Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-26


hyor General Wool. who il nov IN command
Of the Military Department Of the East. it APP
pesrs. has made an effort TO interfere With the
military affairs Of the State Of New York. II
this act u sustained BY the Administration. and
General Wool Is reported 70 have said that he
vas empowered by the General Government to
perform that duty. it Is but another step toward
breaking down State lines and the risbtful SOW
ereignty Of the States and incre ising the central
power; Or. In other and more appropriate words.
giving increased vitality to central despotism-
strong FEDERAL Government Is fsvorte theory
With the radical Republicans, aud all their move
rsents tend TO the accomplishment Of that result.
The liberties OF the people have thus far been
preserved by the watchful Jealousy. which has
been exhibited since the formation Of the Gov
esnmeni, over every movement which looked
toward the Capitalization OF power. Against
this tendency the most sagacous OF our
statesmen have cautioned the people. The de
bates In the Convention which framed the Const-
tuition. and formed the Union Of the States. pre-
sent the evidence that the encrosehments Of the
FEDERAL power were more feared IN restraining the
freedom Of the people. which was meant to be
secured and perpetuated by that instrument. than
from any other cause. And the events Of the
past eighteen months illustrate the danger to be
spprehended from the usurpation OF power by
the Federal authorities. IL our free institutions
fail, and there are many reasons to tear such
catastrophe. their decline and fall will grow out
Of these usurpations Of power. and the submission
OF the people to them. upon the dangerous and
delusive plea of military necessity.
The Governor OF each State is the Commander
in. Chief Of the militia thereof. The President
has no right to interfere with. direct or control
the militia of the States When he needs such
troops to e"force the Federal laws or sustain the
National authority no calls for such aid through
she Governors Of tho States.
But il appears, if General Wool is to be cred
tied, that an United States officer. empowered by
the General Government to perform the duty.
has issued orders directly TO the several com
manding officers Of the regiments forming the
whole militia in .hc State Of New York. to re-
port to him the number Of such troops ready for
duty. with other particulars relative to their eff
cheney and the arms in their possession If such
measure has the sanction of the Admnistra
tlon. IL is the besinag Of effort to break down
and override Stale authority. And if it il per
mtted in one instance, there is no security but
the same usurpstion of power will be extended
over all the States We hope that the powers in
Washington have not authorized. and will not
sanction, the orders of Gen Wool. We can
Il. Al. al In,
reference with purely State affairs. But if they
have. or do. it shsuld meet with prompt rebuke
not only from the authorities aud people Of New
York, but from those OF every State. Ii is a
most dangerous assumption of power. and If sue
cessfully persisted in il fail to lead to
entire change in the character of the Govern
ment.
The professed object Of the war was to preserve
our free institutions by maintaining the Constitu-
ton and the Union But il the Constitution is
subverted under the plea Of military necessity.
and submitted to by the people, gradually bu,
surely the disregard OF the obligations and re-
straints imposed by what was intended to be a
charter Of freedom. will continue ard increase
untii popular rights all overthrow. We
again repeat the hope that the National Admins
tration have not attempted and will not attempt
palpatle and unjusti6abIe disregard Of the
rights of the State of New York: but if such is
the case. and if il does not meet with the earnest
and determined protest and rebuke OF the people
Of all the States. shall then fear that the days
OF constitutional liberty are ended The justi6
cation of such acts of Executive usurpation will
be greater evil than the success of the rebellion,
for in that case to use cant term of the Adolf
tionis,s. the life Of the nation or in other words
the free institutions which have been the glory of
our Government, will be destroyed.
To maintain the Government of our fathers State
rights must he recognized aud upheld. and the
excuses committed under the sanction of Fed
sral Law and authority must be condemned and
stopped. We make the following extracts from
the messages OF the Governors of several States
lately delivered, to show that the popular senti-
ment does not and will sustain the course OF
the Administration. and that voice should no,
be disregarded. Whether the orders of General
Wool have the sanction of the National Admin
istraton or not IL u well for the people to watch
the growing tendency to he centraliz alton oi
power in the General Government and the nm
warranted usurpation of power by the Felera
Executive To that end We publish the follow
Ing extracts alluded to:
GOV. ROBINSON, OF KENTUCKY.
Since the commencement OF this civil war
there has suddenly grown ND a theory outside o
and above the Constitution. and new doctrn,
has been introduced into practical exhibition
that military necessity is not to be measured b,
eonsfuu fionai limits. but must be the Judge OF th,
extent OF its powers. As oifshoot from th.
political heresy. there hare appeared among US
not only anti slavery propagosdists. but men VII,
have actually presumed To override our own Stat.
laws and turn regiments brought here ostensibI,
for our protection into cities of refuge for runa
way slaves To such extent has this beer
carried, that not only have our citizens beer
driven from the camps where they have trace,
their property into the possession of the soldiers
but the civil officers have been prevented from
serving sny process for their recovery
This high handed and niQuitous conduct i. d III,
and hourly weakening the cause of the Union
and paraIy xng the effort to suppress the rebellion
And in addition to all this. il is putting the Stat,
To imminent peril. IL - asking too much of th,
citizen To expect him To fold his arms in quie
submission when hrs property Is taken from hin
In his very presence. and be rudely thrust aside
at the point at the bsyonet when he attempts {,
reclaim ~ Your State laws are ALREADY amp
for redress OF oficnse- against the property OF tht
citizen. as the same have been ordinarily com
mitted, but | suggest 10 YOU the tropriety a.