Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-28
The Voice of n Patriotic Statesman..
Is the constitution the same i'm War
as i'm Peace!

We commend the following sensible and states
manlike views of the Hon. John j Crittenden, of
Kentucky, as expressed in late speech in the
House OF Representatives, to those who believe
that the Constitution is one thi in war and
another thing in peace, and think that the
Union can not be restored except by violating
that instrument:
WAR is supposed to give us the power, which
peace does not. The Constitution denies it in
time of peace That may assume as granted
by all-that there is none so bold to deny it. But
the state of war is supposed to give the power to
Congress Mr.. Chairman it seems to me that
the Constitution is An utter fallacy, that it is
the same to-day and tomorrow, in peace and in
war. 1t was made for peace and for war; 1t was
Mr.. Madison SAYS, for duration, tor all time so
far as human hands could aspire to make work
that should be perpetual 1t would have been
impressed if it had not. 1t has that power which
prohibits it in time OF peace TO emancipate slaves
in State. Can that power rise up out of anv
state of Kings agaidst the Constitution? The
Constitution gives you right to make war, and
the Constitution gives You implicitly all of the
powers incidental to it. Does it include power
hostile to the Constitution itsetl That would
have been strange harmony, indeed. No, siI !;
al Amust harmonic with the Constitution.
"fhere are some gentlemen, sir, who seem to
me think that no war measure can be of sufi
cient energy that does not find its beginning and
source somewhere outside of the limits of the
Constitution. But the Constitution is a tame, So
Der instrument that yields nothing to peace or to
war Ii has no sensations. 1t has no enthns-
aSms 1t is calm, steady, cold rule of the
Government at all times, through the night and
through the day, through storm and sunshine,
through peace or war. That is what it is. 1t
does lack those sensations which we have in a
high degree. They seem to think that some
portion of these unconstitutional enthusiasts
must come into war measure to give it eff
cacS and force. Not a bit of it.
"Mr Chairman, the Constitution is our
strength. 1t warns the heart of the people, and
it is their defense and protection. What has
filled the fields with six hundred thousand men
in arms in opposition to this rebellOn2 1t is the
Constitution, the bond OF freemen, the bond of a
free Government. Let that admonish us that
our strength is in the Constitution and that it is
not in the sensation sort of measures which we
attempt sometimes to get up here as more forci-
BILE than the Constitution. 1t is not the phantasy
mr. the chimera which politicians may delight in.
But what do the people delight in? What makes
them rush to the battle and to lay down their
lives to preserve? 1t is the Constitution. 1t is
known to the people-known to their wives and
to their children 1t is the heritage of the poor
man that puts him upon an equality in point of
rights under the laws With the highest and most
arlstocratic in the land. 1t is our spear and
shield. 1t is our strength. 1t is that which
has guided our army and enabled. it to over
power all who opposed it. That is your
strength: never let it go. The more faith
fully you adhere to It, the more constantly you
worship it, aid show by your acts that you will
do nothing not warranted by it, the more you
will have the favor and confidence of the people,
and the more the Government will have strength.
All outside is mere alteration, all outside is de-
lusive-there is no strength in it. Adhere to
that as the line of your policy. Allow of no
policy, indulge in no practice that shall take you
beyond the limit of your power. That limit OF
your power is the landmark of the rights and
privileges of your constituents. Its limit to day
protects me. You may struggle against its
limits. We, as legislators. may struggle against
the limits that constrain US. but they defend the
limits which protect the interests and the rights
of the people Whenever you enlarge your
powers by going beyond the Constitution, you
diminish their rights or enlarge their rights. The
people are for the Constitution, whether you are
or not. and we must all thank Heaven that it is