Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-01
STATE RIGHrS-A DIfFERkNCE OF


:. OPINION.
The Indianapolis Journal pronounees the cele
brsted Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Of
1873. miserable and demOgogicsl legislative
productions" The Virginia Resolutions we're
prepared by JANIS MADIsoS-and the Ksstucky
rEt - by THox. JrTTrxsos-the former kuown as the
Father of the Constitution and the latter as the
author Of the Declaration Of Independence and
both Of them SLED the Presidential Chair for
terms Of eight years 7. is altogether probable
that both Of these eminent statesmen thoroughly
q understood The principles Of the FEDERAL Consti
tuition and the purposes for which that compact
- = was formed ye, the sspsu, editor Of the jour
nAl aippantly pronounces their productions to be
miserable and demogogcsl."
The New York Times leading Administra-
ton organ. looks upon the subject 10 entire
different light. Ia late number il remarks:
When the Constitution was formed. it was
impossible to embody in il fixed and fnai de
cision, either upon this question (secession) or
upon THAI OF slavery. The Constitution could
never have been adopted il il had either denied in
explicit terms the right Of State to secede, or
bad abolished slavery IA the country advanced,
bovevcr.it became and impossible TO
settle either Of these questions by peaceful
means"
Il thus appears that prominent Republican
organ ia forced TO admit that the Constitution
does embody in a fIed and FINAL decision
either upon the questions OF secession slavery
that IL could have been adopted il the
right Of secession had been denied or il il had
- - abolished slavery The doctrine of State Rights.
a. understood and advocated by JKrTERsoS and
MADISON. il simply this: that the Federal Gov.
eminent possessed only delegated specific
powers defined 10 the Cons,tution-surren
ss dered by the States Tor the general welfare; and
that all governmental powers not thus delegated
were reserved by the States with full authority
to exercise them. In its sphere the Federal Gov
IS supreme, and in their rights
the States soveregn-and each 80
adapted to the other that necessarily there need
be no coLfict Of authority. De TocquevlIe in
his work political institutions. sets forth
derf thls vie" OF the theory of our government most
clearly, and il has been accepted a. such by not
only the mos, eminent statesmen but by the great
body of the people OF the country from the tor
nation of the Union. The idea of the Journal
that the resolutions referred pu. forth 10
.nBl4 answer Temporary political purpose . alb
surd and exhibits either ineIcusable Ignorance
of the political history of the country else the
.9nl statement is a wilful Misrepresentation Of tho
facts. The Virginia Resolutions of 1898
accompanied with an elaborate report written,
also. by Mr.. MADISON. in which he discusses with
great ability the character of political nsti-
sutons and the relations of the States to the
Federal Government This only few
years after the adoption of the Constitution aud
Mr. MADIsoS, it must be acknowledged was
noss familiar with the views OF the members OF the
Wi' Convention which framed il. and the
tons placed upon its seyera! parts by that body
The New York Times admits that the Consitu-
ton left the right of the States 10 secede open
question which could not be settled by peaceful
The has, however settled a
question which the organic law of
the land failed 10 determine. We will
discuss the logical effect of this admission of the
Times as it cannot fail to strike the mind of the
reader Our system of Government, taking the
State Rights view of is. only admirable
in theory. but equally practically when the
provisions and obligato of the Federal Consti-
1ga tuition faithfully adhered to by the several
81 States The States took charge Of the nome
rights and the individual interest, of the citizen
that which concerned his personal happiness
aucf !, 3 while the general Government controlled only
those interests in which the people of each OF the
States had common interest, Ii was only when
sectional interests attempted to force its
peculiar ideas policy upon the whole tina,
difficulties and persistence in them
cuminated in the terrible controversy of the past
four years And il has resulted just as might
have been antcipated-the weaker has been
.tatis compelled to succumb to the stronger and
State Rights not overthrovn in the contest
it is certain that upon the questions of slavery
aud secession the Constitution will hereafter
have no doubtful meaning-neither will be re-
cognized What peaceful means could not
settle force has accomplished aud We can only
hope that State Rights the right Of seces-
sion or publication. will survive the revolution.