Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-07
The POWERS of the Federal and state
s.OycrnmcnIs.

SsOvcrnmentS.
The structure of our Government is without
parallel. For that reason the distinction be-
tween the powers of the Federal and State Gov
eruments, and the obligations of the citizen to
each, are but little understood and appreciated.
The Federal Government is one of delegated and
limited powers, and it has no jurisdiction over any
questions except such rs are conferred upon it by
the Constitution. Over all other subjects or
questions the power OF the State is supreme. Just
much if the State was entirely indepen-
dent of the Federal Government And the
jurisdiction CT the Federal Government is
general, and supreme upon all the powers
stitutiOn. 1t has no authority to in
terfere with the domestic institutions of any State
or any question which has not been delegated to
it expressly. The Federal Government is en-
powered to and may regulate intercourse with
foreign nations, commerce, coin money. declare
war, make peace and do whatever is Federal in
its character, and which does not inter ere with
the domestic affairs of the people. but Congress
has no right under the Constitution to interfere
with the relations between husband and wife. pa
rent and child, guardian and ward, or master and
servant. Those duties are reserved by the States
to the people The States have 10 authority 10
regulate commerce or coin money, that power
they parted with and delegated to the General
Government upon entering the Union, and the
Federal Government has no right to interfere with
the domestic institutions or affairs of the people
The obligations of the citizen, then, are two
fold-he owes one duty to the Federal Govern
ment and another duty to the State Government,
and in so far as the jurisdiction OF each is con-
cerned the power of each Government is SUI
preme. This is the theory of our Government,
and such it has been practically since its organi
cation.
Slavery is domestic. not Federal institu
ton. The Constitution recognizes slaves to be
property under State laws. The Constitution
ton says slave is "a person held to service or
labor in one State, under the laws thereof" And
as still further evidence that the Constitution
intended to recognize slaves as property, itdefiHes
in what cases they shall be restored when escap-
ing from their masters. The States which
recognize the relation Of master and servant
are alone responsible for it. The Gene
raj Government has no duties or response
bilites, in the matter except so far as they
are defined in the Constitution and that
only refers to the return of fugitiyes from
labor or service, escaping from one State to
another. The Constitution recognizes slave
in Kentucky to be property, just the same
it does horse in Indiana, and the owner or
master in one case is just as mu;h enttle to the
services the labor of one species of property
as the other. Our object is to combat the grow
ing idea that the Federal Government is supreme
over all the relations between governments and
citizens and that the States belr the same rela
ton to the Federal Government. that counties do
to State governments. Upon the formation OF
the Union general government of limited ,ow-
ers was established and those powers were de-
fned by written constitution. To the extent of
the jurisdiction of the Federal Government the
citizen owes it allegiance. But the powers and
jurisdiction the States did not part with are still
held and exercised by them, and in that regard
and to that extent the citizen owes allegiance to
the State Government only. The States then
have rights, and the Federal Government has
rights, but each are distinct and separate The
Federal Government then can only command the
citizen in so far rs its constitutional authority ex-
tends-can only exact allegiance over all those
questions and n all those duties which were dele
gated by the States to it in the written Consttu-
ton. There its authority ceases In all the
other relations, duties and obliga ions between
the Government and the citizen, the State has
just much right to command the citizen as If
the Federal Government had no existence And
whenever the Federal Government exceeds the
authority conferred upon it. or delegated TO it 10y
Constitution, such acts become despotic usurpa
tons of power. not binding upon the citizen. and
for disregard of which he can not be made
amenable lawfully.
Our form Of Government was the work Of I'M
surpassed wisdom and patriotism 1t was ad
mirably designed to develop the principle of self
government. That object has been successfully
accomplished. For nearly century the work
ings of our institutions have demonstrated that
man is capable Of self goyernment-that the PEG.
pie can enjoy the largest liberty with II due re.
gard for the rights of each other and of all.
Shall this glorious heritage be lost in the name Of
freedoml The browning glory of our institu-
tons has been the strict regard for Constitutional