The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-05-15
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR
To the Legislature an extraordinary
session, at Lansing, May Z, 1861.

FellosO- Citizens Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives Under the
authority vested in the Executive by the
Constitution of the State, l have sum-
moned you together in extra session upon
the most extraordinary occasion which
has had existence since the formation Of
the Federal government.
African slavery, the great and only dis
turbing element in our institutions, after
having ruled the country sixty years, and
during that time driven the free States
from one humiliating concession TO anoth-
er, until they had fairly reached the wall,
and from the mere instinct of self
vation refused TO 90 further, has dropped
the mask and taken up arms. Grown
overbearing from its former successes, and
insolent through its long cherished pride
and disregard of the rights of men, it
now seeks TO make its power predoini-
nant over the whole country by force
Having been beaten in an election, it de-
liberately nullifies the constitution, defies
the laws, confederates in pretended form
of government, raises armies, besieges and
takes fortress, marches boldly upon the
National Capital to unseat the lawfully
elected President of the Republic, and
makes its final appeal to the arbitrament
of battle. 1t has left us no choice but
to surrender our free government or fight
for its preservation. In that choice a
brave and loyal people could not hesitate.
The President of the United States, oc-
cupying the chair of Washington, by the
same right, and under the same solemn
forms by which the Father of his Coun-
try held il, has accepted this issue. lie
has unfurled the flag under which all our
history has been made, and summons the
loyal sons of the heroic founders of the
government in arms 10 defend it. He will
fight to maintain the Constitution and
the Union, and the whole people of the
loyal States with one voice have affirmed
the wisdom, the justice, and the patriot
ism of that determination.
In this sacred war, for it is nothing
less, the people of the State of Michigan
desire to do their whole duty, and it is
for us, their chosen representatives, TO pro
vide the means and lead the way.
On the evening of the 18th Of Apri
last, | received telegram from the Wal
Department. at Washington, that a cal
was made upon me, as Commander-in
Chief for one regiment of the militia o.
the State for immediate service. On the
next day, however, l was informed from
the same source that if the quota of Mich
igan should be ready by the Goth of May
that would suffice. Immediately upor
receiving these dispatches, l issued my
proclamation TO the people Of the State
for volunteers to form two regiments o
infantry, in pursuance ofsthe law of YOU
late session, authorizing the organization
of two regiments 10 meet such a CALL
That law had this strange omission, tha
while it provided for raising the regiments
and paying the volunteers and officers al
certain fixed prices, it did not appropriate
so much as one dollar TO meet the expen
ses to be incurred by virtue of its provis
ions. II, therefore, became necessary tC
seek outside Of the statutes means TO dc
fray the expenses of recruiting, arming
equipping and uniforming the regiments