The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-01-10

improvements l0tOS hOtSeOAOsS, O"SAo
to teach us great care and cation. If
judiciously managed, the proceeds of
the Swamp Lands will be of immense
advantage to the regions in which
they lie.
The Act, approved February IA,
1859, "to provide Military Fund, in
aid of the volunteer uniformed militia"
and appropriating for that object, the
sum of three thousand dollars each
year, has produced most beneficial
effect. Thus stimulated by the coun-
tenance and aid of the State, consid-
cradle number of volunteer companies
has been formed and well equipped,
and the organization Of the militia,
which was almost abandoned, has been
revived and planted npon good foot
ing. / recommend that the yearly APP
preparation for this object, be material
iy increased in amount. The United
States supports but very small stand
ing army, and the great reliance of the
government to defend itself against
foreign enemies, and to put down do
nestle resurrection, is upon the militia
of the States. 1t is neither safe nor
wise, to allow the organization and dis
eipline of the militia to fall into discred-
it or disuse., The military spirit of the
people ought to be, kept up, and their
confidence in their ability to bear arms
and defend themselves, should be fos-
tered. In point of expense also, it is
much less burdensome to the people TO
pay a reasonable amount to. support
volunteer companies, than to call ont
the whole body liable to bear arms, as
was the old method. Besides, the vol
unteer organization is much more eff
fectiye, and forms nucleus for larger
force, always to be relied upon.
- OUR FEDERAL RELATIONS.
! Gentlemen of the t,co Houses -
While we are citizens of the State of
Michigan, and as such deeply devoted
! to her interests and honor, we have a
still prouder title. We are also citizens
of the United States of America. By
this title, we are known among the ma
tons of the earth. In remote quarters
of the globe, where the name of the
States are unknown, the flag of the
great Republic, the banner of the stars
and stripes, honors and protects the
citizen. In whatever concerns the hon.
or, prosperity and the perpetuity OF
this great government, we are deeply
interested. The people of Michigan
are loyal to that government-faithfnl
\ to its Constitution and its laws. Under
it they have had peace and integrity {;
and under it they mean to abide to the
end. fairs 5 IL 4ot orr
Feeling just pride in the glorious
history of the past, they will not re-
nounce the equally glorious hopes of the
future. But whether in peace or war,
they will rally around the standards OF
the nation and defend its integrity and
its constitution, with fidelity.
The existence of the government is
threatened, not by enemies from with.
out, bat by traitors within. The State
of South Carolina, possessing free
white population of less than three
hundred thousand, of all ages and sex.
es, has assumed to dissolve the national
government. By a convention called
under State authority, and without con
!. sulting any other State or people, and
without the least discussion, which
seems to have been 5interdicted, she
passed an ordinance annulling the laws
and Constitution Of the United States
In her own cherished phrase, she has
seeded from the Union. If it could
be properly done, l presume the coun
try, generally, would be willing to le
that ruthless, hardy little nation, return
from the confederacy forever. Blu
Z that cannot be, without admitting thu
right of secession to exist in all of thu
+ States. This done, and no government
remains to us, but only voluntary as
ISOLATION of States, dissolvable at tn,
, pleasure of any of them. If Soutl
Carolina may of right secede, then ma,
also New York and Louisiana, thu
cutting off the right of free way, of tn
entire Northwest to the ocean in boil
directions. The doctrine cannot b.
, admitted. Selfpreservation, if no 9th
err reason, would compel us. to resist i,
But the doctrine has no foundation il
fact or reason. 1t is said, that Stat
having entered voluntarily into tn
Union, may also voluntarily, and O
right, withdraw whenever such Stat
, may think its rights are no longer pre-
tected, or its interests secured, by tn
: connection. And the State is itsel
the sole judge in this respect. The al
gumentis altogether fallacious-at wa
t with every just idea or compact.
IF it were admitted that the Const
, tuition and government of the Unite
7, States is mere voluntary compact {
. sovereign States, still it would not 70
t low, that the compact might be at an
, time Dissolved by any one of the cor
: traeting parties. That would necesss
rily depend on the terms of the com
. pact itself. If the compact by il
e terms, or by manifest implication, wa
: intended to be perpetual, then it coul
J, not be dissolved without the consent {
all the contracting parties. s,lt f
: Tho Constitution of the Unite
States, if q compact at all, is one {
government in the term of its continr
s ance, without limit, and in its power
e sovereign. 1t is also by its terms " tn
r supreme law of the land, and the judge