The Arkansas advocate., 1837-02-24

The question of boundary was one which property belonged the States and the Territory of Michigan 1 Tf her boundaries had been permanently Gxed) who were interested in the question. But us the northern boundary of Michigan had not been established Con- gross had the right 10 define her boundaries al any ime before her independence was acknowledged. After
 that acknowledgement, this right would have ceased, but for the condition prescribed in the act of the last session of Congress-; and, sir inc wisdom of that act
 IS fully proven hy the happy consequences which are about to result from fl.
 sGr, aG ? resident, ii; relation
 he admission of States into the Daon, which are per- haps different from those of others. The teriorY os ihe United States conprehends all that portion of coun- try included within the limits the United States, and all the inhabitants within those boundaries Anlerl- can citizens, and citizens of the Union. Whenever a portion of this territory, with the people inhabiing it, are organized into territorial form of government, 3 dependent State IS created by the Government of the United States These citizens lose oitheir rights as American citizens, excepting that they consent, by submitting to be citizens of dependent State, 10 a temporary denial of certain privileges, which they would have right to exercise if they were citizens of an independent State. They formed into a sepa- rate comEuny--tbeir limits ares ought to be dehn- ed, and the right of jurisdiction within those limits Is surrendered to them; they vested with Legislative power; and, by degrees, are invested with all the pow CTS of self government compact IS thus entered in-
 
 cy, by which ihe rights and privileges of the citizens of the latter become completely vested, that any act on the part of the parent government, changing the
 mits or abfidgRg those rights, powers, ahd privileges secured to themby the compact, organic aw, would be such an act of injustice as would justify resistance on tke part of the dependency The embryo State, fsir, the momeat the parent government releases her from the obligations imposed byorganic law, and au-
 hofizes her to form for herself her fundamental law, iapH her an independent State and being within Inc limits of the United States, and her citizens being American eltizens, she becomes also member of inc eonfede- racy The Uniied States have only to see that her form of government Is republican; and the State, in making her constitution, forms t a member of the eonfederacy, under the obligations imposed by the Constitution of the United States
 To admit foreign State, Congress could not act upon the subect unless she presented herself with republican form of government; but of what avail is t for Congress to examine the constitution of State, composed of American citizens, who allegiance to the Federal Government, and who bound in form ing their constitution to make Ii in strict conformity to
 he requirements of the Federal Constitution? 4 State, in making altering her constitution, does at her peril, aud OUT only security against violation of the constitution in this particular, by any of the States of this conedefaey, IS, that the United States are bound to see that the constitutions of all the States are republican.
 consider Mr. President that the delay which has taken place, in the acknowledgement by Congress of the rights of Michigan, is act of great injustice 10 her. 1 consider, sir, that we have nothing to do but to acknowledge her rights, and that every moment this IS delayed we are threatening the integrity of the Union. five reject her now or longer refuse to her Senators and Representatives their rights o tber seats viii be guilty of ac calculated to bring about dismemberment of this happy Union We have surrendered to her the right of domain, and the sovereignty of the soil within her mits and if we continue to persist in aternp to bind her by laws which she has part in making, she will be justified ln setting herselfup independent foreign power; and n claiming the right of property all the public lands within Ter lmts and ii throwing opa, her ports to all the world This, sir, IS the dilemma in which we will place ourselves, by refusing to acknowledge the rights oi Michigan. Let then hasten the final ac- lien upon this subject, and pass, without further delay, tie bill upon your table,