The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-29
THE CASES OF MICHIGAN AND KANSAS.

To The Editor Of The Utaa0n;
Much has been said in and Of Congress Of the lden-
tty in point OF form OF the movement in Kansas which
gave birth the Topeka constitution" called and
that of Michigan in the formation OF her constitution
To dsabuse the public mind Of any impression which
may have been made to that effect il Is only necessary
state the facts connected with the formation of the State
government Of Michigan to show that not the most
analogy exists between them.
At the regular session of the legislative council of Mch-
gan of 1885, assembled under the organic law OF Congress
establishing her territorial government act passed
in conformity with the provisions Of the ordinance ofl787
authorizing election for delegates to convention for
the formation Of constitution, preliminary TO appca-
ton for admission into the Union a sovereign State
The election under the said Of the territorial govern
men took place accordingly the convention of delegates
SO elected met formed constitution strictly republican
in all its features which subsequently, under the forms
prescribed by her territorial legislature ratified by vote
| of the people.
The State government thus formed presented her const-
tuition 10 Congress- and claimed OF right admission
into the Union and by the act Of Congress Of June l5
1885, Stat at Large vol pages 40 50 it was declared
that the constitution and State government which the
people of Michigan have formed for themselves be- and the
is hereby accepted ratified and conhrmed and that
the State of Michigan shall be- and Is hereby declared
10 be Of The United States Of Ansriea and is hereby
admitted into the Union upon equal footing with
the original States in all respects whatsoever" Her
in the establishment thereof recognised as regular
and proper and her political condition State for
| ndiy declared But, nasmuch question of disputed
boundary between herself and the State Of Ohio then
pending, the boundary between the two States fixed
by the law, and her admission into the Union
coupled with proviso that "as compliance with the
fundamental condition of admission" "he boundaries Of
the said State of Michigan declared and established shall
receive the assent of convention of delegates elected by the
people Of said State for The sole purpose Of giving the assent
herein requred and as the assent herein required
shall be given the President Of the United States shall
nounce the by proclamation; and thereupon without
any further proceeding the part Of Congress the adms
Of said State into The Onion of the United STATES
of America equal footing with the original States in
all respects whatever shall be considered complete and
the and representatives who had been elected By
said in the Congress of the United
States shall be entitled to take their seats in the Senate
and House of Representatives without further delay"
In July 1885, act passed by her State legislature
to provide for the election of delegates convention to
upon the of admission provided by the of
Congress above rected and the fourth Monday of
September of the year the convention elected met
and declined giving its consent to the condition prescribed
| and rejected the same.
On the fifth and sixth days of December 1885, elections
held in all the counties of the State except for
the election Of delegates to convention, which
venon elected met the l4h Of December of the
year. and the 18th of the month the assent to the
| mited to the President, Andrew Jackson.
Congress being then in session. the President submitted
the subject the decision of Congress in a message under
date of December g. 1886, (qv Ness Register vol ST.
27s in which, after recitng the previous action of the
State in the premises he proceeds say This latter
venon held elected by virtue any act of the
territorial State legislature it originated from the peo
pie themselves and chosen by them in pursuance of
resolutions adopted in primary assemblies held in the
specve counties The Of Congress- houerey does not
prescribe by wha authority the convention shall be ordered
or the time when, the in which, it shall be
chosen. Had these latter proceedings during
the Of Congress- should therefore, have felt it my
duty, being satisfied that they emanated from
venon of delegates elected in point of fact by the people
of the State for the purpose required issued
my proclamation thereon provided by law. But the
authority conferred the President evidently given
under the expectation that the of the convention
might be laid before him during the of Congress
and to avoid postponement until the meeting Of that
body, &c, deem il most agreeable the intent Of that
law and proper for other reasons that the whole subject
| should be submitted TO the decision Of Congress
bill for the admission Of the State Immediately
thereafter reported in the Senate and the 4h OF
uary 1885, ordered to be engrossed by OF 81 to
aud tho next day passed that body and the 25th
of the month passed the House Of Representatives by
vote Of 1872 to -, and the succeeding dayJanuary
rs ls37receved the approval Of the President and be-
came law, Stat at Large vol page l441 the pre-
ambe to which declares the organization action OF the
convention of the delegates Of Michigan as in conformity
with the provisions of the act Of Congress Of June l5
1896
II win be thus tina, the people Of Michigan acted
throughout under the act Of her territorial legislative
counc-under the authority Of the State recognised 40
such 10y the act Of Congress and finally under The pro-
visions of said act Of 1885, and in strict conformity with
its provisions, aS declared by the Of January &C.
1887.