Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-08-24
From the Tecum.eh Democrat,

FROM the Iecumscn democrat.
We have read the proceedings of the
Monroe meeting of the 9th inst. with sincere
regret, not that we would in the least abridge
their perfect freedom of action or opinion,
but in discussing questions of grave import,
particularly in the proceedings Of primary
assemblies of the people, we do think
that dignifed decorum should be preserv-
ed, equally above an indulgence in the use
of abusiue epithets or the exhibition of per-
sonal hostility.
Both in the resolutions and address which
were adopted at the meeting, there is great
want of this decorstm /; but whilst they Free
ly indulge in such epithets as highacay rob-
berry" art and deception" attempts
of persons to barter" insult" injury"
&c. there is as great a want of sound and
candid reasoning and argument as there is
a profusion of assertion and vituperation.
We had not expected from some who at
tended that meeting comparison of the
Congress of the nation to highway robbers
or an insinuation that those who differed
from them as to the propriety of asserting
to the boundary of our state, as prescribed
in the act for our admission, were DESTROYS
of bartering" the rights of our state, and
endeavoring, by "art and deception to in
duce the people to yield their rights" And
who are they by whom this charge is pre-
ferred. There are fifteen persons whose
names appear in the proceedings Of that
meeting, and by whom it must be consider.
ed as made, and we would ask in all candor
if they consider themselves purer patriots
or more enlightened honorable men than
those whom they have thus branded with
treachery.
The denunciation of the "pwblic press
If orr state in general, and the special male.
diction of our friend of the Detroit Free
Press in particular, will prove as impoten
as the threat by which it is accompanied is
ridiculous and the charge comes with an
i'll grace from an assemblage of men whose
special organ (the late Michigan Sentinel,
has been entirely devoted to the sheeres
abuse of all and every one who would no
admit the infallibility of its own positions.
From this charge against the public press
made by fifteen individuals (there may have
been more whose names do not appear) who
have solemnly resolved themselves into az
the freemen of Michigan" we appeal to the
whole body of intelligent freemen of oul
state, and if they do not say on the SECOND
of September, that they prefer peace anc
prosperity in the Union, as one of the brigh
galaxy of the stars of freedom, although al
they believe deprived of portion of thei
rightful territorial jurisdiction, to the con
! fusion, anarchy and WAR irrevocably at
tendent upon refusal to assent" we vii
frankly own that we gave them credit fo
more wisdom, intelligence and virtue thar
we ought.
We say car, because the citizens of Mon
roe at the meeting above mentioned, mos
, solemnly resolved that they aoould at al
times and By EVERY constitutional means ii
their power, resist!!! Yes, resist is thu
: WORD epery encroachment on our jurisdic
ton and for state uut OF the Union, Wit
; no means of bringing the question befor'
the supreme court, and with every other de
partment of the general government pledg
ed against them, there is no possible or con
> stitutional means of resistance left but al
appeal TO force.
Fellow citizens of Michigan, are you pre-
pared for this resort, or will you say tina
, you would rather submit to injustice witt
your honor untarnished, than be the first {,
strike paracidal blow at the glorious struc
ture Of our Union.