Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-29

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 it 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 eff
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 agriculturistS
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 to 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 to make
those who were feeced rather over forward
to seize hold Of missteps affecting their vital
interests; especially when urged thereto by
designing and INSCRIPTIONS 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 a
peculiar interest-the Western and other
States no more than a 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 to cite authorities
20 prove 1t, other than the 9Th resolution of
the Democratic Convention of 1910.
That resolution Is as follows:
That Congress has power, under Constitution
interfere with, control the domestic institutions Of the
several States: and that such States the sole and
proper judges Of everything pertaining their own af-
fairs, prohibited by the Constitutions thar all efforts
BY the Aboition;sts others made induce Congress to
interfere with questions Of slavery to take iHciDi
STEPS in relrtiOn thereto calculated lead the
most alarming and dangerous consequences and that all
such efforts have an inevitable tendency diminish e
happiness Of the people and endanger the stability and
permanancy Of the Union, and ought not 10 be cOun-
tenanced by any friend to political institutions
That this position is correct we will cite the
opinions of great men not Democrats.
It is clear historical truth, that the Convention meant
20 eaNe slavery, IN the states they found teutrey
under tue authority and control Of the States themselves.
-He1ster's Speech on tie III Of March. 1850.
The powers Of the American Congress are few eau
uously limited scrupuOusly excluding all that no,
granted and above all carefully and absolutely excluding
all powers over the existence continuance Of slavery in
the several states-czay's Speech, FeJ- 7ta, 1889.
See, also, President Lincoln's Inaugural,
where he says:
have purpose, directly Indirectly, interfere
with he institution OF slavery in the states where exists
clination 10 do 50.
So, on the 23d of March, 1870, an expires
sion in Congress was spread ON record as to
the powers Of the Federal Government on
this subject Many OF those who had assisted
in forming the Constitution being then pres
ent, and aiding in this expression as follows:
That Congress no authority to interfere In the
emancipation of slaves in the treatment Of them n
any Of the States Il remaining with the several States
and policy may dctae.-Ltfrekt's History of kh.
| United Ndtes cot. i, Necond Series.
So the fourth resolution of the Chicago
Convention that nominated Mr.. Lincoln is a:
| follows:
l. That the maintenance nvioatc Of the rights Of thu
states especially the right Of each State orde
and control its domestic institutions according IL
own Judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance
power on which the perfection and endurance Of our po
| iisica fabric depends, &c
Mr.. Lincoln, in accepting the nomination
Of this Convention, says in his letter:
The declaration Of principles and sentiments which ac