The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-21
From Lansing.
From Lansing.
Special Correspondence of Cass Co. Republican.
LANSING. Feb, 18th. 1861.

LANSING, Feb. 18th, 1861.
The absorbing subject here for the
last week has been the Commissioner
question. Several days have been
spent in the House of Representatives
in reference to it, no definite conclusion
has yet been reached. / am informed
it is to be the first thing on hand in
that body for next week, as its friends
are anxious it should pass at once.
Now l have no doubt that your readers
think it strange that Commissioners
are not appointed, inasmuch as more
than three-fourths of both branches of
the Legislature favor the project.
Having thus expressed themselves by
their votes in some form or other, and
inasmuch as Gov. Bingham and Fac.
Chandler have both written and tele-
graphed here to have Commissioners
appointed, even Gov. Chase, of Ohio,
telegraphed last week urging their
immediate appointment. Gov. Blair,
although at first opposed, is now very
anxious, and several leading Republic
can States have united in an invitation
to us to join in the Commission, under
this state of things it looks strange,
passing strange to the people why it is
not done. The simple truth is, Mr..
Editor, we have too many smart men
in the Legislature, q mean, of course,
in their own estimation men who if
they cannot have the honor of origina-
ting measure, however just it may be,
are sure to oppose it, so there are sew
eral ways proposed to appoint Commits
sioners, and the friends of each faction
oppose everything except their own
measure. This apparently showing
that the House is opposed to sending
Commissioners, when in fact such is
not the case. Your Senator and Rep
resentatives have been in favor of the
measure from the beginning, because
they believe it to be right, because they
are in favor of the Union; because
they are now and always have been in
favor of making any sacrifice except
their honor and their principles in or
der to preserve the Union because
they believe that the conclusions of
that Convention are largely to influence
the public mind, even perhaps to the
disruption of political parties. 1t is
for these reasons, in their opinion, the
whole North ought to be represented
why she ought to have true-hearted
and bold men there, men who will fear.
lessly demand the rights of the North,
ably, yet firmly setting forth our griev.
ances in the ANTON, never surrenderine
an inch to slavery beyond its presen,
constitutional rights. If this is done
the influence of that Convention will
be in favor of the Constitution as it is
thereby preserving intact the great and
glorious principles of Republicanism.
1t has been intimated here, as
doubt not elsewhere, that those who
are in favor of the Convention are a
little weak in the Spinal Column
This expression can only find favor
with weak minds, with those who are
more fanatic than wise,-there is cal
now for true men-men who have the
interests of their Country at heart, anc
who are willing to labor, and to suffer
if need be, to defend it from assault.
without or from assaults within. No
the aoedk In the knee men, are those
who endeavor to shirk present respon-
sibilities, who are not willing to labor
to restore the fraternal feeling tina
once existed in all parts of the country
They are those who to-day, ARE denounc
ing such meI as Seward, Chase and Cas-
sius M. Clay, charging them with weak
ness, and as being faithless to the prin
ciples of human liberty. These mer
find their counterparts in South Caro-
lima and in all the seeding States, the,
are disunionists but don't know it
Clamorous for the union, indeed! bu
it must be union upon their terms, or
none at all. In my opinion the time
have no demand for such men, they ar
unequal to the crisis, their counsiIs ar
not needed, and they must give wa
to wiser and better men.
The man or political party that
. now opposing honest efforts to saw
this Government, consistent with prin
ciple and constitutional obligations
must in very short time be inevitably
submerged in the uncomfortable wave
of popular indignation.
The examination of John McKinne
is progressing before Justice LaRue
1t is naughty thing, this Treasur
: work, but it must be exposed.
Il f.1ftgFf SD .TiiEffi D. Irrcrrrr,