Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-06

NANN II
lditions of a true loyalty. But i should leave this
subject IN an imperfect state IL ! omitted, on the
other hand. TO give equal pr0minence to certain
principles of our political System which limit the
mode in which States and Individuals are to exer-
che their constitutional rights OF opposition TO the
measures of the Federal Government. 1 have
bsiefly adrerted to this already; bat a more ex-
tended statement of the principles is necessary.
| will assume, then, that a measure having all
the forms of law, is believed upon good grounds
TO be a violation of the constitutional rights OF
States and individuals. What is the rule of ac-
ton under such circumstancesf There is no
difficulty whatever in finding an answer. BY the
establishment of a judicial system within the
Federal Constitution, having ultimate cognizance
of all cases arising under the Constitution, ONE
mode is provided by which both States and indi
viduals can ascertain whether their reserved rights
are invaded by the Federal authorities. This
remedy is at all times open; and there is no valid
reason why a State should forcibly assert its con
stitutional rights any more than that an indi-
vidual should DO the same thing. While a State
remains a member of the Union it is bound to
~viBdicate its constitutional rights and powers in
that mode which is consistent with the preserva
ton of that Union; and il can at any time, under
any supposed violation of its rights or the rights
of its people. make a case for judicial termina-
ton. Forcible resistance is open revolution; and
nothing bat an intolerabie opposition. cutting off
all Judicial remedy. can make revolution a neces
sity and a duty iGreat applause
Again: there is another equally good reason,
which shows that M popular tumults and no
forcihle resistance are either legally OF morally
Unsuitable while TIE ballot box remains un
touched If the people OF State have reason to
believe that measures OF the Federal Government
are subversive of The Constitution. it is their
right and their duty to correct the evil by a
change of their rulers. lCheers In cases OF
supposed extensive violations of the Constitution.
to which the attention Of the whole country is
called. the remedy of elections is ordinarily sufi
cient TO reverse erroneous constructions of that
instrument. as well az errOrs of policy. The pcpu-
lar tribunal may not be quite 50 precise in its
action as the judicial, but there can be no mis-
taking the Judgment of the people when il is pro
nounced upon an issue clearly made with an Ad-
ministration which is charged with infringing the
Constitution [Great applause
These principles no one, ] presume. will be in
clined TO dispute. But there is thrust in, TO inter
ceDt their application to the present crisis in our
affairs, Il doctrine which | tor one distinctly repu
date That doctrine is. in Substance. that all
questioning of the measures of the Administra
. ton should be postponed while we are in civil
war; that there should be but one party; and that
all should rally in an unconditional support of
the constituted au horities This dogma needs
examination II by an unconditional support of
the constituted authorities it is intended to claim
that we must all recognize the fact that we are
engaged in a civil war, and that We must conduct
it, while it lasts. through these authorities, and
must hold no irregular intercourse with the pub
lie enemy, we readily ascede to the proposition.
But If il is meant that We ale not to question the
methods which the Administration pursue in the
prosecution of the war; that we have no rightiul
control over their measures; or that we are 10 re
frain from demanding a change OF their policy
| reject the doctrine without the slightest hesita-
ton. The very issue which you make with the
Administration of itself refutes that doctrine
That issue is, that their course of action subverts
the CONSTITUTIONS; makes the war an attack uDOr
the social system of the South; and renders il
impossible to succeed IN that war, without de
stIoying, for the South aud for the North, the
whole principle of Stale sovereignty, on which
the Union was necessarily founded as one of il
corner stones. 1t l. in vain To say that the acts
Of the Administration, OF which YOU complain
are military measures. In every civil war Their,
are political considerations which must qualif,
the military action, or that action can result onl,
in disaster. A Government that undertake. {,
Suppress a great revolt of powerful and organ
lied communities, at the same time fnrnishin.
the strongest of moral motives for resistance, i
in the same situation as he who fights his enem,
with one hand and supplies him through the othe
with the munitions of war. In the present cas-
we have made the conquest one of infinite diff
Guilty, by frst declaring that we waged the wa
solely for the supremacy of the Constitution, ant
then turning round and making the overthrow o
the Constitution a too probable result of our sue
: cess ["Tbat's So" Applause
This result will not be confined to the coDdi
ton of the revolted States, ii the war continue
to be prosecuted as ii has been for the last 81,
months. You cannot acquiesce in the measure
of the Administration, involving; as they do, tn
exercise of many powers that lie wholly Outsid'
of the Constitution, without leaving this countr.
hereafter to be ruled by powers that will res
upon nothing but what the judgment of a party
or a faction, or a clique. shall deem to be publ
necessities. In this aspect of our affairs | can
not avoid a word OF earnest appeal to al reflect
ing meI,, to consider what fate must attend IN
securities of property, as well as the rights o
person. if we permit the Constitution to be lost
There are FIVE great securities of property. tn
continuance of which ia this country Is depend
ent ON the preservation OF the Constitution of tn
I, United States. Let me enumerate them. The
are:
/. A uniform metallic currency, as the basi
and standard of all values.
2 The power to establish a uniform system o
/, bankruptcies, whenever the interests OF commerc
require it.
3. The invioIability Of contracts by State Leg
: islatures.
4. The provision which places property unde
the protection of the Constitution against Fedora
t power, so that no man can be deprived of it with
! out legal process.
5. The prohibition which restraints The Fedora
+ power of eminent domain, so that private propert
cannot be taken for public use without just com
pensation.-
r Now no rational being can suppose that thes
/ guarantees can lie cxtorted anew from that cen
!, tralized despoiism which is hut too likely TO D
the only Successor that the Constitution of thu
: United States can ever have. | care not -wha
: ideas men may form of that stronger govern
= ment' which some allow themselves to wish TO
ia the place of our present system. My reason
and ny instincts both teach me that that govern
ment will he AN unchecked aud uncontrolled des
potiSm; and We need not look far for the signs o
lis approach (Applau>e Consciously or un
: consciously. there are many agencies at work 4
promote its adv ent; one Gf the most potent o
{ them is the false doctrine of loyalty, " agains
: which | contend. and another is the Dernici0u.
: idea fbat YOU can safely trifie with a fixed Con
} %stitulion. We have made such vast strides TO
ward "A system entirely unknown to the Fedora
r Constitution. that We can now see the nature o
the only mower that will ever replace il. Wher
) that power has fully come, the present securities
/ of property will have been swept away with fb,
{ securities of persOn. Both will disappear with
the Federal Constitution; and we shall never ex
r tort them as concessions from the new power, NJ
f place them beyond reach il we can ex;ort them
There are no bnrons on this onr American eartf
to make u new Magma Charts our race will neve
; see another Runny mede: and We shall never SEE
another Washington, another Madison, another
Hamilton, another Jay, another Patrick Henry
! another Samuel Adams Even the States, viii
their separate constitutions. their bills of rights