Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-18
The GENERALIZATION OF Power.


The Centratixatione Of Power
Our peculiar form Of government has been the
admiration Of the most philosophical and purest
met Of the age. The idea 81 those Who framed
IL vas 10 secure the liberty OF the citizen. and Il
Is conceded by all Who comprehend the nature
and workings Il oar Institutions that they mos,
happily accomplished that object. which Is. or
should be. The corner stone OF every good gov
eminent DK TooorrviLLs. the celebrated
French writer. in his able and comprehensive his
tory and analysis Of our political institutions. re
CARDS them the perfection Of hum.n wisdom.
IN not only comprising al lha, Is good IN govern
nent. bat AZ the means Of preparing or educating
the people 10 govern themselves. lie illustrate.
this idea by showing that In township organic.
tons. IN county organizations. In State orgsnza-
tioss aud In the General Government that the
PEOPLE are the source Of power and he demon
'tra,es from the successful working Of the in-ti
tnsions tina, man u capable Of self government.
When the Constitution vas adopted there was a
large party who favored n strong government.
and is sdhcrents advocated the Capitalization OF
power. They distrus,ed the virtue aud intelli.
genee Of the people and had no faith in Govern
ment which rested upon the popular will
The old Federal party has is counterpart, At
the present time. The advocates OF the erer.
eise Of arbitrary power by the Federal Govern.
ment now, only reproduce the sentiments enter
tanned by HsSiLroS and ADAMS. They con
tended, the MoRross and LrSooLNs now do.
that the States should bear the same relation 10
the General Governm ent that the counties do to
the States. or. in other words. that State lines,
should be oblterated and that the central au.
thority should be supreme The party led W
JkSFKRsoS and MADISON defeated the schemes
for an overshado&ing central government. and
established the system Of independent State gov
ernmen,s. 30 far local interests and domestic
policy concerned. hut united together by a
general government Of delegated powers to be
exercised for the common welfare and the com.
mon defense Of all That system. so long rs the
rights and mmunities of the several States were
observed and respected. worked we'll and in no
other form Of government has the citizen en-
joyed greater degree OF freedom and indepen.
dencc. or equal individual and general prosperity
But what a change in two years. The over
throw of the Democratic party in 1850. brought
into power the believers In the old Federal doc
trnes. In all the changes of administration pre-
vously the reserved rights of the States have
been respected There was no attempt to
make the dogmas of the successful party
the iron rule TO which all must yield obedience.
At first this purpose denied. but step by step
power has been usurped until are on the verge
OF central ,lespOtism which will completely
oversbadow State constitutions and State author
ity. In the enforcement of the conscript law
instructions have been given by the Federal Ad-
ministration TO disregard the decisions of the
State courts a. to the rights of the citizen not
only. but to deny their jurisdiction in a conflict
between the citizen and the Federal authorities
Even il the State courts should declare that law
unconstitutional. under those instructions the FED
eral officers would continue its enforcement. In
such an issue the State would either have to sur
render or else assert its authority by force. The
establishment Of the national banking system
Is another scheme to obliterate State lines
The policy Of the party in power is TO build up
a strong central government-in fact a central
despotism. The Legislation of Congress, since il
has been under Re. ublican domination, has that
end in view The exercise Of arbitrary power
by the Administration, under the plea of military
necessity. is another evidence of the designs OF
those who have possession Of the Government
II these innovations permitted by the people,
before Mr.. LIScoIS's constitutional term of Office
expires the whole character of the Government
will he changed and the Capitalization of power
will be complete that of France Austria.