Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-26
Another act of Executive UsurpaIion.

Another act of Executive Usurpation.
Major General Wool. who is now in command
of the Military Department of the East it ap
pears, has made an effort to interfere with the
military affairs of the State of New York. If
this act is sustained by the Administration and
General Wool is reported to have said that be
was empowered by the General Government to
breaking down State lines and the rightful SOW
ereignty of the States and increasing the central |
power; or. in other and more appropriate words,
giving increased vitality to central despotism
strong Federal Government is a favorite theory |
with the radical Republicans, and all their move
ments 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
etnment over every movement which looked
toward the Capitalization OF power. Against
this tendency the most sagacious of our
statesmen have cautioned the people. The de-
bates ia the Convention which framed the Consti-
tuition, and formed the Union of the States, pre-
sent the evidence that the Entertainments of the
Federal power we're more feared in restraining the
freedom of the people. which was meant to be
secured and perpetuated by that instrument than
from any other And the events of the
past eighteen months illustrate the danger to be
appreended from the usurpation of power by
the Federal authorities. If our free Institutions
fail, and there are many reasons to fear 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 enforce the Federal laws or sustain the
National authority, he calls for such aid through
the Governors of The Suites.
But it 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 CON-
handing officers of the regiments forming the
whole militia in The 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. II such
IA measure has the sanction of the Admlnistra-
ton, it is the beginning of effort to break down
and override Stale authority And if it is per-
United in one instance, there is no security but
the same usurpation 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
hardly believe that they will attempt such an in
reference with purely State affairs. But if they
have, or do, it should meet with prompt rebuke,
not only from the authorities and people of New
York, but from those of every State Ii is a
most dangerous assumption of power, and If sue
cessfully persisted in, it cannot fail to lead to an
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 ard the Union But if the Constitution is
subverted under the plea of military necessity
and submitted to by the people, gradually but
surely the disregard of the obligations and re-
strs,ints imposed by what was intended to be a
charter of freedom, will continue and increase
until popular rights are all overthrown. We
again repeat the hope that the National Admins
traton have not attempted and will not attempt
so palpable and unjustifable disregard of the
rights of the State of New York; but if such is
the case. and if it does not meet with the earnest
aud determined protest and rebuke of the people
OF all the States we shall then fear that the DAYS
of constitutional liberty ended. The just6
| -
he greater evil than the success of the rebellion
for in that case, to use a cant term of the Adolf
tonists, the lite of the nation, or in other word:
the free ins titutOns which have been the glory Of
= our Government, will lie destroy ed.
e To maintain the Government OF our fathers State
rights must be recognized and upheld and the
excesses committed under the sanction of Fed
5 eral law and authority must he condemned anC
:, stopped. We make the following extracts from
the messages of the Governors of several State:
lately delivered to show that the popular senti-
ment does not and will not sustain the course o
the Administration. and that voice should no
! be disregarded. Whether the orders of Genera
. Wool have the sanction OF the National Admin
straton OF not it Is we'll for the people to wstcf
the growing tendency to he centraliza tion OF
power in the General Government and the un
: warranted usurpation of power by the Fedora
; Executive. To that end we publish the follow
ing extracts alluded to:
{ GOV. ROBINSON, KENTUCKY.
Since the commencement of this civil war
there has suddenly grown uD a theory outside o.
: and above The Constitution, and a new doctrin,
has been introduced into practical exhibition
that military necessity is not to be measured by
constitutional limits, but be the Judge OF the
extent vi It's powers. As an offShOOt from thi:
political hereSy, there hare appeared among us
not only anti slavery propagandsts, but men who
" have actually presumed TO override cur own State
laws and turn regiments brought here ostensibl
for our protection into cities OF refuge for rnna
a way slaves. To such an extent has this beer
carried, that not only have our citizens been
J. driven from the camps where they have traced
; their property into the possession of the soldiers
q but the civil officers have been prevented from
} serving any process for their recovery
j This high handed and iniquitous conduct is daily
u and hourly Weakening the cause of the Union
and paray wing The effort to suppress the rebellion
= And in addition 10 all this il is putting the State
u to imminent peril. 1t is asking too much OF the
d citizen to expect him to fold his arms in quie
= submission when his property is taken from him
) in his very presence and to be rudey thrust aside
{ at the point OF the bayOnet when he attempts tC
e reclaim it Your State laws are already ample
for redress OF ofenses against the property of the
i citizen. as the same have been ordinarily com
mtted, but | suggest to you the propriety oil
other and more stringent laws AGAINST the i'm fa