The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-29
our senators and their Resolutions l..

In the coming political contest it is more
than probable that matters OF practical in
terest will enlist the attention Of the
people to a greater extent than alb
stract propositions concerning the the
cries OF government. 1t will not APP
pear wise for the people of this country
to make desperate fight over the relation
of the federal to the state governments, while
the rights of the people under both are
being abused by the spirit of plunder.
1t would not be wise for a crew to be quar-
reliDg over the course of ship while the
hold is filing with water. This Is about the
political situation at present, and the ship
of state needs most of all to have the pumps
manned and the decks cleared.
But since our Indiana senators have
thought 1t proper to introduce the subject
of state and federal relations in the Senate,
and the press seems disposed to discuss
the questions involved, we have evidence
that this matter of the relation of the states
to the federal union is not dead issue, and
that the people of the states are not indiffer-
emit to the subject.
The very nature of our government, 1t
would seem, would decide at once the general
soundness of Mr.. McDonald's propositions.
There has been some progress in theories of
governments in a hundred years, and there
have been some amendments of the original
contract since the original charter of rights
was coded by the states. The very fact that
these changes have taken place by the con-
cession and approval of the states, aud could
not become a part and parcel of the fed
eral constitution without such conces-
sion. Is prima facie evidence, without
more argument, that there are yet reserved
rights that belong to sovereign states. 1t
was by the ratification of the states that the
constitution was adopted and given force,
though its preamble sets forth its ordina-
ton by ave, the people of the United
States" The plain meaning Of the letter of
the constitution itself can bear no other con-
struction than that the federal government
possesses no sovereign powers not conceded
by the states. But while these truths seem
to be plain, yet the continual assumption Of
powers by the federal organism, which have
been tscitly admitted, has given strength
to ideas of Capitalization and
unity in sovereign power, while only q
UNION Oh powers Is cOntoLupldIoO UNJUST INC
constitution.
OF course, an organic instrument drawn
up by the hands of men could not be per-
feet, and hence there has arisen this contro-
vsrsy of reserved rights vested in the states
and not conceded to the united power.
Some of these differences have been
defined by amendment stating in pos
tive terms what congress shall not do.
Among these, the amendment prohibiting
the establishment OF a national religion by
law is one. Other differences have been
settled by the sword, as the power of seces-
sion. II the spirit of Capitalization contin-
ues to increase ss 1t bas apparently done
under Republican administration, then this
question will soon become the vital issue
before the people, and the question will be-
come one of revolution. If, however, the
conservative view on this subject prevails,
we may have another hundred years of
national existence of union of sovereign
states