Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-23

season, 10 perfect the admission of the state
previous to the above mentioned day, the objects
in contemplation by that portion ofmy fellow cit
liens who have addressed me. would, in great
measure, if not entirely fail.
1t is impossible, fnd if desired, TO convene
the Legislature at this late day, SO as to enable
convention to assemble under Legislative enact.
ment and complete their deliberations previous to
the first of January. The convention of Wayne
county have sugg ,sted, that l should issue
proclamation recommending the election of dele.
gates to another convention, whenever satisfied,
that majority Of the people are avorse TO the de-.
cision ofthe late convention holden at Ann Ar
Dor. My powers and duties in such an event,
are subject to question and doubt. The recent
elections may afford the testimony desired, but
the discretonry powers and duties in question,
are not conferred upon the Executive, in his off,
cial capacity. If the power to recommend the
election ofdelegates to new convention at his
discretion, was vested in him by law, he might
Justly be called upon for its exercise. Without
this authority, his proclamation for the purpose,
could be deemed nothing more than the recon-
msndltion of an individual citizen, stamped only
with the superficial and unauthorized sanction of
an official signet.
1t is ask d If the procee lngs of the late Ann
Arbor convention are final upon tn, people of
"hu 'cIc 10 ~ dppcli lIOiH b'iciI
csion ? The answer is plain. If the people
should be represented by unflithful agents if
they should be temporarily misled by the dstort-
ed representations of designing men, hlving in
view the effsctuation of personal or political OBJ
jects; if in the ardor of an honest zeal or Just
pride, they should become involved in embarrass-
ments, and hazard their dearest and highest in
terests, there must be remedy left to them by
which they can ward off the blow thus about to
be inflicted upon the state.
That remedy is with the people themselves
They are sovereign and are essentially the source
OF all state power. Sovereignty appertains 10
them alone, and they have an inherent and inde-
feasible right in all cases of propositions coming
before them in their original capacity, to re.
verse the acts of their agents if found prejudicia
to their interests, and decree such as accord with
their welfare and happiness In such cases, il
their wishes and instructions are violated, the
acts of their agents become usurpation, whether
effected through fraud, Continuance or force.
The proportion contained in the act of con.
gress of June Is. 1896, is made to the people Of
Michigan-to the people in their original capaci
49, 1t is not proposition to the legislature, oil
any other department of the government of Mi
chigan, or all the departments of the government
combined 1t Is made TO the people alone. anc
they may decide upon it, either submitted t.
them through the indirect agency of their stats
Legislature, or may originate the necessary form
and proceedings among themselves without thi.
agency.
ffthe people of Michigan are averse to the de
cision of the late Ann Arbor convention, they
possess the right and power to reverse it. Tn
proposition made to the federal government il
one still standing open for their action, and il
permanent until accepted, withdrawn or repealed
by the power offering it. No previous act of
convention precludes its acceptance by the pso
pie at a subsequent day. The act of congress,
specifies, that the convention shall be I" con
venton of delegates elected by the people of the
state" No Legislative or executive agency is de
manded, and if the people are determined to maxi
another effort for the admission of the state pre-
vious to January, l would suggest as a mod
embarrassed by the fewest difficulties, that they
take the measure into their own hands, and by
delegates elected among themselves, they form
convention for the purposes contemplated by con
gress. No one can question their right so to do
No one can impeds their proceedings. If tn
decision OF their convention is the act ofthe peo
pie OF Michigan, clear and decisive majority O
the people, it is done in their original characte
OF sovereignty, will meet the design of congress
and will secure to us all the rights and privilege
OF sovereign state of the union.
| The state of Pennsylvania when it became ne
cessary to form constitution after her separation
| from Great Britain, performed the great worl
| through the agency of county committees. TIL
committee of Philadelphia proposed a conference
of the different county committees to be held il
that city, and which met in July l776. TIL
conferess on their assemblage and after matur
elaboration, recommended to the several counte
of the state, to elect delegates for each county
| meet in convention at Phadelphi, to form con
stitution and state govornmet. This convention
of which Benz min Franklin was president, me
and celebrated, and the result Of their delibera
| lions was tho formation of a constitution whic
| Doc lme the orglnic law ofths state. The fedora
congress at its two first sessions of l774 and IT'S
was nothing moro than populations from tn
several provinces, deriving their authority fror
the people in their original character. The &C
OF confederation, framed was by authority derive
from similar source, and the federal constitu
ton under which we now live, had its origin i
the accommodation of single state of the con
federacy. l cite these precedsnts not becaus
they are considered in all respects parallel to tn
case OF Michigan, but because they are familiar
and because thoy exhibit the inherent power
originally belonging to the psople, still vested il
then'' and ofright to be exercised by them whe
| acting in their original and primary capacity a
the source of all state sovereignty.
| In the event however, that the citizens O
| Washtenaw should recommend to their fellow
citizens the election of delegates to new con
'ohsiohs Wouiu hcie Suggcst, tnat tney also a0
| wise the preparatory meetings or convention
which may be held in each county, to memorial
ize congress for repeal of the condition of tn
. act Of June Is, 1886 Having a common inter
est at stake, it is the duty of every citizen I
make this last effort with the federal government
for the purpose of obtaining, if possible, the un
conditional admission of the state into the union
Should the appeal prove unavailing, the desire
object may still be accomplished by tn, assent o
the convention of delegates chosen in the manne
sugg ested by this communication, reserving at tn
same time to the people all their rights under tn
constitution Of the United States.
| With the expression Of hope, that whateve
measures the people may adopt on the importan
| question before them, will rebound to the homo
and prosperity Of the state, remain very re
spectfully your obedient servant.
STEVENS II. MASON.
EzEK'L PRAY, ESQ, President of the meetin,
| of the citizens of the county Of Washtenaw.
DOCUMENT, No. l..