The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-12


But all these limitations upon what was possible
still left large range Of anxiety as TO what was
probable and might become actual. One thing was
too essential to be left uncertain and the founders Of
this nation determined that there never should be
moment when the several communities of the differ
ent colonies should lose the character of component
parts Of one nation By their plantation and growth
| up to the day OF the Declaration OF Independence
| they subjects of ose sovereignty, bound to-
| gether in political connexion, parts of
country, un4s one constitution, with one destiny
Accordingly the Declaration, by its very terms made
of 1.-The political bands that have connected them
with another" and the proclamation Of the right
| aud Of the fact Of independent nationality was,
''that these united cOlO1es are, and of right ought
| TO be, free and independent States
It was thus that, at one breath, Independence
aud union were declared and established. The con-
hrmatiO7 of the first by war, and of the second by
civil vision, but the execution Of the single de-
sign, which it is the glory Of this great of
national existence have framed and announced.
The recognition Of Independence first by France.
and then by Great Britain the closer union by the
articles OF confederation, and the final unity by the
Federal Constitution all but muniments of title
Of that Liberty and union, aud INSOFAR able,
which proclaimed this place. and this day,
one hundred years ago, which have been our posses
| sion from that moment hitherto, and which
surely avow shall be sur possession forever.
| Seven yea 5 Of revolutionary and twelve years
OF cOnsummate civil prudence brought in to
the conclusive peace Of 1888 aud to the perfected Con-
stitutiOn of 1857 Few chapters of the worlds his
tory covering such brief periods crowded with
many illustrious Names or made up of events of
deep and permanent interest to mankind. l cannot
these incidents, OF to renew the gratitude and APP
plause with which never to contemplate
them Ii is only their relation to the Declaration of
Independence itself that need to insist upon and 10
the new State which it brought into existence In
this view these progressive processes were but the
articulation of the members of the State and
Jusment OF its circulation TO the centres of its
vital power. These processes were all implied and
included in this political creation and
sary and as certain ii it TO languish and
die, as in any natural creature.
Within the hundred years whose fight in our
tOnal history we mark to-day we have had occasion
to corroborate by both the independence and the
unity Of the nation. In war against England
for neutrality we asserted and established the alb
solute right 70 be free of European entangements in
time of war well as in time of peace, and so
pleied our Independence of Europe. And by the
Of the constitutional war within the nation the
bonds of our unity tried and tested as in a
fiery furnace, and proved TO be dependent upon
shifting vicissitudes of acqueseence, partial dis
sents or discontents but tar is practicable of
human fortunes, irreyocable, indestructible, pea
petual CasibHs kGe Hullis, nuIIo deLeJiIis 0Uo.
We may be quite that the high resolve to stake
the future OF great people upon system of society
and of polity that should dispense wkh the dogmas
the experience, the traditions, the habits and the
sentiments upon which the firm and durable fabric of
the British constitution had been built up
taken without sOlictOus and competent survey Of
the history the condition, the temper aud the moral
decisive step was taken.
1t may indeed be suggested that the main body of
the clements and large share Of the arrangements
of the new government were expected be upon the
model OF the British SYSTEM and that the substan-
tias Of civil and religious liberty and the instu
lions for their maintenance and defense already
the possession of the people of England aud the
birthrght of the cOlonists. But this consideration
does not much disparage the responsibility assumed
in discsrding the correlative parts of the British
| constitution. L mean the established church and
| throne; the permanent power Of a hereditary peer
age the confinement of popular representation to the
wealthy and educated classes; and the ideas of all
participation by the people in their government
coming by gracious concession from the royal pre-
rogative and not by inherent right in themselves.
Indeed, the counter consideration, far the
question was to be solved by experience, would be
ready one. The foundation, and the walls, and the
roof of this firm and noble edice, it would be said,
are all htly framed together in the substantial nsti
tutiOns you propose to omit from your plan and
model The convenience and safety and freedom; the
pride and happiness which the inmates of this tenn
pie and fortress enjoy the rights and liberties of
Englishmen are only kept In place and play because
of the firm structure of these ancient stronghoIdso
religion and law which YOU now desert and refuse to
build anew.
Our fathers had formed their opinions upon wiser
and deeper views of man and Providence than these;
and they had the courage of their opinions.
| Tracing the progress Of mankind in the ascending
path Of civilization, enlightenment and moral and
intellectual culture they found that the Divine
dinance of Government in every stage Of the ascent
was adjustable principles of common TO
the actual condition Of people, and always had for
its objects in the benevolent counsels Of the Divine
wisdom. the happiness the expansion, the security,
he elevation Of society, and the redemption Of man,
They sought in vain for any title of authority Of
higher moraty TSeP found tbe orsn of cas sne
and ranks, and prncipalities and powers, temporal
or spiritual, in this conception. They recognized
the people the structure, the temple the fortress,
which the great Artihcer all the while cared for and
built up. As through the long march of time this
| work advanced, the forms and fashions of govern
ment seemed to them to be but the scaffoding and
apparatus by which the development of peoples
greatness shaped and sustained Satisfied that
| the people whose institutions were now to be pro-
jected had reached all that measure of strength and
fitness of preparation for selfgovernment which old
institutions could giyesthey fearessly seized the
happy opportunity to clothe the people with the
jestic attributes of their sovereignty and
| seerste them to the administration of their own
priesthood.
The reputation by England of the spiritual power
| of Rome at the Reformation by every estimate
stupendous innovation in the rooted allegiance Of
| the people, profound disturbance of all adjust
ments Of authority, But Henry MIL, when he
displaced the dominion Of the Pope, proclaimed him
self the head of the Church. The overthrow of the
ancient monarchy of France, by the fierce triumph
of an enraged people, catastrophe that shook
the arrangements of society from center to eircum
ference. But Napoleon, when he pushed aside the
royal line of st. Louis announced, 81 am the people
crowned" and set up plebeian Emperor as the inn
personaton and depositary in him aud his line for
ever Of the peoples sovereignty. The founders of
these colonies needed nterceptiOn of the supreme
control of their affairs, Cancellation of mere
names and images of power from which the pith and
vigor of authority had departed. They, therefore,
did not hesitate TO throw down the partitions OF
power aud right, and break up the distributiye
which, indeed, had ruled and advanced the develop
ment of society in civil and religious liberty, but
might well be neglected when the protected growth
assured, and all tutelary supervision, for this
reason henceforth could only be obtrusve and incon-
gruous.
glance at the fate of the English essay at com
monwealth, which preceded, and to the French ex-
pertinent at a republic, which followed our own in
stitution 'of new State, of a new Species, will
show the marvellous wisdom of ancestors, which
struck the line between too little and too much;
which walked by faith indeed for things invisible,
but yet by sight for shngs visible; which dared to
appropriate everything to the people which had be-
longed to Cesar, but to assume for mortals nothing
that belonged TO God.
No doubt il a elaboration of prodigious Diff
Guilty, and decision OF infinite moment, which
should settle the institutions of England after
the execution Of the King and determine whether