Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-02

We must maintain at any cost and At Al
hazards our admirable syssem Of Federal aul
State Governments We must hold. Aa equal
y au enemy 10 bis country, The man who aims
blow OF the integrity of the Federal Govern
ment, and him who would mar the integrity Of
a Site Government. Both are equally essen-
tial to the existence and working Of the sys-
ten. We might as we'll strike planet from
the solar sJs:em as State from our federal
Union, In each case, wild confusion and law
less anarchy would be the result. w u
We must uphold with the same vigilance and
care the rights Of each State, or Of tho people
Of each State, as we do the powers of the Fed,
eral Government, or of the people of tue whole
Union. Whatsoever 10 not granted by tho Fed
eral Constitution to the Government or people
Of the United States is reserved to the States
or to the people OF the several States. To the
States belong exclusively the regulation of their
local and domestic affairs and inAt tulons. This
is the doctrine Of State Rights, which is
charged with being the cause OF tho rebellion,
because certain individuals have pushed the
doctrine to an unwarrantable. extreme. But
come men have carried the doctrine of equal
ity, laid down In the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, to an equally unjustfahle extreme, and
deduced from il the most absurd and pernicious
consequences. The advocates Of either doc.
triue are not to be held resnonsible for the wild
fancies of enthusiasts, nor is either Justly
chnrgeable with the mischieis the ultraists may
have caused. G
| Undue Importance is given to the slavery
question, which, even while we are contending
for the very existence of the Union against an
organized rebellion, is made the one great en-
crossing topic. But this question is not one Of
the moral right of slavery to be, butsimply and
solely Of its legal and constitutional right to
exis! Whera permitted by State constitutions aud
State lave. The Constitution and laws of every
State sInotion or permit many things which all
will acknowledge to be morally wrong. Itrests
with the people of the State to suffer these
wrongs or to correct them in their own way,
For the Federal Government or the other States
to interfere to compel reformation would bea
direct infringement OF that most sacred right
guaranteed to the people Of each State by the
Federal Constitution, being in truth a right
which they originally possessed, and have never
parted with, to govern themselves in all tb cir
local concerns in their own way and according
to their own sovereign will and pleasure. 5N
II is said that slavery is an anomaly in our
Federal system OF free governments. So, in
deco, it is Bat that system is full of anomalies,
as is the great system of the Universe. No
two States are alike in their constitutions, Laws,
institutions and usages, no more than they are
in their soil, climate, face Of the country and
productions. 1t is these very anomalies that
constitute the beauty and excellence Of the sys-
tenn, and giveus the variety and freedom of
republican institutions, instead Of the uniform
ity and slavery of despotc rule. = -'l@-- 4,
We have no desire, nor has any right.mihded
man any wish, to see any moral wrong permitted
or perpetuated by any Government. Bot every
man Of sense and intelligence knows that no
Government. can act upon tho principle that
nothing morally wrong is to be sanctioned or
permitted by law, without destroying one of the
chief ends for which all goverunientis, or should
be nstituted-ihe protection Of the personal,
religious and political liberty Of the citizen. II
Some people, owing, perhaps, to highly de
veloped moral faculties, with little practical in.
tellect, seem to have queer notions Of the ma.
ture and Office Of human government, They
seem to look upon it as designed to bring about
what the Gospel has as yet failed to DO, the
millennium of universal justice, peace and good
will. Ourown Government has been. thought
to have this spe cial mission, - Z a..s .,.a1rr
Nov we, ns srdently as anybody, desire 10
realize the "Good Time Coming" about which
so much has been said and sung. But this, We
are quite sure, will not be accelerated by over.
turning or marring the right Of the people to
govern themselves, which is secured by our
system Of Federal and State Govern
ments. That system may beSas il will doubt |
less be, improved in the progress of events
But to the people of each State must be left
he right and the freedom they originally had |
aud still have, to retain, alter or abolish their
local institutions. This is essential and indis. |
pensabls to insure domestic tranquility and to
secure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity." sst biaoH .tssl.i ,ashT |
The 5sth Ohio as Fort DOn0lsOn.