Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fellow- Citisen5 Of the Senate
and House of Represenfatipes II:

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recommend to the legislature such matters as are
axpedent and essential to its permanent welfara
and prosperity.
la t. king retrospect of the past year, we find
much cause for congratulation The tide of inn
migration Is rapidly extending its course TO the
remotest borders OF the state, unprecedented health
has blessed the habit.tons of the people; album
dant harvests have crowned the exertions of the
agriculturist. Our cities and Villages are throng-
ing with an active and entcrprising popul tion !;
and notwithstanding the embarrassnients which
have surrounded us in relations To the fJdera
Union social ord'r has been preserved, and the
majesty OF the law has been supreme. Such are
the advantages which have been secured to us
during the past year, and should not overlook
ths high source from whose bounty they have
risen, and through whose providence and power
they are TO continue.
wish it were in my power, fellow citizens, to
communicate to you as my first duty, tbs honor
able and favorable accommodation of our Difficult
ties with the general government. The duty
trust. however, is postponed to distant day.
The convention which mbled under the act
OF July the twcnty-fifth, eighteen hundred and
thirty-six, and to whom was submitted the pro-
position Of the congress of the United States,
refused to acced, to the proposed terms of admis-
SION into the Union. A subsequent convention
of the people assembled without the sanction of
legislative or executive agency, have nevertheless
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rs prerequisite to our admission, reserving at
the same time to tn people of Michigan all their
rights under the constitution of the Unit d
States, and protesting against the constitu-
tionality OF the power exercised by ths fcde-
raj government. II does not perhaps, become
INC at this time, and in my present place. to de-
liberate upon the validity of the proceedings Of
this convention. IL is sufficient for me to state,
that 1T emanated with and from the exclusive
source of all political power, that it had its origin
in that declaration of your constitution which
asserts, that government is instituted for the be-
neht, protection and security of the governed
that it recognize the greatest good of ths great
est number as the vital principle of the socill
compact, and that its authority is the deliberate
will of the poopla.
am unauthorized to say in what light the au-
thorities of tbs U. s. will view tho assent given
by this convention. Whether it will be consid-
cred a compliance with the rcqusition of the act
of congress or not. L am unable to state. No
thing official has been received, that would JUS
tify conclusion on this point. Mother have I
been able to indulge reasonable hope that con-
gress will remove the obst icle to our admission,
Dy repeal of the obnoxious provisions of their
law, and permit the unconditional admission of
the state into the Union, as she is in justice and
right entitled.
My views of tho rights of Michigan under the
ordinance of seventeen hundred and eighty seven,
as repeatedly expressed to the Legislature, ROMAN
unaltered and unalterable. In the question OF
our admission into the Union, would yield ia
the general government nothing as a matter OF
right, unless the claim of power Clearly point
cd ont by the constitution and laws of the coun.
try. protest against the constitution ity Of AT
act Of congress prescribing any condition TO tn
admission of state into the f ,ral Union. ThJ
states themselves and tho judiciary the only
tribunals, COMPETENT to take cogniZance of con
TIM el .,fh hon, H.,
it is ,odless for us TO thooriz, longer upon alb
stract principles Of right, we are compelled {,
vi things as they are, and not as they should
: be. AT one period of The controversy the legisla
5 ton of congress was with u.s. II is now against
us. and We must resp, ct it. We ther fore spend
IA bootless grief, by delaying our admission into
the Union, and | deem IL your duty to extend
every aid in your power, by which Object 81
desirable, mty b, most ,rtainly accomplished
|, The interests of your constituents demand thi
/ 1t your hands; sound and prudent policy die
, tits il.
: The people of Michigan it is true, with una
niinity seldom if ever equ4ll,d, deny to congres
the right of attaching any condition whatsoevs
4 to their admission into the Union. The powc
has however lie N exercised and admitting III,
! wrong, who will point out tn r,m,dy An ap
= peal to the suprem, judicial tribun Il of the coun
u try, is de- i'd us until stlta of the Union, ant
(. if the right could be acknowledged to u.s. W,
e cinnot exist Il stat, independ mt ofthe Union
: VIII Itever brilli,ncy our increasing prosp,rit,
: may exhibit 1t is but the reflected light of con
federated republic.
: for us to pursued But one, and that. a pairioti
obedience to tho will of tho people of tn, Units
, States. We have our views in regard to tn
= constitutionality of the power exercised by Con
u gross, it is true; but must not forget, that w
constitute but small fraction of the thirteen mil
tons of people, who by their representatives
have given this decision against us, and that thei
viows arc parhaps, in their minds, entitled t
. equal consideration with our own. We can onl,
y Judge the future by the plst andwc cannot there
fore reasonably expect, the pres mt or future Con
!, | gross, to annul the solemn enactment of thoi
. | predecessors. We have no additional argum n
to offer, for arguncnt has been exhausted. w
u have pctitioned; we have demonstrated but a
@ has been in vain.
n Yet there is, fellow citizens, perhaps rcmsd
n for us, which tyranny niay drive people to
dept. II is the natural right of resistanc {
i oppression inherent in every community it
the utfno ratio of desperate and opprcsse
s peope, whose edict must be written in blood
n But have we reached that dcgrc, of oppression
: where resistance to authority becomes a virtue
/ will not fellow citizens offer indignit
0 to your understandings and feelings, by an an
J. swer TO such an interrogatory. feel that as
|. mericin citz ms, we should cl IRISH the tende
ties of common descent, and rGcollcct that on
: fed,ral Union, was the offspring Of the great
u chievmsnts, the common perils and comm IN tr
n umphs of the flth;rs of the republic We r
/. cognizs in the government Of the United State
> the representative he doftiat Union, we acknow
= ledge it to be tbs guardian of the Constitution
/" authorized and bound TO enforce its laws, a
q though we have felt the heavy hand of its inju'
ticc we will neither resist rcvilo that parent
authority, but rather like thosons of old with avci
A ted faces, conc cal with garment parents ma
. kedness.
u Ths period has arrived when Michigan can n
u longer, without dctrmcnt to her standing an
e importance as state, delay the action, neccssar
/, for the devolopement of her vast resources ,
" wealth. Nature h rs bestowed upon us, the higl
est advantages Of climate, fertile soil, and p,
& culiir facilities for commerce.; ane with a pr,
T. dent and wise forecast, TO be exercised by the L
III gislaturc and the people, We cannot fail soon
., reach that high destiny which awaits us. Ipr
coed therefore, TO the consideration of the gol
eral affairs Of the State, and shall call your ate
IN ton to such subj cts as seem to demand immcd
IS ate Legislative action.
is The annual reports of the Auditor goner
y, and IRE isurer will be transmitted to you. Oh
=. revenue system is as yet imperfect, and wou
most respectfully suggest, careful rcview M
re digest of the laws providing for tn, colicctic
IN of State, County and Township taxes. Son
pr mode should be provided by which tho asses
monts of taxes could be made more equal in 1
a' different counties and townships Under {
IT. present system Of taxation the disparity in MAJ
cases has become so great es almost to destr