests Of the prevailing religion have ex-
rcised a most potent influence over the
ainds and conduct of men: and In no eoun-
ry more than in our own, notwithstanding
ur boasted independence. Their power
or good or evil is greater than any or all
Tiers. They stand as the profsssed rep
OF heaven. in attempting 10
scaim a world from sin. Clothed with
ais sacred robe, as ambassadors from that
Ugh court they claim to pass the judg-
lent Of heaven upon the acts aud conduct
{ their fellowmen: aud, when this high
lission is faithfully and ccnscientiously
erformed by one capable of understanding
ne true relation between man snd his
lakei. when the Christian religion is sp-
lied 10 the world as il Is, aud not as it
ughI 10 be, no nobler spectacle can be
resented than that feature Of our social
ystem that is SO strikipgIy exemplifsd ia
,e church circle Of which ps minister and
astor is the center, aud no class ofmen
u IL