Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-30


tho Governor, to be by him transmitted to our
Senators and Representative in congress.
DAVID C. MINISTRY,
MA RSHAL J. BACON,
ROSS WILKINS, Committee.
JOHN MDONELL,
CHARLES w. WHIPPLE,
DETROIT, Nov. IL, 1886.
Sir: I'll have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of the proceedings of a meeting of tn,
citizens af the county of Washtenaw, through
the medium of delegates appointed for thc9 Air-
pose, requesting me to take such measures for
calling another convention, with the design of
giving the assent required by the act of congress
of June Is, 1896, that tho admission of tho
state, into the union, may be perfected prior to
the first day ofJanuary next. My attention had
besn previously called to the subject by conven-
tion Of delegates for the county of Wayne, and
with an anxious desire to discharge any duty in
cumbcnt upon me where the interests OF the
state are in question, ] have cndeayored to give
it tn, consideration and reflection, which its i'm.
portance seems to demand.
1t is not my province, here to enter into dis
cussion Of the relative merits of the question OF
admission, or admission Of the state into tho
union, upon thu terms prescribed by the act OF
congress. The subject has long been placed be-
TO- the people, has been fully discussed, and is
no doubt, now understood by them.
Tho object to BE- attained by an admission into
tho union previous to tn, first day Of January is,
TO enable tn, state to receive that portion Of tia
public deposits and the revenue derived from the
sale Of public lands, which would be assigned TO
Michigan if a state of the coafsdcracy by that
period. She would receive from these sources a
revenue, amounting to between five and six hun
drcd thousand dollars. The loss Of this to tn
people of Michigan, struggling as they are, und 1
all the endorsements incident to the com.
mencem,nt and early operations of the govern
ment of an infant state, will prove unfortunate In
its consequences. The benefits to the STATE, re-
sultng from it's uso in the public improvements
of the country will readily occur to every citizen
That Michigan will lose this fund if not admit
ted into the union by the first of January, is now
placed beyond the possibility Of cavil or doubt
Unless them a convention can be assembled in
season, to perfect the admission Of the stat
prsvioNs TO the above IN ,ntioncd day, the occt Il
in contemplation by that portion ofmy follow cit
lions who have addressed me, would, in grca
measure, if not entirely fail.
It is impossibls, find, IL desired, to conven
tl, legislature at this lat, dry, so as to cnabl
a convention to assemble under Legislative enact
ment and complete their deliberations previous I,
tho FIRST of January. The convention of Wayn
county have sugg ,stcd, that Il should issue
proclamation recommending tho election Of dele
I gates to another convention, whenever satisfied
that minority of the people are aversc to tho de
: cision ofthe late convention holden at Ann Al
|, Dor. MY powers and duties in such an event
are subject to question and doubt. The recon
elections may afford the testimony desired, bu
7 the discretionry powers and duties in question
are not conferred upon the Executive, in his off
i cial capacity. If the power to recommend til
Il IF ,laU tn m
s discretion, was vested in him by law, he migf
4 Justly DO called upon for its exercise. Withor
Q this authority, his proclamation for the purpos
. could b, deemed nothing moro than the recon
d mondation of an individual citizen, stamped onl
with tbs superficial and unauthorized sanction
r an official signet.
q 1t is asked IL the proceedings Of the late An
# Arbor convention are final upon tho people
n Michigan, and if there is no appeal from their
% cision7 The answer is plain. If tho peop
,. should DO represented by unfiithful agents;
Is they should be temporarily misled by the distor
" ed representations of designing men, having
r view the effsctuation of personal or political
70 jects; il in the ardor Of an honest zsal or Ju
Is pride, they should become involved in ombarras
ID ments, and hazard their dearest and highest !
Oh terests, there must be rom,dy left to thom
70 which they can ward of tho blow thus about
be inflicted upon the state.
10 Ihat remedy Is with the people themselves
10 They are sovereign, and are essentially the sour
r. of all state power. Sovereignty appertains
o. them alone, and they have an inherent and ind
Of feasabe right in all cases Of propositions comi'
to before them in their original capacity, to ]
yers, tho acts of their agents if found prejudice
to their interests, and decree such as accord wi
p their welfare and happiness In such cases,
no their wishes and instructions arc violated, I
acts Of their agents become usurpation, whett
m, effected through fraud, contrivance or forcc.
la Tho proposition contained in tho act Of CO
lu- gross Of June Is. 1886, 10 made to the people
m Michigan-so the people in their original eaPa
,b- ~. Ii is not proposition to the legislature,
di- any other department of tho government of
chigan, or all the departments Of the governm'
70, combined. 1t US made to the people alone. q
me they may decide upon Il, either submitted
nj them through tho indirect agency OF their st
legislature, or may originate tho necessary TO