Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-29

Since the foundation of the Federal Govern
ment there never a time when our institu-
tons were in more danger from the dissemination |
of false theories in respect to its powers and lm |
tatons. and those of the States. than at the pres
ent day. When the President-as if anxious to
lay the foundations OF a centralized Government
had the audacity to compare the sovereign States
of this Union to the counties of State, aud to
deny 70 the former any more power than the lat
ter. il is no wonder that thousands of his less
informed admirers should be led into the most
fatal errors. and forget the true principles of our
institutions. State and General. The fact that
every State in the Union equalin the Senate, and
that nearly every law regulating the social rights
OF the people enacted by The States. should
always preclude an idea absurd. Ii is not only
an absurd. but it is n mschevous error and one
which is working fatal damage to our political
system. The General Government grew out of
the necessities OF our condition, and instead of
being the creator is the creature of the States
1t is a Government. according to the Constitu
ton. Of limited and specified powers. but is SUI
preme in everything appertainng to the relations
regulation of commerce, the levying of duties
imports. and all matters specially delegated to il
by the Constitution. Powers not thus
specially delegated. to use the language
OF the Constitution itself, are reserred
10 The STATES and the PEOPLE" These words of
the compact show. beyond doubt, that there trere
powers" which the States and people reserved
to themselves. and have never surrendered to any
earthly authority. This is the old doctrine of
JEFFERSON, MADISON, JACKSON. Clay and the
early fathers. The old Federal party. the
other hand, headed by JoBN ADAMS. ALEXANDER
HAMILTON and HARRISON GREY OTIs. took diff
ferent view of this question. and believed as the
AboIitonists DO to. day. and contended that the
General Government had the power to do any
thing which was necessary to be done 10 carry
out the views of those in charge of the Govern
ment. for the time being. The first class of
statesmen had sacred regard for the Constitu-
ton. and construed its provisions strictly. while
the latter class held that great latitude must be
given 10 the President and Congress, and that
the States must be always subordinate to the
General Government. more dangerous dog
ma could no; be tolerated in free nation. The
last clause of the Constitution of the United
States, il consulted. will convince the most wild
and Iatitudnous interpreter OF its provisions that
the old Federal and the present Abolition view
are both essentially and wickedly at variance with
we true theory OF our institutions. The Consi-
tuition expressly provides that its ratification bv
mine" of the thirteen States then composing the
confederscy. "shall be sufficient for the e>tab-
lshment of this Constitution bef,ceen The States
ratifying The same" The other four States might
have rejected the Constitution and vet the Con
stiIuton would have made and established the
Union for the nine eoHeurr,ng States Each
State had the perfect and undoubted right to
adopt reject that Constitution and to share the
benefits aud burdens of the Union as TO them
seemed best. There was not the slightest CON-
puslop on any State 10 adopt H. The Conven-
ton which formed the Constitution was com
posed of delegates appointed by the several
Staies. and they appeared in the Convention as
delegates from Massachusetts,, Virginia.
"Connectscut." Georgia" &c All the voting
was done by States. and the questions decided by
having them called as such. No one in the early
days OF the Republic. was wicked enough 10 con
tend that the States were subordinate to the Gen.
eral Government. except for the purposes of
defense against foreign invasion. National reye-
nue.. commerce with the nations, &c. The very
reverse il true. Every statesman whose memory
is yet reyered by the American people held opin
ions adverse 10 the prevailing sentiments which
govern the Republican party in this country.
This dominant faction ignore as far as il Is safe
TO do ~. every independent aud valuable right of
the States. and desire that all their political
action shall conform 10 the faction or party which
may chance 10 rule at Washington. The f,sorite