East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-05-09
Government or mo Government.
The Democracy.


From the Monroe Press, (Dem.)
The great struggle now going on in
this country is really Government or no
Government. Any one can see this when
they witness the awless spirit every
where manifested, aud more strikingly
manifested by the seeding States, al
though to less extent it is apparant in
every State in the Union. Duty then
calls upon all good citizens to stand by
the Government in its efforts to sustain
law and order.
The doctrine of the Sccessionists, that
bare ma a,ority in any State can over
throw its organic law, and set up for It,
self, or transfer its allegiance to any 9TH
er Government or Confederacy it may
please, is a heresy which will not only
by and by "plauge its inventors" but
which is fatal to all Government. Lou
isana is to-day part of the Southern
Confederacy. Tomorrow she may, by
a simple process of a popular vote, return
to her allegiance to the Union. Such a
doctrine is incompatible with even the
semblance of stability. Where it OBJ
tains, there can be nothing certain-no
enduring government--no future Tor any
political organization. Itmakes all con-
stitutions the merest nullities, and all
compacts, however sacred, dependent up
on the whinls and caprice of every chang
ing majority! Such a doctrine cannot
easily find favor with an intelligent pco-
pie.
What then is the duty of the demo
cratic party, which has ever taught obi
ence to the legal authority as funda-
mental doctrine? AS contemporary
remarks it is the distinguishing doctrine
of the democrats. Douglas announced
it at Norfolk before election. The
great men of the party, from the first
days of the Republic, have stood unfal-
teiingly by it,
The President for the time being is
clQthed,with certain powers. The cx-
ercise Of those powers is q matter of dis
erction with him. We may question his
discretion, but we submit to his poicer.-
The most chrushing Indictment now ly-
ing at tho door Of the Republican party,
is its defiant persistence in not discharg-
ing constitutional obligations--in placing
come quam of conscience above the law
OF the land. With that doctrine we have
no sympathy. 1t has done much to edu-
cate the people to spurn all law, and con
sequently all safety. We must aud will
support the law. And what is the law
Tie act Of Congress Of 1895 provides as
I'll
"Whenever the laws Of the United
Estates shall be opposed, or the exeeu-
"tion thereof obstructcd III any State by
combinations too powerful to be sup.
"pressed by the ordinary course of judi
'cial proceeding, OF by the powers vested
Sin the Marshals in this act, it shall ba
"lawiul for the President to call forth
"the militia Of such States, or of any
"othcr State or States, as may be nee
"essary to suppress such combinations,
"and cause the laws to be duly executed,
"and the use of militia so called forth
"may be continued, if necessary, until
''the expiration OF thirty days after the
commencement OF the then next session
"of Congress"
Under the act Of Congress, President
Lincoln has issued his proclamation -
The Supreme Court has decided that
the President is the exclusive and final
Judge whether the exigency contempla.
ted by the act has arisen. The procla-
nation is therefore within the constitu
ton and the law, ana as such is obliga-
tory upon the citizen. Ours is the. daty
his the responsibility. The best blood
of this nation may flow like water. But
shall Democrats stand doubling when the
high behests of constituted authority call
for action.
BE it ours to offer to the country not
forced and hcsitaiing, but manly, prompt
and timely service. The Governor Of
this State might do as Gov. Dennison
of Ohio did when the surrender of a
criminal was demanded of him by tho
Governor Of a sister rState--might do a:
the Governors of Missouri and Kentucky
and Virginia are doing now-refusc to re.
spondwhen thePresident calls. But in so
doing he could look for nothing but con
demnation at the hands of the old De
mocracy. And If the Governor is bouud
by the requisiton of the President, then
the people must answer to the call of The
Governor.
We call upon the Democracy then tc
illustrate in noble, seIf-dcnying acts the
doctrines which they have ever profess
ed. Let them show to the world and
their political opponents that their prin'
ciplcs work well in practice; that they
are the only principles upon which hu'
man government can rest. Our answer
then is: WE STAND BY THE coSsrirUTEr
AUTHORITY
Ttsc East Saginaw Guards,
OtEast Saginaw, passed through this
city, arriving here on Tuesday afternoon
aud departing on Wednesday morning
for rendezvous at Detroit. Mayor VIII
LrAMs received them aud tcndcred then
tho hospitalities OF the city during thciI
brief stay. The appropriate and patri'
otto remarks of the Mayor upon their re.
ccption were eloqiently responded to on
behalf of our military neighbors and