Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-09-13
For the Sentinel


There is more in the doctrine OF State rights
than most people dream of. a.
In order TO get full and correct knowledge
OF the rights and powers Of the States IL will be
veil to go back to colonial times.
=. The history Of the colonial Governments Is
made up principally OF disputes between the col.
onies aud the mother country as 10 the right of
the former to self governmebt. The English
claimed che right to make laws for the govern
mcnt Of the colonies. and TO say how much they
should be taxed. &c. The people OF the colonies
claimed this right, and claimed the right TO make
all laws appertsiDing 20 their domestic Affairs
IL was not the tax on tea, 10 pecunlsry sense.
that the people objected TO so much. but II eGs
the prineipie iapolosd ,cAicA caused the Tecoiu
fion. Had Epelaud guaranteed 10 them this right.
in all probability the colonies 10 this day would
have remained q part OF the British Empire
The writer viii make this prediction: That
un lees the people of the States are allowed ~
make laws in relation TO their internal or dOmes-
tic affairs. that war will occur often and be in
terminable- This matter. then. OF State lights
is thing OF the 6rst importance TO the people II
this country. The Federal Government may be
said TO be supreme, but il is a great mistake TO
-uoposs that it 10 possessed Of uncomfortable.
powers.
The people Of the colonies held only charters.
or grants from the British crown. giving them
the right TO occupy certain portions OF this con :
make all laws in regard to tteir domestic We :
fare. The Colonies may be said TO have borne
the same relation TO the English Government
that the States now besr to the General Govern :,
meut. With this exception: The British nation
possessed governmental powers Independent of
aud anterior TO the settlements of the Colonies !
and all the, governmental powers possessed by
the people OF the Colonies. seems to have come.
by and through the English Government. While
he ..fhx han he al 81
General Government, and did psssess sorereiSn
popers before the Consultation and Federal Cor
ORmenf had an sristsRce; aud all the powers
possessed by our National Government were de
rived from and through the States. To make
the matter plain. il should be borne 10 mind,
that the Declaration OF Independence declared
that the Colonies we're of right and fought 60
be free and inispsadeaf Safes and subsequent
iy. England. in the treaty of peace did recognize
each Sttts. naming them severaly. 10 be inde
pendent States. New the question arises, were
these Colonies. or States. possessed Of sersreign
" at the time OF the signing OF the Treaty. OF
Pescel They surely were: and il should be
borne in mind that the treaty OF peace took
place before the adoption Of our present Cons.
tuition and Union
tn. States made the Union and no. the Union
tie States
10 doe- seem TO the writer that there is no fact
IN history better established than that all the
rights and powers possessed By the Federal Gov
eminent were derived from and through 4he
States. All sensible men must admit that il
takes sovereign power TO make, amend or rstify
. constitution. Inc national government pos
sesses no such power snd il therefore not GOV.
ere;gn. IL took nine OF The orr ginal thirteen
States To ratity toe FEDERAL Constitution. AMI
no amendments cdn be made 10 the Constitution
Enless ratified By hree- fourths Of oil the States.
and be 10 remembered that threc fourths of the
smaller States. Enough containing minority of
the population of the Uniou.) NAV make mend
meuts 20 the Constitution sgsinst The wish and
will Of a majority OF the people inhabiiing the
larger States. The little State OF Rhode Island.
in consequence of its sovereignty gives the ssme
vote In amending or rstfying the Constitution OF
the United States a. the State or New York.
To deprive she States OF their equality and
sovereignts would sc once produce utter conia.
sion AMI ruia - COR Whole svsscm II govern
ncnt |M
The maintenance involate OF the rights of the
States. and especially OF each State to order and
control its own domestic Institutions according
to IT, own Judgment exclusively. is essential 10
ihst balance of power which the perfection
and endurance OF our political fabric depends
The above uss Republican doctrine IN ise0.
bat no, COW
The sooner the people understand The great
uu,h tbstth States possess original nd inherent
powers. which nave reFcr been delegated - ffr
Feders' CovsrnD e,.. TIE better y ui.f bs r,r
them
The writer would rot have the reader believe
that the States possess unconuollabic pcwers
Par from i. The.S;a,os arc forbidden, b, Tie
Constitution. from exercising any Of those rights
and powers which have been delegated the Fedefsi
Government and which are specified in the Cor
-;itution. Nor, on The other hand, .hoala the
national Government, oncroach on any Of the re 4
served rights All powers OF States There neeI
oc 10 conflict. Peace and harmony you'd be The
result of the Federal and State government.
each aud all keeping within their due and p.oDef
sphere Of action.
AT laws passed by Congress. ia pVrsuauce Il
he Constitution. should be respected and obe,ed
bv the States and people. and all the rights of
The people and Of the States should be respected
aud protected by Federal authority. When tbs
Is done. the sure foundation for permanent
nsass will have bssa sseeaplished Csros.