The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-04-03

Slavery shows the eloven foot, as soon as she
throws off her revene The Albany Journal
well saws that the People are treated with very
profound contempt BY the leaders of the Secs
sion movement. They are not so much as rec
ognized as power in the State. Everything Is
done by the Conventions. elected in frerzy, by
a measre vote, to consider the crisis, but hot 10
continue in permanence. Their functions really
closed when they proclaimed their several States
out Of the Union Had the whole movement 10;
been u-urpation, further action would have
been submitted to the People, or, at least 10
their legally recognised representatives combined
in their several Legislatures.
But instead of this. they ratified their own Or
dinances, appointed their own Delegates to the
Southern Congress, superseded the Legislatures
together, and are now reconvened TO adopt the
Constitution of the Contederacy! The people
are as completely ignored they could have
been by Congress Of crowned heads, met to
partition off some conquered province among
themselves.
Thus all the usages familiar to Republican CON-
munities in the reconstruction of their iundamen-
tai laws. have been di,regardei. But the single
ac, OF elec,ing body o. men TO talk over the
question Of Secession, the people OF the several
Gulf States are assumed TO have solemniv With
drawn from the Union, to have ratified in advance
the Ordinance Of Secession, to have elected thei'
members of Cor gress aud to have adopted the
Constitution for the Coniederacy. THIS Is Ger
rany simplifying the complicated machinery OF
Republican Government, aud sumnafily dis
posing Of the ballot box az useless appendage
to this model Republic.
1t is not strange that that stauuch Oh Demo
crat, sam Houston, repudlates the work OF tie
usurpcIs who have thus discarded all tne Old
fashioned IDEAS which used to lie at thc base Of
all Government resting upon tie populIT viii -
lie denies the permanent existence o! The he'o
iutionary Convention, and Insists that the people
shall be permitted, in a legl and constitutional
manner, TO express their opinion oil what has
been done, and their wishes IN regard 10 what
should be done in the exgencies which have
| arisen.
What Houston demands in Texas, others de
| ma,d in Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, &c. Bal
| these demands are disregarded. The plantation
slaves are treated with no more profound con
tempt than are all no cling TO the old fashioned
idea tina, the people are the fountain and source
Of power.
| Aud it is well that this is so. The more bra
zen the usurpation the sooner will spring up ;
counter revolution. When passion shall hav,
subsidized, reflection aud repentance and humi'
iatins sense of degradation, Will do their work
Aud then will come reaction aud ret'l' uiion.
The peaceful policy which seems to rule in th'
counsels of the Administration, will largely con
tribute to this result. When the pressure o
fancied danger shall be removed when it is sect
that the rebel States treated with the iofbesr
ance which parents often find it to he wise II
extend toward wayward children - the !Oye o
the Union will be re. kindIed-a desire 10 return
20 the revered rooft will spring up-and un
der the impulse of revived patriotism the knave
who have beguiled the people vii! be driver
like chat before the whiIlsind Of popular in
dgnation.
This is our hope--a nope inspired by the nut
| terings OF dissatisfaction already heard, aud b.
the abiding faith We have in the honesty and in
| tellisence of the people, and in 1.-THE sober sec
oud thought, which is seldom wrong and alway
| ..f:;ci.nt