Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-10-04
NUMBER 60.

This fact should be kept in mind. The
question then presents itself: DID HE AS
GovERNoR OF THE STATE, EVER sURREN-
DER THAT JURISDICTION We answer
No never! When a territory, he
chung to it with fearless pertinacity and
an adherence to duty, that caused his dis
naissal from the office he then held, by the
President ofthe United States. How, then,
and by whom was it surrendered? If it
was treason, let the traitor be known and
SEQ rned. But calm reflection and ascafes
ful examination, shonld precede the forma.
ton of righteous judgment. We usk you
to look mt the case. How was it surren.
dered We answer-by the act of the na-
honal legislature, who, by the constitution
of the United States, claimed ample power
in the premises. If there was treason to
Michigan in the act, let the authors DO
searched for in the halls of Congress. The
law alluded to, ioaS pos,tiUe in its terms,
and unequivocal IN its provisions. Read il,
and how speedily the mist of unjust accu,
sation Is dispelled. 1t is entitled !" An act
to settle the northern boundary of Ohio"
By its lst, I'd and Sd sections, it is irrevo..
cably fixed, witliout requiring the assent of
Michigan, the boundary line between this
state and the state of Ohio, Indiana, and II,
lnois, and rank injustice as il was, what
power or authority known to the supreme
law of the land, could repeal or overturn
it? This act was approved and became q
law on the 23d Of June. 1886. The act
for the admission of Michigan, with Ger.
tain conditions, was Of prior date, pir. June
the 18th, 1886. So far then, as this last
act may have conficted with the provisions
of the first it was repealed by the opera.
ton OF the rule of construction familiar to
us all, viz that the last enactment should
prevail over the first. How then did Gov.
ernor Mason surrender the right of Mich:
gan to the territory in dispute? Ii was
wrested from us without his consent, by
the constitutional authority Of our common
country. His mere word or official acts
could not repeal law of the United States.
And had he the power, as Governor of the
state. to resist the general government in
the execution of their laws, because they
did. not conform to his views Of right, or
suit the wishes of his constituents No!
Southern Notification has not gained adj
herents at the North and, ifhe had made
such an attempt, well indeed might his ad-
vocates have justly termed him traitor to
his country.
But, it is alleged that he assented to tho
admission of Michigan into the Union as q
free and sovereign state, and therefore
compromised her rights. If this consti-.
tutes him traitor, how many thousands of
the electors Of Michigan are obnoxious to
the same charge. His assent was an in
dividual, not an official net. II was given
in common with others at the ballot.box, on
a question of vast importance to the people,
and on which there was an honest differ.
ence of opinion among those whose integ,
rity and attachment to Michigan could not
be questioned. The inference is unjust as
mission as a state under the law Of the 18th
of Jnne, was surrender to Ohio of the
disputed jurisdiction, yielded to her preui-
ously, by the only power which could do So
in the unconditional law Of the 23d Of
June, 1886. The question of assent, was
q question of admission to all the constitu-
tional immunities and privileges of one Of
the sovereign states of the Union. 1t was
distinct from and did not effect the question
of boundary. That had been already fixed
beyond the control of Michigan, and, II
was an obvious conclusion, that by refusing
to assent, VIC gained nothing and perilled
much. Instead, therefore, of indulging in
epithets of REASONABLE import, it would DO
more honorable in, the opponents Of Mr..
Mason, to treat the subject with truth and
candor; and although many Of them DIFF
fered from him in the policy Of becoming a
state, it should be remembered, that their
! faUorite candidate for Gorcrnor ,oas. at the
time equally as liable to the charge Of trea-
, son TO Michigan, in desiring her speedy adj
f mission into the Union.
: But the expedition to Toledo, under ter
. ritorial authority, is hurled in Mr.. Masons
face, as adding force and virulence to the
] charge of treason. How little does this
+ charge bear the test Of examination. In
the summer of 1884, Mr.. Mason became
. acting Governor of the territory, and con.
, tinued as such until superseded by Mr..
+ Horncr in the fall Of 1885. While thus
holding this responsible station under the
President of the United States, the legis-
lative council of the territory passed az, or
dinance highly penal in its nature, and pro.
/ hibitory of the exercise of any authority
{ within the territorial limits other, than tha
, emianating from the territory or the United
!. States; and the acting Governor was cal
(. led upon by his oath of Office to see tht
Q law faithfully executed. The southern
!. boundary Of the territory extended to the
i banks of the Maumee. Now, this orli
5 nance was openly violated by land specu'
: lators resident in the village Of Toledo
!, the process Of the territory was dlsregardet
g and treated with contempt; her ministers
g of. Justice were insulted, interrupted ant
y resisted, in the execution of their office
and all this outrage publicly justified anc
!. defended, by the Executive and Legislature
!, of Ohio. In open defiance Of the consti
), tuition of the United States, and without thu
# scnction ofan act Of Congress, Ohio threat
Q ened to take forcble possession aud mo
naced the then existing territory of Mehi
r gan with an armed invasion. Counties
n were laid off and directed to be oraganizct
/, within her boundary. The Judiciary o
= Ohio was directed TO meet at Toledo, aht
open court under Ohio laws, and her mill
|. tary called to arms to sustain her preten
!. sions, with every innammatory appeal 4
-. ...-.,>,, and nride.