The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-07-07

Hon. James " Borden, j. H. 3. Spots
rood, Nelson Spiter, Lew,s BaRey.
JOHN j. She'll Cho,. b. LasseNe, E. !.
Long Thomas ID. Lemon, ond o,hers:
Gentlemen In repl to your favor of
the 10th instant, which has just come to
hand. lnquiring whether [ would ALLOW my
name to be used in the approaching Con
yention as a candidate for Governor, and
my views upon the issues Of the day. |
would briefly remark were to consult my
own comfort and interest, there would be
no difficulty in determining at once what
course to pursue But the overthrow of
our liberties, and the just alarm for the
future, demand other than personal con-
sidcratons. The time is now drawing near
when it will be decided whether Indiana
shall remain the theatre OF Federal mis-
rule. usurpation, lawlcssncss and crime. or
be restored to II c dignity OF Free and
Sovereign State. secure in her liberties by
the enforcement Of law. And now. above
all other times, IS it important that the
true sentiment of the people shall he repre-
sentcd in every department OF the STATE
Government, for never is the servan. 50
faithful as when his wishes and the mas
ter's will are identical; hence, recognize
the propriety Of your requesting my views
upon the issues of the day, and ii those
views do not harmonizc with yours. then.
indeed, could | serve YOU neither proita-
bly, nor honorably.
As each section in the codc Of civil
liberty is the result of an oft repeated
struggle between right and powcr, and in
its turn has been the issue of a particular
day. so has this day its particular issues.
among which stands prominent State Soy
creignty as contradistinguishcd from Fed
eral Capitalization.
Sovereignty being an inherent element in
man. s organism, the immediate gift of the
Divine Sovereign Of the Universe, in
whose image man was created, is the cs-
sence Of Divinity in him inseparablc from
his manhood, and may be exercised by
him alone over all matters that pertain to
him As an individual, and exercised Joint
ly with others over matters Of common in
terest. Nor does this right depend upon
the number of those whose interests are
identical. but any distinct people within
proper geographical boundaries may con-
stitute a State with all the powers of a
sovereign people. And as the people of
each State of the Federal Union acquired
their rights of soil and jurisdiction by
different titles for distinct people, and
ever have been jealous of that distinct
character, believing it to be the best secu-
rity against the excesses of liccntious
majority, did, with marked caution. guard
their individuality in all our Federal asso-
Citations, by asserting in the Articles of
federation as a stand point from which
every lineament of the compact should be
viewed, That each State retains its soyer-
eighty again, by declaring it condition
OF the present Union, ''That the powers
of Government nay be reassumed by the
people COT the State) whatsoever it shall
become necessary to their happiness" &c.
and which is but rciteration of that more
familiar enunciation, That to secure the
rights OF life liberty and the pursuit of hap
pincss, Governments are instituted among
men deriving their just powers from the
consent OF the governed, and that when
ubJ ''i III VI NoNClulucnt DcCOUlcS ucStruc-
tive of these ends it is the right of the pco-
pie to alter or abolish it and to institute q
new Government" &c.,-now, holdino
these to be inalienablc rights and not the
subject matter of compromise by which
posterity can be enslaved, L can conceive
of no emergency that can justify Federal
encroachments thereon, and hold it to be
the most sacred duty of the State Execu
tive to exert whatever force may be neccs
sary to protect the people of his State
against all unlawful intrusions upon Their
peace and liberty, and expcl from the sol
of the State all agents of usurpation aud
tyranny.
You may have expected that would sa,
!. something Of the war now so fruitful o.
want, crime and death; but hope you viii
pardon the brevity of my letter.
Fully convinced that this war is withou
sanction in morals or the theory of ou
government, whether as a private citizcr