Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-07-20

IOT lnc people. All THAT VIC can 90 is, 10
pass the necessary law required for send
ing them to our fellow citizens for their de-
cision. The details of such a-law are left
to your judgment; they will readily occur
to you, and Recommend its passage at as
early day as will meet your conven-
fence.
| find it difficult, fellow-citizens, to sup
press the feelings which are naturally excl
ted upon this occasion, or to allude to this
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of our territory in that re-
spectful language, which is perhaps due to
those by whose hands it has been effected.
feel as every citizen of Michigan must feel,
that the decision of congress has been made
in violation of every principle of Justice, and
that to ccnsure where it is due, is the pre-
rogative Of the people; that the result of
their labors, is, but the triumph of might
over right, based upon considerations of
temporary expediency; and that the stamp
OF its Legitimacy, is to be wrung from the
unwilling assent Of a patriotic and high
minded people. In fact, the question of
right between the parties has been avowed-
ly disregarded by congress, and their ac-
ton placed upon the exclusive ground of
expediency: thus establishing precedent,
which must work evil of the utmost magni-
tude to our civil institutions, and which if
persisted in whenever individual or section
al interests may demand it, will convert a
government of laws into the most oppross-
i've and worst of despotisms-a govern
ment of expediency.
The grounds upon which we have based
our claims to the district of country in con-
testation with Ohio, have so fully been
brought before you, and are SO fully under
stood, that it would prove unnecessary if
not supererogatory to recapituate them.
Ii is sufficient to state, that they are deriv-
ed from the compact with Virginia of sew
enteen hundred and eighty seven, and the
act of congress Of eighteen hundred and
five, by which the people of Michigan had
secured to them, separate government,
with expressly defined and irrevocable boun-
diaries. The claim of the state of Ohio, if
it existed at all, must have been one set up
by color of law arising from the conflicting
Legislation of the general government and
should consequently have been referred for
adjustment to the judicial tribunals of the
country. But congress have decreed 9TH
erwise, and have assumed to themselves
exclusive jurisdiction over the subject; they
decide, that of right neither party can claim
the territory in dispute, but that as ques-
ton of simple expediency it is given to Ohio.
Such are the reasons upon which congress
base system of Legislation, vitality affecting
the rights of community, claiming under
q compact to which the United States were
party, and for the sacred fulilment Of
which they had given the solemn guaran-
tee of their faith.
/ However much the people of Michigan
may doubt the power Of the general gov
eminent to alter the constitutional bounda-
ries of their state, they would have yielded
respect to their Legislation from patriotic
| considerations, had congress been content
with the simple exercise Of that power.
They would have declared as they now do
{ the legislation to be unconstitutional, but as
, citizens of the United States, they would
have silently acquiesced in it, appealing to
t another tribunal for the peaceable and con-
stitutional redress secured TO them by the
institutions of their country. But they were
denied such an alternative, and are driven
to other MISUNDERSTANDING or unqualifi-
cd submission. We are told, that we shall
not question the proceedings of congress,
and that unless we give our assent to a sys-
tenn of Legislation, which we. believe to be
oppressive, illegal and unjust, we shall be
denied the right of admission into the Un-
, ion on an equal footing with the original
states. Thus are we to be deprived of one
{ right, unless we surrender another equally
sacred, the right of appeal to the federal
: judiciary right secured to the humbles
: individual, who may desire to approach Q
e tribunal, framed to protect him against In
Q justice and oppression, and intended tc
!, check the different departments of our gov.
J, eminent, in the exercise of arbitrary and
G unconstitutional power.
It If congress possess the power to alto
!. our boundaries, and to annex the disputed
f territory to Ohio, then is the act which they
|, have passed, the supreme law of the land
s any thing in the constitution of the state O
S Michigan to the contrary. BY the secon'
/ section of the fifth article of the federal con
), stitution it is declared, that this constltu
j. "tion and the laws of the United State
(which shall be made in pursuance thereof
l. " shall be the supreme law of the land ant
h "the Judges of every state shall be boun'
/. " thereby, any thing in the constitution O
N claws Of any state to the contrary notwitn
a " standing" What stronger security coul'
ID be required by the state of Ohio, Tor th'
$. protection of her rights, than this, if thu
n mower which has been exercised by con
$. gress belongs to themi If the act of con
,r gress be passed in pursuance of the consti
r. tuition ofth United States, it is the suprem
!. law of the land, and the judges Of the court
z. of Michigan are bound to obey its provi
,e sions, "any thing in our state constitution
p to the contrary Notwithstanding" | woul'
d ask then, if the sanction required by tn
people of Michigan to this legislation, doe
a not imply doubt on the part of congress