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

vi 1910 even remotey refers 10 any cnange
in our southern boundary; and the question
here very properly arises, did not congress
in the clause which we have quoted virtual. |
| ly become party to the eventual formation
of the fin state, in that part of the north
west territory lying west of Lake Michigan,
subject only to the single reservation that
said territory might be attached to one or
more of the three southern states--a right
which congress has never yet exercised,
and probably never will, as it would be
depriving the inhabitants there of one of the
principal rights plainly indicated by the or
dinance, that of selEgovernment under a
constitution of their own creation.
! With regard, fellow citizens, to the dis
trict of country proposed to be annexed to
Michigan, lying west of Lake Michigan,
and forming from its geographical position
a part of the .t3th state instead of the fourth,
we will indulge single remark. No as
sent which your convention could give
would legally constitute it part of our
sovereignty--if congress have not in fact
long since expended their power in the
division of the two northern states, and have
power to deprive the people of any portion
of the state (in embryo) Of Wisconsin of
the right of living under q fundamental law
Of their own creation, which we are not
prepared TO admit, the jurisdiction of Mic
higan must rest (if at ally upon the extern
sion of its laws over the district Of country
so annexed to our state. We doubt the
power of congress or Of the people of Mich
igan TO force the constitution Of this state
upon any portion of the people Of the N.
w. Territory, residing beyond its boun-
, daries, and who have never participated in
ITS formation. Such q supposltion is at
variance with the clear intent and meaning
| of the ordinance of 1887, which distinctly
provides for the formation of not less than
/ three nor more than five states in the N. w.
Territory, and secures TO the people Of the
, states SO to be formed the right of forming
for themselves permanent constitutions Of
r government, with this single reservation
that they shall be of republican character.
: We will here, fellow citizens, briefly allude
to the steps taken by yourselves, in accord
/ ance with the compact and law of 1905, in
: the formation of the fabric which now forms
. the basis OF your government, and in the
3 involate maintenance of which much of
: your future happiness and prosperity must
0 depend. After repeated applications to
S the congress of the United States for the
h passage of special act authorizing the
a call of convention; after your population
t had increased to double the number possess
G sed by either of the three southern states
d on entering this Union; and after the rep
Y resentatives Of certain of those states had,
S with spirit of illberality which can never
h be forgotten, successfully resisted your ap-
d plication: your local legislature, whose
Y acts and doings during our existence as a
y Territory. were subject to supervision and
l. repeal by Congress, after first providing for
V the taking of q census of our inhabitants,
d (see act Of 9th Sept. l934,) proceeded 10
j. the call of q convention of delegates with
IS a view to the formation of permanent
l. constitution, (see act Of Jan. 20, 1851
Congress, by failing to exercise the power
c of repeating these very acts, in force ora
Y tually passed during the three distinct ses-
o sions Of that body, and over which they
n had for a time an undisputed control, be-
Y came themselves an acquicscing party thro'
Y all the various prelimnaries incident to the
is formation of our government hence they
o have now no power TO alter or abridge the
n rights of the people under it. And after
% acknowledging our constitution, which was
n suffered to sleep like stray bantling for
o many months upon their tables, to be re.
n publican in its character, are we not, as
d we'll by our own acts of sovereignty as by
Is the full and only action which it is possible
is for congress to take in the premises STATE
ID OF THE UNION, presenting the anatomy Of
y an independent sovereignty deprived, by
l. the arbitrary exercise of powers no where
delegated, of a representation in the Nations
l. al Councils !. a. .,..s. ~, ,....... ..s g
4 II is believed no citizen Of the UnitcC
h States who has infinitely and impartially
le examined the ordinance of 'S7 and the sub
l. sequent action of congress can arrive at a.
sr ny other result than that Michigan has ar
ID undisputed right 10 her representative; share
4 in the halls of congress without mutilator
is or ACKNOWLEDGMENT; and wesappea 20 you
Id fellow-ctizens, and confidently ask you, was
In it not with this expectation, that you lief
0. your native homes and voluntarily endured
b, the privations and hardships incident .tc
lis forming settlements in this state Was i
at not with this hope that you cheerfully pait
IS, your hard earned money into the treasury
I'd of the United States for home for your
Ia selves and your children, and by your init
Il. ring industry, converted much Of it from {
,f bowling wilderness into bountiful fields
c. Your own experience or the history of con
u gress did not warrant you to doubt or sus
v, poet their faith-nor could you believe tina
h. in your case they would at once depart from
IN all their former rules Of action and adop
to one founded on favoritisn, expediency ant
c. injustice.
r. And shall our long and fondly chcrishet
n. hopes be disappointed? Must Michigan
he participate in the national councils (if at all
b.. mutilated, humhled and degraded? Mus