The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-14
CHARLES Y. DELAND.
J.. CARPENTER,
DIJRIUS MONROE.

commissioners llOu " Sflist duu otu
er States, to. assemble at Washington,
on the 4th day of February, A. d. 1861.
Whereas, The State of Virginia, by
resolutions of the General Assembly,
adopted on the 18th day of January,
inst, has invited such States, whether
slaveholdipg or, non-slaveholding, as
are willing to unite with Virginia in
an earnest effort to adjust the present
unhappy controversy between the
States or Sections of the Union, in the
spirit in which the Constitution. was
originally formed, and consistent with
its principles, SO as to afford the people,
of the slaveholding States adequate
guarantees for the security, of their
rights, to appoint commissioners to
meet on the 4th day of February next,
in the city of Washington, similar
Commissioners appointed by Virginia,
to consider, and if practicable agree
upon some suitable adjustment: -
And Whereas, The people of the.
State of Michigan, are now and ever
heve been loyal to the Constitution and
Government of the United States, and
believe the Constitution framed by our
fathers, is amply sufficient for guaran-
teeing the rights and liberties of all Sec.
tions Of the country, and that it needs
rather to be ,obeyed than amended:
Ind Whereas,. The time allowed by
the resolutions of the said General As
sembfy of Virginia, for the appoint
rnent and assembling of Commissioners
is so brief as to prevent concert among
cur nsighboring free States, and to rem
der it nearly or quite impossible for
such Commissioners from this State to
reach Washington in time to attend
such meeting on the 4th of February
next: - -, ., 60 I.as
And Whereas, We believe the peo-
pie of this State are not in favor of,
and would never consent to accept the
basis of settlement suggested in the
resolutions Of the General Assembly
Of the State of, Virginia, to provide by
Constitutional law to legalize and es-
tablish slavery in any of the common
territories of this Nation; Therefore,
RssolUsd By the Senate and House OF
Representatives. Of the State. of Michi-
gan, That the people of Michigan are
now and ever will be ready to cooper
ate with the friends of the Union and
the Constitution everywhere, for its
maintainance and; preservation to
yield cheerful obedience to its require
ments; and expecting a like obedience
from all others, we kindly and respect
fully, for the reasons indicated in the
foregoing preamble, decline to be rep
resented by Commissioners in the man
ner and upon the, terms proposed in the
resolutions of the said General Assem-
bly, of Virginia. - ~,
Resolved further, That the Governor
be requested to forward copy, of the
foregoing preamble and resolutions to
the commissioners of Virginia.; and to
our Senators and Representatives in
congress at Washington also to the
President of the United States, and to
the Governors of the several States OF
the Union. 49,.
The report was accepted, the com
mittee discharged, the joint resolution
read twice, and on motion of Mr..
French, the rules and order of business
were suspended, for the purpose of put
ting the Joint resolution upon its imme.
date passage.
Mr.. Adair moved that the joint reso-
luton be laid on the table, which mo
ton did not prevail.
Mr.. Stout offered as substitute fol-
the joint resolution, the following joint
resolutions appointing commissioner,
from this State to meet the commission
.ers from other States in convention on
the 4th Of February, in the city Of
Washington, to consider the state Of
the Union
Whereas, The General Assembly Of
the commonwealth of Virginia have
passed resolutions inviting all the States
that are willing to unite with Virginia
IN an earnest effort to adjust the pres
ent unhappy controversies, in tie spirit
IN which the Constitution was original
ly formed, and consistently with its
principles, SO as to afford the people OF
She slaveholding States adequate guar.
antees for the security of their rights,
to appoint commissioners to meet on
the 4th day of February next, in the
lily VI w oSuiu VII, Siuiidi VOiutulo
sioners appointed by Virginia, to con
slider and if practicable agree upon
some suitable adjustment; therefore
Resolved By the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the State of
Michigan. That the Constitution of
the United States affords ample
protection to the rights of the States
and of the people, and imposes obliga-
tons, paramount and lasting, from
which no State or citizen can be alb
solved.
Resolved, That any concession of
amendments to those States which claim
the right to absolve themselves at will
from all allegiance to the Constitution,
must only add obligation to be recog-
nized BY the loyal, and to be repudia-
ted by all others.
Resolved, That the general disap-
prevail of the Fugitive Slave Law has
its foundation in the neglect of Con-
gress to provide therein for trial by
jury, and stringent provisions against
Kidnapping freemen.
Resolued, That Michigan cannot con-
sent to any modification of the Consti-
tuition establishing slavery in the Terri
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