Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-26
NATIONAL POLITICS.

FroT % rHEIE USwisE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ASE ExTRAvAeAScts oF rur ooysoEwroN sSD
orHrR Aors 81 &t. g.
A. members OF the Thirty eighth Congress
politically opposed % the present Federal Adj
rniuis,FstOn. and representing the opposition
Union serItimen. of thecounsfy, we address Gun
selves to the people OF the United States. and our
object will be to show fas tar may be done
within. the limits Of an address, that there is
good reason for changing the Administration and
| policy Of this general Government through the
instramentaty of suffrage 10 the elections Of The
present year
It's settled conviction that the men now In
public station Who control the policy OF the Gov
eminent, cannot or will not perform those duties
/ which are necessary tn save the country and per
| petuate is Liberties Many OF them are engross-
ed by political and personal objects, which do not
comport with the public welfare. and will not
subserve il; others have false or perverted views
OF our system of free government, or are inspired
| by passions which cOntinualis mislead them. and
the opposition In Congress are powerless To check
| the majority and arc unable even 10 secure such
investigation Of the Executive Departments OF
the conduct of the Government officials will
prevent abuse aud secure honesty, economy. and
efficiency IN the public service.
Profoundly, painfully impressed by passing
events. we turn from the President Of the United
States aud from the majority in Congress, upon
whom all remoustrance against misgovernment
would be wasted, to address ourselves 10 our fell
I low country men at large; aud we appeal 10 them
To nterpose in public affairs. aud by proper ex-
erton of their sovereign electoral power. TO de-
cree that these United States shall lie justly gov
erned, reunited. ranquized and saved
ENDORSEMENT OF PowER.
/ What We propose to notice IN the first place,
as Introductory 10 our examination OF public at
fairs, is the consolidation OF all power in the
Government Of the United States into the hands
of single political interest The party OF the
Administration has not been subjected 10 any
efficient check upon its action from all opposing
interest or party since its attainment OF power IN
1861 Carrying all the northern, western, and
Pacific States. with single exception. at the
Presidential election of 1860, and being relieved
from all southern opposition in Congress by the
Withdrawal of the States of that section. IL was
able to do it, will and PLEASURE without check on
hndrance in the government OF the United
States. All public patronage was subsidized to
its uses: all Government outlays and they were
enormous in amount were disbursed BY il off
Gals: all public power welded by its arm;
and this condition OF things has continued TO the
present time. II has reveed in power. and OF
inevitable necessity, from its very nature and
from the opportunities presented il. il has abused
us powers, IL iOfpOuet, OI ut-plctu, vi
trampled under foot the duties imposed upon il
by the people. and the objects announced by i,
in the outset have been supplanted by others
which now inspire its action and occupy rs
hopes.
No truth j. more certain, none better estab-
shed in history. thsmthis. that political power
is aggressive; that il will always seek TO enlarge
itself and to increase its domination. aud that ne
free government il possible where, by the very
not made a chcck..to power. Freedom is secured
by the action and reaction upon each other o
political foTccs. 30 organized aud 80 limited that
no one absolutely dominate over contro
the rest. And hence the necessity of constitu
tons which shall so divide aud arrange the pow
ers of government that single interest, elias
or Individual shall become supreme, aud engros
the whole mass of political power Now III,
c capital mischief COR, rather, source OF mischie
[ and evil in the sovcrnmcntof the United State
during the past three years, and az this momeD
is. that n single political interest or party, of evi
constitution. has obtained and exercised the Who'll,
( mass of government powers, free from all checG
or limitation whatsoever. The fatal results arr
obvious IL has been false to its promises mad,
as the condition upon which il obtained power
' it has broken the Constitution shamelully an,
h often; il has wasted the public treasure; il ha
q suspended the ancient writ of liberty. the habea
corpus. rendering il impossible for the citizen t.
obtain redress against the grosses outrage; il ha
] changed the war into a humanitarian crusad
outside Of any constitutional or lawful object;
has grossly mismanaged the war in the conduc
OF military operations: it has degraded the cur
+ rency of the Country by profuse issues of pape
e money, and conhscated private property by
legal tender enactment: and to retain its power
that il may riot in plumber and be subjected e
no check and no restraint from public opinion, /
Z has undertaken TO control State elections ty di-
rect military force or by fraudulent selections o
voters from the army. These some Of tn
results already achieved, and 1.-The end is no
yet" No impartial observer can contemplate
the future without apprehension of still create
= evils, doubt that some real division o
public power or it, Judgment in new hands i
necessary, not merely to the success but to tn
very existence of free government in the United
States
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
! The evil of uncontrolled party domination il
government will be greater or less, according &
the character and objects of the party in power
The Democratic party, which ordinarily has ad
ministered the Government of the United States
even in the utmost plentitude OF its power, die
not fall into gross abuse threaten the libertie
OF the country Although il required to b
checked upon occasion, and that its policy an'
conduct should he subjected To rigid scrutiny b'
I active opposition. there was great Securlt'
against its abuse OF tS powers in the principle
and doctrines to which il held for its creed va
established for II bv men of the most steriin:
virtue and profound wisdom, who Justly c0mpre-
, hended the nature of tree governments and th,
dangers 10 which they are exposed. Strict con-
stfuctiOn OF the Construction. a sparing Use @
D the powers of government. moderate expendi-
e lures aud equal laws, became the articles o
political creed which preserved the government
from abuse aud degenerscy, kept the States il
harmony and secured the growth and develop
ment OF material prosperity unexsmpled in th'
/, history of nations Its great merit was that i
i. Was a constitutional party lin the true sense o
that term,l subjectins itself cheerfully, thorough
~ and constantly 10 oil the rules and limitation
: of the fundamental law. Its principles them
selves checked IL and kept IL within bounds y
~ contests for power were upon the very groun,
that there should be no overaction Of govern
meut. hut only due assertion OF its authorized
powers, there was the less necessity 10 cOnfron
il With powerful opposition. Yet such opposi-
ton always existed. aud was no doubt necessary
to the safe aud successful action of the govern.
ment under it, management
THr PARTY oF rHE ADMINISTRATIONS.
But with the party now in power. the case i.
Widely different. lts main strength lies IN State
which voted against Mr.. Jefferson in 1900
against Mr.. Madison in lcl2: against Andrew