Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-14
The D,fr,euuue. Before Us.

We have sought in our previous articles under
this head TO point out some of the consequences
in which the people Of this country must involve
themselves 10y undertaking to suppress the right
of local self government, which, BY the inevitable
theory of the Union. belongs to each of the
States. and which we maintain cannot be forfeit
ed under any rational application of the suprem
acy that belongs ~ the Constitution and laws OF
the United States. We have invited the attention
of our readers to this subject. because we are
satisfied that the entire theory of conquest. as
applied to the States which are the theatre of an
armed iBsurrection. will result, IL adopted, in
embarrassmehts and difficulties from which we
cannot extricate ourselves We believe that we
have assigned some good reasons for this opinion.
But this plan of conquering the Southern States,
as II they were foreign nations, and holding them
for longer or shorter period us countries con.
quered from an enemy, has other consequences
which demand the most serious attention of the
American people. We have to consider whether
il can be carried out without destroying, for our
selves well rs for the people Of the Southern
States, the Constitution for the sake of which we
have fought. We do not now refer to the
dangers arising from the institution q armies Of
suficent magnitude to bring about such result
or TO the invasions OF personal liberty that we
know. IRON the experience we have already had,
must attend such enterprise These are topics
worthy OF our grarest reuecaon. out hiludo
now TO the disregard and overthrow of those
features Of our political system without which Il
cannot exist and the removal OF which will be of
itself an instantaneous revelation Of the most
radical and far reaching character. sias
One Of the most important aud essential fea-
lures Of the Union consists in the fact that the
people OF each State. 10 respect to all matters of
government not committed by the Federal Con-
st,ution 70 the Jurisdiction Of Congress. are
sovereign people. Each State--using, the term
as standing for the people Of the State in their
collected political capacity--s q sovereign power.
We may have our individual opinions on che ex-
pedicncy or inexpedency of this condition Of
things; we may value more or may value less
what are called Slater lights; mny differ about
their extent; or We may think that the national
sovereignty Is endangered by the State sover.
eighties, or may entertain the opposite opinion.
Bot no sane man will undertake 10 deny that ms
q matter Of right. and ms q matter Of fact, the
people Of his own State. and OF any other. exist
as body polite possessed of political sover-
eighty, whether ho holds that the Constitution
Of the United States is compact between such
separate sovereientes, or whether he regards it
a. national government formed by the grant Of
certain political powers proceeding from the poo.
pie inhsbiting each Of the States. Whatever we
may think on these subjects, it IL plain that our
political system. 10 respecs to the principle Of
stase sovereignty, can never be changed without