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

! than those touched upon in our first num-
Der, worthy Of serious regard in contem-
plating the importance Of giving our assent
to the congressional condition Of admission.
3. The value Of our part of the surplus
revenue of the nation, and of the five per
cent. fund for interal Improvement, cannot
be less, on the first of January, than five or
six hundred thousand dollars. The five
per cent. fund will continue to add to our
revenue, for internal Improvement, as long
as any public lands shall last in Michigan,
not only in the Peninsula, but in the ad.
dition made to our state on the shore OF
Lake Superior. These two items alone
will, besides their intrinsic value, afiording
immediate means for the construction of
roads and canals, enable the state to com.
mand credit with eastern capitalists TO the
amount of several millions, and will re-.
lieve our people from any material taxation,
during several years for the support Of the
state government. The five per cent. may
be applied to the payment OF the interest
upon loans effected for purposes of inter.
nal Improvement, while our share of the
surplus revenue may be SO arranged as to
be applied to those purposes at once. Let
any citizen of Michigan travel one hundred
miles into the state, or let him converse
with those who have travelled, in summer,
or winter, and he will be convinced, be-
yond all doubt, of the absolute necessity
which demands the immediate construction
of railroads on all the great routes through
the state. Turnpike roads will not answer
the purpose. We have nothing but clay
of which to make them, In bad weather,
and even in good weather, they are soon
rendered almost impossible, except at the
risk Of life or person, and with the certain
ty of great damage to property. When
such tide of migration is coming to the
west, and while rapid increase of popula.
ton will contribute SO immensely to the
early settlement, cultivation, and wealth of
Michigan, we should, if possible, surpass
the neighboring states in improving the ia.
cililies of travelling, and presenting every
possible inducement to migrants to come
into the state. Good roads for travelling,
with wagon, furniture and other property,
are among the strongest inducements to
emigration among us. We can command
neither money nor credit 10 make roads,
until we become state of the Union, and
settle down into condition of regular,
tranquil and permanent government. The
same or similar remarks are applicable to
the necessity and Importance Of the speedy
construction of canals for purposes of trade
and commerce from Lake to Lake, and in
every direction through the state. The
sales of the salt.spring lands, which, judi
ciously located, will be worth, at ten dol
lars per acre, upwards Of four hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, may also be applied
The act of congress prohibits the state
from selling, or leasing for more than ten
years, the salt springs only. 1t does not
prohibit the sale Of the six sections of con.
tiguous land granted to each of them; and,
besides. the probability is, that the prohibi-
ton will be repealed as regards the springs
themselves. Here, then, is another valuable
source Of state revenue, which we can re-
alize only on our admission into the Union.
The sixth part of all the public lands in
the state is given to us for purposes Of ed
ucation and, added to this, seventy two
sections have been granted for the estab-
lishment Of colleges or universities. These
two resources will amount to millions, TO
be applied to the inestimable improvement
of the intellectual condition Of the present
and future generations of Michigan youth.
But they will never be available till we 90
into the Union.
Shall we, can we, dare to put to hazard
all these incalculable advantages and bles.
sings. or TO postpone indefinitely the time
for beginning to realize them, by continuing
an idle, an Improbable, hopeless contest
for boundary, which has passed from us
never to be restored while we are out of
the Union, if at all, under any circumstan-
ces? Let us, fellow citizens, on this occa-
sion, and on this subject, so pregnant with
the destiny Of our state, lay down for mo-
ment, the arms ofparty warfare, and unite
in obtaining our immediate admission into
the Union. When we have accomplished
that great object, we can then again put on
the armour, and assume the attitude, of
political controversy, and continue the
struggle for the ascendancy of principles,
measures, and men. Party spirit is essen.
tial in all free governments But there are
occasions, and this is one ofthem, when all,
wing snd democrat, republican and federal.
list, ought to act in concert for the attain.
ment of the common object-the elevation
of their growing and promising common.
wealth into the confederacy Of American
States.
q. BY the opposition to the organization
of our state government, and to our adj
mission into the union, Michigan, instead Of
being the twenty-flth state of the union, as
she was entitled to be, has suffered the
small southern state Of Arkansas to take
rank before her. She has suffered the
slaveholdlng states TO obtain an ascendancy
in the Senate and she has now to run the
risk OF being kept out Of the union by the
South until Florida shall be ready for ad.
mission, in order that the ascendancy of
the south, once obtained, shall be perpetua.
ted in the councils of the nation. Thus
has Michigan been shorn of her rank in the
union; and thus have those among us. who
pretend to be so invetcrately opposed TO
slavery, contributed to give to the friends
of slavery in the Senate majority Of
votes, and a controlling influence and now.
er. Let these unrenecting and inconsis.
tent gentlemen review their course, and re.
trace their steps. Let them promptly and
cordially cooperate in the vote to assent
to the congressional condition of our nd.