Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-02

state in this Union against invasion and Oh
application of the Legislature, or of the exc
cutive (when the legislature cannot be
convened) against domestic violence"
Notwithstanding, fellow-c citizens, you have
been unjustly deprived of many of the adj
vantages resulting from timely admission;
Notwithstanding you have been deprived as
yet of the five per cent. Of the sales OF
many millions of acres of the public lands
within your limits Notwithstanding the at
tempts of our neighboring states to make
inroads into your borders, and notwith-
standing that in this system of encroach-
ment and oppression, Congress have been
induced (probably) by misrepresentation to
throw obstacles in our way, and still refuses
us a voice in the councils Of the nation, un-
less upon terms humiliating in their nature,
and highly injurious in their consequences
yet we know you love the Union, that you
are attached to the Federal constitution,
that you will cling to it with the most deter
mined perseverance, and that nothing short
of continued system of injustice and OPP
preston on the part of Congress could pos
silly wean you from this attachment-You
would even make great sacrifices for the
general good, and for the peace and tran
guilty of the country: and with this know
ledge of your sentiments, while we cannot
sanction, in your behalf, the exercise of
powers by congress not delegated but
expressly forbidden, we invite mutual CO.
operation of the people of the states interested
for the settlement, upon terms of reciproci-
ty, of all questions affecting their respective
sovereignties; a subject over which Con-
gress have no further control than to con-
cur (as in the case Of New York and New
Jersey in any compact which the states in
terested may deem fit and proper (by the
appointment of commissioners, and the ac-
ton of their respective legislatures to en-
ter into. Whenever your brethren of Ohio
may see fit to entrust the political manage
ment Of their interests to men who cherish
at heart the best interests of their state and
of the Union, and not the particular interest
of knot OF selfish spectators, and would
take the first step toward the final adjust
ment of our difficulties, we are confident
that you would endeavor to forgetthe insults
and injuries which you have received, and
meet them upon terms Of even-handed JUS
tice and liberality.
We believe the Constitution of Michigan
has survived the first blow of misnamed er-
pediency and it is our most ardent desire
that the people will ever rally around their
own compact, and preserve it from the Sc
vering stroke of outward foes or domestic
enemies; and that If it should at any time
hereafter require alteration or amendment,
that it may be performed as the free, un.
biassed and sovereign act of its own people,
in precise accordance with its own provi-
sions; and that it may not be affected by
an attempt at coercion or summary inter-
ference on the part Congress, who have no
right to interfere with the internal concerns
Of the individual States of the Confederacy.
five suffer our fundamental law to be bat.
tered down by the arbitrary action of Con-
gress, and our limits to be enlarged and d.
minished at their will, we lose at once our
sovereignty our constitution is destroyed +;
our legislation has not the shadow of a
foundation to rest upon; our official agents
become destitute of authority; and we, fell
low-citizens, become at once the victims OF
government of erpediency, or fall from
necessity back into state of nature, CON-
PEELED, as the least of evils, to form for our.
selves new government, under which
ourselves and our posterity would alone be
secure. Let us avoid so dangerous a cri.
sis and cheerfully yield vigilant support
to our constitution as it was formed, leaving
it for congress to relieve themselves from
any difficulties with which they may have
become entangled, during Gas we hope) a
temporary age of erpediency.
The Congress of the United States hav-
ing, by decided majority of both houses,
sanctioned by the signature of our illustrious
Chief Magistrate, guaranteed to this people
that their constitution of government is of a
republican character; and as the conven.
ton of Michigan have denied the right Of
Congress to annex the condition contained
in the second section of the act of admis.
sion, they, in behalf of their fellow citizens,
call, with every sentiment of Difference and
respect upon the senators and representa-
tative elected under our constitution, to
make a formal demand of their right to
seats, on the first day Of the ensuing ses-
sion Of Congress, as the representatives Of
the sovereign people of this state.
In the choice Of their Delegates by your
Convention, who have been requested to visi,
Washington, it is but proper to say, that
they are clothed with no official power; mol
is ii at all imperative upon the state to pay
them for their services; they 90 as, and in
behalf of, the friends of Michigan, to CO.
operate with our legally constituted agents
in defence Of "the cause, the interests and
the RIGHTS of the state"
1t is with regret that we must state to YOU
fellow-citizens, that in the rejection of the
terms annexed to our admission in the
Union, proposed to us by Congress, your
Convention were not unanimous; notwith.
standing that wo unanimously protested
against the right of Congress to impose fol-
our performance any condition incompatible