Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-12

lie him whom the State hss eufran-hIsed The
Constitution furbids il; the rights OF the States
forbid =: and our rights a citiZeus forbid H.
The Pres dent suggests to bis sworn men that
In demolishing and recun -tfucting State ins,itu
tons. they shall not change the name Of the
State. - boundary. its SUBDIVISIONS, its eon>titu
ton or general code OF laws. only % iar as my
he required By the terms and conditions of the
proeip nation. a. nav be deemed by them ex
pedient. EyerT step taken by the President IA
thi- direction. i upon the fragments of broken
constitution. The Carolinas and Georgia had |
Their names and ther boundaries before the Union
was formed. hxei and es,ablished 10y colonial 1
characters, and with their ancient names and /
boundaries they agreed 20 the Union; and OF the /
remaining seven OF the States mentioned 10y the 4
President. il i enough TO say that their names 4
and boundaries we're established by the people /
when the States we're formed. and agreed 10 bs
Congress by the acts admitting them into the
Union. hese ancient attributes of the States.
conferred in the most solemn modes known to US
as people, cannot thus be disturbed by the
President, or BY the few who may arr under his
assumed authority. But. sir, the Constitution
torbids argument ON this question by the provi-
sion protecting the integrity OF State boundaries
unless bv the consent Of the States affected aud
OF Congress: article four. section three.
The President also requires, in effect. that the
State constitutions shall be changed as TO con
all of the constitutions Of these States. provision
is made for their own amendment; and 1t is clear
where there are 10 such provisions they can be
changed only by the people acting in their soy
ereign capacity, through their delegates selected
for that purpose. But without reference TO the
provisions of the constitutions for their own
amendment, aud without regard 10 the original
and exclusive right of the people 20 make aud
change their State constitutions, the President
proposes To conform them TO his own policy,
through his agents sworn 10 tina, end IN advance
Mr. President, car any pretext OF State necesSi
ty, can any pretended exigeucies OF the war. or
any conceivable hope of future good, justify 80
clear violation Of the Constitution. and disre
gard otsihe principles upon which our institutions
arebisedr To preserve the Federal Government
i the duty of every citizen; but coexstent is the
duty OF preserving the States with all their rights
anS the privileges of the people unimptired.
Measures that destroy the States, or impair the
rights of the people under them strike blow at
the Union and endanger the Federal Govern
ment. Can the supporting columns be stricken
down and the temple yet standg The States and
Federal Union form one harmonious whoie-
they must stand together or fall in common
ruin
The people of the United States have been
wisely Jealous of power in lis efforts to perpeu
ate itself. The history of the past two wears,
and the present condition. OF the country, adnOn
i>h that they cannot now be too vigilant in
guarding their liberties
An important Presidential election is ap-
preaching in which the people will struggle 10
maintain their rights and privileges. aud the Ad
mnistratOn to hold lis power The President
commands the most numerous and powerful
army known to history; he controls the dis6urse
melt OF larger sums OF money than were ever
controlled ny any one power, and reaches every
neighbprhOod 10y his all prevailing patronage
PrOStrate Kentucky. Maryland and Delaware
admonish US that the brave aud timd alike are
paralyzed at the polls 10y the sword: aud in all
the States we behold the power OF patronage and
money over the venal and corrupt There are
appalling odds in the contest between power and
the people. and the only hope is in the virtue o;
the people and their devotion To their ancient
liberties But, sir, the Presidents proclaim ton
seeks IN addition 10 place ten States under his
absolute contro-to exclude all who will not
swear icalty 10 his measures, thus securing Pres
idental electors who will ay their votes at his
feet. Can the liberties of The people survive the
success OF a scheme SO dangerous!
Without que-tioniDg that the President NAV
grant conditional parton. DO deny that lie may
impose 4 condition that will control the action Of
the pardoned man touching the policy of his
State. for that policy being exclusively OF the
State. shall be decided bv the people thereof, un
Influenced and uEeoPfr0tief 'by Federal power.
for the reason that it is by the Constitution ex-
pressly reserved to the State and TO the people:
and an attempt bv Federal authority % control il
is a usurpation And deny that "a condition NAV
be imposed upon the potdoned man which inter
feres with his freedom eector, for the
son that far ~ our institutions rest uO0n pop
ular suffrage. taeir spirit requires that the
shall vote for The man of his choice, for such
reasons and upon such considerations as satisfy
his own judgment and conscenee and any inter
ference with the absolute and entire freedom OF
suffrage Is blow at our popular institutions
Was there time IN our history when a
President. elected by the Wing or Democratic
party, IN granting pardon would ha,e dared 70
require the to swear that he would support
the policy and vote for the men OF the party in
powerY single instance of this sort would
have driven the President and his party from
power before a stream OF popular Indignation in
tie days OF pnblIc and political virtue
Mr. President, at the beginning OF the war such
assurances were given, both to the country and
foreign nations. 10y the executive and Legislative
departments of the Government. touching the
purposes aud policy of the war, and the principles
that would be respected when il should cease
that they cannot now ne di~regarded without
breach oI public faith La his inaugural message
delivered when hostilities impending. the
President said:
81 have no purpose. directly or indirectly, 10
interfere with the Institution of slavery in the
states where it EXISTS / believe ! have nC
lawful right to do so, and have no inclination
to do SO.
81 understood proposed amendment To the
C9ustitution-which amendment, however,
have not seen-his passed. Congress 10 the eli
feet that the Federal Government shall never in
tetiere with the domestic Institutions OF the
! States. including that OF persons held TO service
4 To avoid miscons'ructon OF whit ! have said,
depart from my purpose not TO speak OF p.rticu
lar amendments. 50 far a 10 Siy that, holding
such provision nos To he implied constitutions
/ law, have objection to its being express ans
I rrevocable
These declarations of his purpose, and defni
+ tons OF constitutional restrictions upon execu
tive power were made by the President under
most solemn circumstances, forming almost
par; ot the official oath; and addressing his ''dis
satisfied fellow countrymen" he said:
You have oath registered in heaven tC
DESTROY the government. while shall have th,
most solemn one to preserve. protect and defend
II
Is II not enough now to ask what change hai
since been made in the Constitution which give
him lawful right to interfere with the iu,titu
ton 81 slavery in the States +" do any othe
act which WAS not lawfully right for him to d,
when sworn into Officer
After the war had commenced in his messag
to Congress on the 4ah of July. 1861. the Presi
dent repeated the assurances given in bis inaugG-
raj. He said:
Lest there be some uneasiness in the mind