Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-04

We have stated that up to the election of
Lincoln, the Presidents had been chosen by
and for the whole people, and had professed
to so act. But there had been at various
times, after the first fifty years of the Gov
ernment, certain species of class legislation
INDUCED in that was irritating and provoking
to parts, or sections, Of the Union because it
tended to take the profits of the labor of one
man and give il TO another-in addition to
the legitimate proceeds of that others labor
Within this class fell tonnage and tariff acts
The first favored our own carrying vessels
over foreign vessels. The second favored our
own manufacturers over foreigners. The ef-
feet was, that both the navigating and manu-
featuring interests reaped undue profits, which
were extorted from the earnings of agricul-
turiSts. Because they prevented agrcuturists
from sending their products abroad by the
cheapest mode of transportation, and likewise
prevented them from buying where they could
obtain the cheapest.
These laws were at various times modified
and reformed; but were not in the last thirty
years made 10 conform TO the maxims of JEFF
ferson-fOr manufactures and commerce have
been fostered by law, and agriculture has not,
in this, that agriculturists have not been per-
mitted TO sell where they could get the best
price, nor buy where they could get manu-
featured articles the cheapest
But these questions, however irritating
were not of such a character as to arouse a
whole people, nor supposed to carry with them
any serious danger but this taking, by law a
part of the money of one portion of the peo-
pie and putting it in the pockets of another
portion. was sufficiently provoking 20 make
H., L., T.. u
to seize hold of missteps affecting their vital
interests; especially when urged thereto by
designing and unscrupulous men. The
Southern and Western people had one COM
mon interest; that is, they were agriculturists.
The prevailing interests in the Northern and
Eastern States were manufacturing and COM
mercial.
Keeping in view the irritation which had
been kept up by class legislation, we are pre-
pared to examine the
FATAL QUESTION,
One in which the Southern States had
peculiar interest-the Western and other
States no more than general interest, under
the Constitution; for if every member was in
a healthy condition, so would be the whole
body polite.
This question is one of many phases. 1t
involves under our Government. State Rights
the system of labor-the social system. and
finally the right to four thousand million dol
lars worth of property. 1t is the question of
SLAVERY.
The Democracy have at all times contended
that the system of slavery in this country is
under the exclusive control Of the State Gov
ernments, one with which the Federal Gov
ernment has nothing to do where it exists in
State. This position of the party is so well
understood that it is useless 10 cite authorities
70 prove II, other than the Eth resolution of
the Democratic Convention of 1910.
That resolution is as follows:
That Congress has power under the Constitution,
interfere with control the domestic the
several States: aud that such States the sole and
proper judges Of everything pertaining their az
BY the AboOuiss others made 10 induce Congress 70
interfere with questions Of slavery 20 take incif
steps in relation thereto calculated lead the
most alarming and dangerous consequences and that all
such Efforts have an inevitable tendency 10 diminish the
happiness o the people and endanesr the stability and
permanaTcy q the UEion and ought Rot 10 be coun-
tensncea By any friend to political institutions
That this position IS correct, we viii cite the
opinions of great men not Democrats
II clear historical truth, that the Convention meant
leave slavery, States, they found itentirely
under the authority and control Of the States themselves
-He6sfers Speech on fke ia gf March,. 1850.
The powers Of the American Congress are few, eau
tiousy limited scrupuousiy excluding all that
all powers the existence continuance Of slavery
tLs several Stkte--- ITCi'. Sx-s<A, (st. IT, 1893.