The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-28

~ et6se Rights.
| There have been q great many people during
the past few years who were too exeitsd = tAiAk
| seriously, and who took their political ideas at
second hand from chosen leaders When these
leadsrs gave the cue they followed. Henss the
fact arises that many have holy horror Of the
doctrine Of State sovereignty or State fightA.
It served the purpose of some of the unprinci-
pied leaders TO condemn the doctrine becausp
some men carry it to extremes Ts secure By
this means to themselves while in power strong
er grasp on the rsins. But with comparative
calm it is to be hoped there will be change, at
least SO much Of change as viii allow Of reHec.
ton and serious consideration. Our readers were
undoubtedly attracted and perhaps little sur.
prised yesterday by the strong and sensible arti-
Gle on this subject from the pen of Rev. DR.. Ba-
con. 1t was plain and convincing statement Of
the doctrine, fundamental in our government, Of
the absolute supremacy OF the States in those
matters which were reserved to them by the Con-
stitution. The nonsense which has been preach.
ed from the pulpits and poured out of the mouths
of demagogues, that suffrage is natural right,
receives here fitting rebuke, and the unques.
tiOnabe truthful doctrine is stated in almost the
very words which we have frequently used, that
no man has right to vote except as he derives
that right from the law of the land and that in
our system the States have the sole power Of
granting the right. f Ngi.5 90 tI.qus
The proposal of Mr. Sumner and his friends to
force universal suffrage on all the States by fed
eral power backed with the bayOnet, has not
produced that public shock which it would have
given few years ago. Nor is it at all certain
that it will be carried out We are prepared for
anything of the kind. The people of this country
are by no means disposed to defend their liberties
even at the ballot box, and the truth is there is
no great amount of confidence to be reposed in
either Of the existing political parties in this
gard. 1t is very much to be feared that the dem.
ocrats, when they gain power, as they are very
certain to do before long, in the natural course of
natural events will rejoice in the free exercise of
power seized and swaysd by their radical prede-
cessors 1t is always more difficult to resign than
to obtain such power. The people of Nassachu-
sets little imagine the tyranny they are build
ing up while they permit their voice in the Sen.
ate to be used in this Capitalization scheme It
may seem all we'll enough while Congress hap
pens to be of the shade they like. But let them
remember that time changes and politics change
with them and that State rights may some day
be the only barley that Massachusetts can inter
pose to the legislation Of congress of radical
democrats. I'm
We remember that during the war a sharp COL
lsion arose on this very subject between the rad.
ical governor of Connecticut and the War De.
partment which tried to regulate the operation
of the act SO as to interfere with the very object
of the law Governor Buckinham was suddenly
strong State rights man, and unless we are
greatly mistaken gave the head of the War De.
partment sharp lesson on State rights, which
did good. So it will be whenever Massachusetts,
finds her pet institutions interfered with at
Washington. Public education is as important
as public suffrage, and some western Sumner
will be for regulating Harvard and Yale, and
Union and Princeton, and all other colleges and
academies, and even public schools, by federal
law. The excuse will be easy. It can be placed
on the general principle of the guaranty of re-
publican institutions, or if that will not be &C.
ceptabls it may be justified as method of rails
ing revenue or improving harbors. Any excuse
will answer, and the people are taught to accept
any stretch of constitutional powers to strike at
State reserved rights. What would Massachu.
sets say to such an attempt, if it happened to
be plainly directed against the doctrines taught
in her schools and colleges
Let no one say that these results are impossi.
BILE or improbable. Men in the republican party
are acting now as if they had lease of power
for centuries. Whereas it is as certain as the
revolution of the earth on its axis that the oppo.
siton is to come into the seat of power sooner or
later, and to inherit the weapons now welded by
the radical party.
The sensible man will have no confidence in
either party holding unlimited sway-His only
hope of the future is in rebuilding and maintain.
ing our constitutional defences our State ressrv.
ed rights, as we'll as our United States constitu.
tional rights.--N. y Journal of Commerce.