Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-24
stand by the Con.titusion.

wholly subverted as members of the Federal
Union," what the Confederates themselves claim,
and the fact that secession Is maintained by the
authors of this call, for different purpose, does
not make it more constitutional or preyent them
from being actual aiders and abestors of the Con
federates. / have never believed
that the abolition of slavery, or any other great
reform, could or ought 10 be effected except by
lawful and constitutional modes. The people
have never sanctioned and never will sanction
any other-The Postmaster General 10 The Cooper
Institute Abolifionists. i
The onset that the fanatic set of ultras con-
tinue to make ON the bond that united this noble
land from ocean 70 ocean. and from the broad
lakes Of the N North to the Gulf on the South, in.
to a common country, is of fearful portent- Adj
herence TO this bond, in its purity, as Washington
understood and administered il, Is sure path cut
of our present deplorable conditions; departure
from it is as sure step to the unknown realm Of
anarchy When such is the Naked simple, SOL
emn truth, it is wonderful that those who love
their country can not have the moral courage to
say, get behind me Satan, to the whole tribe of
enemies to the glorious bond.
Among the recent expressions of fidelity to the
Constitution we have seen none more compsehea-
sive thar one just put forth by the New Jersey
Historical Society. This body has in its ranks
some of the most eminent men in the State, and
CHIEF Justice Hornblower is the President at
its last meeting it adopted the following resoln-
ton:
"Resolred, That we declare our high and una
bsted app eciation of the Constitution and Gov
ernment of the United States Constitution
and Government wise in its conception. massive
and beautiful in its frame work, large in the lib
critics which il guarantees, rich in its provisions
and in the blessings which il gives, and grand in
the extent, fitness, minuteness and power of its
application"
That is the truth and nothing but the truth as
to our form of Government That is the great
instrumeDtality to which it is now, more than
ever before, needful to watch over with that
eternal vigilance which is the price of our liber
ties.
This IS the frame work which one set of fanat-
les, South, have cast off as a worthless thing. 1t
never injured a hair of their heads Jefferson
Davis, in his last message, comedies as much as
this; for il was not anything done, he says, that
occasioned the rebellion, but something that was
threatened to be done. Such a threat was made
the country was faithfully warned against those
who made it; and there was no power in them to
carry it out. Ii was made by the st Of reckless
fanatics unprincipIed demagogues who were
inspired by the truly internal hypocrisy OF the
very Exeter Hall Abolitionsts, whom Davis's as
socates have been wooing 90 their side. Had
the seeded States but stood within and under the
Constitution the whole of the bread river of blood
that is flowing might have been spared for then
these reckless assaulters of the Constitution could
have been beaten off. But the States chose the
terrible path of rebellion and they are reaping its
fruits
Now the solemn pledge that unites the loyal
citizens of our country South, North, East and
West, is pledge of continued fidelityto the Con-
stitution. The word used by the New Jersey
Historical Society is precisely the right word as
to this Instrument for it created no local rights,
but recognized and guaranteed rights already in
existence: each State had customs and privileges
and rights over a century DID, that were reserved
in express terms, which they had anterior to the
Constitution, which this instrument did not and
could not confer, and which it could not take
away. Massachusetts,, neither in l777, when she
first acted as a member of the Union; nor in
l776, when she agreed to unite to declare indie
pendence; nor in l77S, when she formally entered
into the Confederation; nor in 1857, when she ac-
cepted the Federal Constitution, ever placed her
local institutions at the mercy of majority vote
of the other States; and though all of her sister
States then were slaveholding States, it would
have not been in the power of them all TO have
established slavery in this State She never
thought of delegating such power TO the general
Congress to act on this subject, and for Congress
to have assumed to act on this subject as to
slavery within the State would have been palpa-
bic and undeniable breach of the Constitution;
and acts in relation to 1t would have been nulli-
ties.
These reserved rights exist to day; the original
limitations of power exist to day; the members
OF Congress have no power except what is dele
gated have no more to legislate on slavery with
in the States to day than they had in $780, To
do it is violate the Constitution under the name
of adherence to its forms.
At time when the Union armies are march
ing on to victories well would il be for the coun
try to enoin on their public servants everywhere,
to be true to the Constitution. If the clergyman
insults the congregation by the reasonable stuff
of setting above this Constitution higher law,
brand him as a traitor; If the Lovejoys and the
Summers come forward with their insane promo
siton to subvert this Union of coequal States nto
provinces, brand it as the Inauguration of CEN
trail despotsm; if the little shoddy race of dem
agogues keep up the vile religion of hatred to the
whole. South. shun them as enemies to the peace
and glory of the land and even the human race.
Would that the great spirits of our ancestors
would re appear and re-animate the body of the
people and enable them to walk as Madison and
Hamilton, as Jefferson and Washington walked.
That truly greatest of American statesmen, who
on every great question was full century ahead
of his age, Thomas Jefferson, said in 1892: al
can scarcely contemplate more incalculable
evil than the breaking of the Union into two or
more parts;" and his simple craftsmanship con
sisted in this. 10 keep the local governments in
all their integrity and the nationality in all its
power. On what official shoulder now rests his
immortal mantle?
We suppose there is craftsmanship in consider
ing and treating the Border States as CO equals.
We suppose that the local rights of Kentucky
and her local feelings are as worthy to he re-
spected as those of Illinois, and such, at any
rate, is the expression that comes from Illinois,
that magnificent pillar of the Constitution and
the Union. Neither in that State, nor in the
whole Northwest, is there any other feeling than
a co equal feeling. 1t is heresy, il is destructive
heresy it is the heresy that tends straight on to
anarchy, that because South Carolina trampled
on the Constitution, and dragged after her other
States. therefore the loyal men will not keep to
the Constitution either rs individuals or acting
States. What shallow and yet terrible plea
is this of Charles Sumnerg Has he not sense
enough to see that it is a plea for anarchy? -
We have looked confidently to a restoration OF
the Union, of the whole Union, and of nothing
less than the Union but because the sentiments
of the Northern disorganizers were fatty repudi-
ated by the good sense of the people and by the
Government. When the President rebuked FIRE.
mont and dismissed Cameron; when the Cabinet
and Congress vowed that the sole object of the
war was to maintain the national authority;
when the glorious Generals, Burnside, Buell.,
HalIeck and Mcclellan. carried out this on the
field. whan rebelion's crest fell in Missouri and
in Kentucky. then the work on civil and military
fields seemed to go grandIy on. Let honest men
renew their purpose to keep faith with each 9TH
er. On this ground. that Of the continued union
of all loyal men upon The basis of the Constitu-
ton. may we still look confidently to see our
great Republic shine in more than pristine glory
but the man does not live who will see it come
back on the basis Of Summers central despotism.
Boston Post.
Montgomery Blair and the Radicals
Among the notables invited to attend the
Cooper Institute meeting. in New York city, on
the 9th inst, was Postmaster General BLAIR
Mr. BLAIR did not attend, but wrote letter,