Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-04
The Life of the constitution

The Union lives only in the Consultation Times.
As this sentiment has been the key note to all
the utterances of The World since il assumed to
speak for the Democratic party it must be diff
cult for the eaders of the Times to determine
whether that journal has become COpperheId or
whether The World has never been disloyal, as it
has so frequently and falsely charged.
The Republican theory of a Constitution re-
calls the answer of tue English bishop to an anx-
ious seeker of religious truths. pray, my lord,
;-Dot difficult to trace the exact line between
orthodoxy and heierodoxyE" Not at all.
nothing Can be more simple. Orthodoxy is NV
doxy. and heterodoxy is any other mans doxv"
What is the Constitution asks the citizen.
Whatever We wish il to be, is the answer Of the
Republican party. Upon all questions OF doubt
fa constitutional rights, says the President.
divide into majOrities and minOrities. But what
constitutional rights are doubtful, asks the in
quirer after truth Palpably the answer must BE-
whatever party chooses to doubt. Then prac
tieally, as the law OF England lay in the conclu-
sOns of the judges, the Constitution lies in the
will OF the majority. In other words written
constitution is NJ constitution at all. This mon
srous iaacy IS ruling these United States at this
moment, it has ruled them for nearly three
years, and the people seem incapable of being
awakened 10 the inevitable results of itS cOntin-
ued rule. Every now and then, sick sleeper
opens his eyes for moment and then relapses
into his feverishslumher, some Republican paper,
leaving the beaten way of vituperatiOu. attempts
argument, and for a moment is alive To the great
blessing IL had and has rejected; but il dares
not pursue it, own train of thought TO conclu-
sion. aud abruptly turns OFF with an alu,ion to
war powers shch snperSede all rights of all sorts
man may be a very good man. and a very
sincere, seli-sacri6cing patriot. and very bad
reasOnCr. The British statesmen who undertook
to tax the colonies believed in the right To tax,
IN the exPediency OF taxing. in the justice of tax
alton They meant we'll for Ensl but they
saddled her with = debt oil four hundred millions
OF dollars. they sundered the colonies from her
and caused great suffering and loss of life Their
motives were pure. but their logic bad, and
political communities always suffer more from
the stupidity of good men than from the wicked
hess OF bad men. The reason is clear Wicked
ness is soon seen and guarded against; but stu
pldity, like malariOus atmosphere, poisons
goodness itself.
! The lalacv which lies in the principle of the
Republican party was not only dangerous in the
beginning, Is dangerous nov. but must be danger
Gus in all time. 1t Is far more fata than the
| principle Of secession, just rs an absolute enact
/ ing power is far more hostile to liberty than an
absolute veto power
! The path to peace has been distinct and clear
from the beginning Of this war, but il cannot be
trod by the Republican party. Into il Repub-
licau cannot enter. he NAV attain il as the RO
mains did, make a solitude and call il peace, "
but IN no other manner So long rhnt party
insists upon not merely administering the gov
eminent. but upon determining the rights OF an
other section, so long must 20 the sub
ljugation OF the one combatant or the exhaustion
oi both. IL cannot be avoided nor averied. All
tie dreams OF peace which men have so cherished,
hoping against hope. for month after month. will
vanish as do other visions. From the three wears
past questions present themselves to the people
of the United States which will be answered and
cannot be lodged Will you have government
III which minOrides have rights. OF Que in
which they haver II you prefer the latter, how
will you secure those righIsl--[N. Y. World.