Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-01-10

til Thursday. Members of Congress from the
State have telegraphed to Harrisburg advising
the legislature not to appropriate men and mon
ey at present. as proposed.
ONO.
The Ohio Legislature re-assembled by adjourn
ment from last winter, on Monday. Gov. Dem
nison in his message, recommends re-organ-
izaton of the militia, denies the right of seces-
sion, urges a repeal Of obnoxious sections of
the fugitive slave law and of all personal liberty
laws, and defends his refusal to send an alleged
save back to Kentucky on a requisition.
MICHIGAN.
Inc Michigan legislature met on the I'd inst.
The retiring governor delivered his annual mes
sage. lie takes strong ground against the right
of secession; charges the President of the Unit
ed States with misrepresenting the PRINCIPLES of
the republican party, and attributes the present
sectional excitement to misrepresentation by
the northern democratic press, as to the inten-
tons and designs of that party
In relation to the personal liberty laws of this
State, he says if they are unconstitutional and
in conflict with the fugitive slave law, they
should be repealed but says these laws are
right, and speak the sentiments of the people,
are in strict accordance with the Constitution,
This is no time for timd and vacillating coun-
sci, while the cry of treason is ringing in our
ears.
Gov. Blair delivered his inaugural on Thurs
day.
In discussing national affairs he denies the
right of secession, and in abiding to the pres
ent condition of South Carolina says: "If it
could properly be DONE presume the country
generally would be willing to let that restless
little nation retire from the confederacy forever
but that cannot be without admitting the right
of secession to exist in all the States, and no
government then remains to us but only Il vol
untary association of States, dissolyabe at the
pleasure of any of them"
If South Carolina may of right, then may also
New York and Louisiana, thus cutting off the
free right of way of the entire northwest to the
ocean in both directions. The doctrine cannot
be admitted. Selfpreservation, if no other
reason, would compel us to resist. He claims
that the Constitution of the United States is
not compact or league between independent,
sovereign States; on the contrary, that it is a
foundation of government established by the
people OF the United States as a whole, perpet-
ual in its character, and possessing all the ee-
ments of a sovereign power and nationality
He denies, that the personal liberty laws have
had the effect to prevent the execution of the
fugitive slave law in single instance but when
ever an appeal has been made to the courts TO
enforce that law it has been done in good faith.
He invites judicial scrutiny into the legislation
of the State, and is willing to abide by the re-
/ suit but is not willing that the State should be
Inundated by compliance with the demand to
repeal these laws, accompanied by threats of
violence and war. He concludes by recon-
mending that an early day the legislature make
it manifest to our representatives in Congress,
and TO the country, that Michigan is loyal to
the Union, the Constitution and the laws, and
will defend them to the uttermost, and to profier
to the President of the United States the whole
military force of the State for that purpose.