East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-08-29
SECESSION DOCTRINE.

l
Blair, on the subject Of independent reg.
imrnts, which demands notice. The
ldoehine put forth that the government
has no right to call for volunteers except
through the Governor, is the doctrine of
the Hartford Convention, the doctrine of
Gov. McGoflin, Of Kentucky, and Gov.
Jackson, Of Missouri. II this is true.
then every act Of calling out troops from
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-.
souri,, il not only unauthorized but void.
The whole object of this attack upon the
Independent regiments forming in this
state, grows ont of the 6esire on the
part of the Governor to appoint the Off
GERS. To CRAFTY this feeling, it would
seem that the Executive, was quite will
ing to interpose his influence to discour-
age the formation of such regiments at
momentwhen the delay in sending forward
all the men possible might even endanger
Washington. The spirit of this article
is calculated to do much hurt, and no
good. 1t places Governor Blair at issue
with the administration al Washington
N an important matter, and above all it
discouragos. enllstments at n time when
men are needed il the war Is to be con.
tinued. ...
The positions taken are not correct
The law Of Congress does authorize the
President to accept volunteer regiments
offered from States without the assent of
the Governor. This arily includes
tho right to appoint and commission the
officers. Without this authority, how
can the troops from kentucky and Mis-
souri, be mustered into service? 1t is net
true that there is no provision for paying
the men who belong to snch regiments.
1t is not true that they are not entitled
to receive every beneficial provision Of
law of tho United States in favor of any
other troops received into active service.
The article alluded to in many other
points is so wide of truth that we are
surprised to see it in any paper, and much
more in one which is considered the eX-
ponent of the views of Governor Blair.
The assertion that the men belonging to
these regiments are more liable to be de-
ceved, are more neglected by their off
GERS, that obey cannot appeal to the Coy
eminent for protection with as much Ger.
tainty of redress as Others, is entirely
without foundation in fact We have
seen or heard of nothing in this State
which looks SO much like thwarting the
government, as this article from the Gov
ernor's own orgen.-DetroH Tree Press.
The following is the article alluded to
by the Free Press:
INDEPENDENT REGIMENTS.
Both the government and the people
are beginning to see the extreme folly of
organizing and accepting independent"
regiments-or regiments formed by indi-
viduals without authority from the State
and under authority of the general gov
eminent. 1t has resulted in SO much
embarrassment and disorder that all the
Executives of States and all tho army
officers are justly opposed to it. In the
first place, the Secretary of War has no
legal right to call or accept regiments in
this way. The President calls out the
militia of the Stetos, ond no law OF tho
government, or of any State, recognizes
the acts of any but State officer. They
are not regulars; they cannot be mus
tered into the service as regulars, nor as
State troops; and although the govern.
mcnt may accept their services and COM
pei them to serve for the war, there is no
law to cntit!e them to their pay when
thus irregularly mustered, nor DO they
become entitled to any Of the other ben
eits of the laws respecting the State vol
unteers. Another serious question is as
to who shall appoint aud commission the
| officers? The State evidently has the
right to officer all volunteer regiments,
the United States to officer only regular
troops. Here is another serious conflict
of Jurisdiction the Secretary Of War
himself hesitatcs to answer. Again, the
public money is liable to be squandered
! The men who cannot get positions from
the State government are generally men
who are unfit to be trusted. Either they
arc incapable of the position, or they are
drunken and superannuated place hunt
ers, who are compelled to get as far from
home as possible to obtain credence OF
countenance from any save their select
circle of associates. 1t is a noticeable
fact that all but one Of the too many
cases Of naturalization which have oc.
CURED at Washington, have been among
the "independent' regiments. The mct
soon find themselves deceived; their Off
GERS are neglectful, tyrannical, exacting
they ask redress they cannot appeal tc
government, as they are not regulars
they cannot appeal to State authorities
as they are "independent" volunteers
they have los. all respect for their Oil
GERS, and in this forlorn and neglected
condition they mutiny, rebel, and thu
become liable to the severest military
punishment. The increasing difficulties
of this policy has induced the Governor
of the States of New York, Indiana
Ohio, Illinois, and others, to olliciall,
deny the War Department the right t.
accept ''independcnt" regiments, and t.
allow such troops to leave the State, unit
regularly received and enrolled as Stat
troops 1t will save much money anC
J time to Michigan, as well ASIDE bless
ing to her volunteers, if the Uoyerno
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