The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-07-23

lSi', tooh Ss'N'S S'NNhN az Ao'VA VI tue
same doctrine.
But, to show that this was not merely
the sentiment of few individuals. but
was really the profe-sed doctrine of the
party, we will next refer to some Of their
resolutions
AS sample of the resolutions passed
at some of the democratic County Conven-
tons, we give the following, passed by the
democratic County Convention of Monroe
county, in lS49.
"Resolved, That we are in favor of the
"Jefcrson Ordinance of 17S7-that We
sanction the action Of the past admins
" tration of James X. Polk, IN ercludiaq
"slacery from The Oregon Territory, and
" that we are in favor of using all consti
"tutional means to prevent slavery from
" being introduced, or extended, into the
{" free territories of the United States"
They supported Gen. Cass in 1913;
but they don't seem to have adopted the
doctrine of the Nicholson Letter Were
they inconsistentF
In Washtenaw County the same year,
they resolved as follows:
" ResoIoed, That we are decidedly OPP
opposed to the further extension Of slavery
"within the territories of the United
Estates, but we are not in favor of ma
F." king opposition to, or advocacy of such
extension, a political test
In both Wayne county and Oakland
county they passed resolutions against
making individual opinions on the slavery
question political test. So it seems that
they did not think that by voting for
Gen Cass they adopted the doctrine Of
the Nicholson Letter.
But the foregoing are only the express
ion of Coanty Conventions. The follow
ing was passed at the democratic State
Convention held at Jackson, Sept. 10Th,
1S49, of which Hon. Samuel Clark was
president, and Wilbur +. Story, present
Editor of the Detroit Free Press, was
member of the committee on resolutions.
"Resolced, That we are opposed to the
extension of slavery in the Territories of
"New Mexico and California, Jeliccjng
" thcm 10 be Ho'o Jree, IN Cirtue 0fHe
Z" iu5cs of Merico, and that its establish
" ment in either Of these territories OUGHT
"To BE PREVENTED.
In 1917, the democratic Legislature of
this State passed the following joint rcso-
luton-which may be found in the Session
Laws Of that year.
ReSolrad, That in the acquisition 6
"any new territory, whether by purchase,
conquest or otherwise, we deem it the
% duty Of the general goceramem to ex-
tend over the same the ordinance of
"17S7, with all It's rights, privileges and
immunities."
But, if any thing more is required to
prove that the democratic party of this
State did not support the doctrine of the
Nicholson Letter in 1913, although they
did support Gen. Cass personally, think
the following ought to settle the question
satisfactorily"
In 1913, at the Samc ciectioa at which
the democracy Of Michigan voted for G zen.
Cass, they elected State legislature
That legislature was so thoroughly demo-
cratic that it was said of it that the oppo-
sition had not a corporal guard. There
was not much, if any, over dozen mem
oers of the opposition in both branches
And it cannot be denied, that, coming
from all the different parts of the State,
they represented, and were the fair expo
nents of the democratic sentiment thro
out the State at that time
And yet that legislature passed the fol-
lowing joint resolutions by an overwhelm-
, ing majority. They may be found in the
Session Laws of 1919.
" Rcsolrcd, That we are in favor of the
fundamental principles of the Ordinance
" of l7S7-and although we respect the
+. "opinion of many eminent statesmen and
J, "iurists, that slavery is mere local insti-
E tuition which cannot exist without posi-
4" tive laws authorizing its existence-YET
WE BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS HAS THE
S "PowER, AND THAT IT Is THEIR
DUTY TO PROHIBIT BY LEGISLATIVE
; ENACTMENT, the introduction or exist
"ence of slavery within any of the terri
" tories of the United States, now or here
after to be acquired"
c Z" Res0lced, That our Senators in Con-
" gress be instructed, and our Representa-
tves requisite to use all honorable
"means to accomplish the object express
: ED in the foregoing resolution, and that
) the Governor of this State be requested
'to forward copies of these resolutions to
"our Senators and Representatives in