The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-07-25
Letter from Michigan.
DETROIT, Mich, July Is, 1862.

"The Internal thing is killed" intimates
your Rockford, ILL.,, correspondent, "Occiden-
ta," referring to the new constitution which
the people of Illinois were called to vote up
on, the 18th of June And so it is. And l
helped to kill it, thanks to furlough about
that time. was sin at the death" hurting
a paper pellet, yclept "vote," at the thing.
But accidental" speaks as though there
was no good in it, at all. There was good in
it. In this country, at this time, a constitu-
ton is critically examined by intelligent vo-
ters ere it is accepted; and would design
ing men gain some advantage over the peo-
pie by means of constitution, the virus
must be concentrated and concealed. Much
that is good must be put in. Nay, nearly
all must be unexceptionable, for not every
voter can be led by the nose. So l say
there was a good deal about the "new con-
stitution" that was unexceptionable. Sec
tons of the Bill of rights were word for
word from the constitution of the United
States Whole articles were taken from the
old constitution of the State. But there
were few insidous clauses and sections
that were enough to condemn the whole
One Objectionable PROFESSIONALISM no negro
or mulatto should migrate to the State
should never appear in the constitution of
free State. 1t is well enough for Massachu-
sets to prohibit the immigration of criminals
shipped by foreign governments direct from
to prohibit man coming in because he has
black or yellow skin, however honest and
industrious he may be. Men who will leg
islate thus, are not fit for Republican
Government. For such a government as
the constitution Of the United States pro-
vldes, intelligent. upright men are wanted.
men who fear God and love Justice: men
who recognize virtue wherever it may be
found. Such were not too many of the Sen
ators and Representatives Of the South,
who not long since carried so high hand
in Congress, in proof Of which look at the
bloody result of their doings We now expe-
/ rlence.
A clause is in the constitution of Illinois
now in force, empowering the Legislature
to make laws to exclude negroes and mu-
lattoes. And the Legislature faithfully did
its work-passed stringent laws and declar-
ed that person who had one fourth negro
blood should be deemed a mulatto. But
there must have been hitch somewhere.
The Executive power does not faithfully
carry out the intentions of the Legislative
power in this subject, and negroes, mulat.
toes, quadroons, octarOons, and all the resi-
of the "roons," come and 60, settle and
thrive at will, and the other of the trio
the Judicial power-takes no occasion tc
interfere. Then why put clause into the
proposed new constitution to prevent i'm
migration of negroes and mulattoes
What secured the active opposition of thu
nest cooperation of Long-John Wentworth
was its prohibition to create new banks of is
L sue its prohibiting the utterance or circula
: ton by any bank now in existence of an,
bank bills, check or draft, to be used as cir
culating medium, less than $40, and afte
1864 of any less than $40, and after 1866 O
any whatever; CHEESE believe, are the dates
! and these restrictions were to apply not onl
IS to the circulation of Illinois bills, drafts an,
s checks, but to those of other States.
A manifest.y unfair provision was the ne,
q apportionment, which, for instance, gives l
y representatives to about 5000 inhabitants
in some Southern districts where Democrac
u is rampant, and only ! to about 10000 in
l. habitants in some Northern districts, wher
l Republicans abound. This was sharp gam,
s. but did not go down. The old constitutio
:! still stands, and though it has fittings an
al might be improved, will now, no doubt, RI
III main in force till the war is over.
Is Small change is scarce here in Detroit. S
p it is everywhere, judging from the papers,
The papers have numerous remedies, whic
III remedies are mutually kicked over by tho:
III papers. Numerous communications sugges
!! ing methods ofrelief, signed Business Man
lie Sufferer" etc, appear in print. These r
OF ceive no mercy from editors; if Meir benet
ne cent hints are not received, cursed be tho.
ne Of other people. And SO We 60, and gruu
BILE, and buy postage stamps, try them f
lei change on hot days, and find to our astonis
Its ment that a currency with one side daubs
ne over with mucilage is not what it's cracked i
to to be, if our fingers are s~eaty. Well, som
to body prophesied, while ago, that spec
Is, would command high premium if Taste,
mt currency continued to be SO recklessly rush,
- in. know that Illinois and Wisconsin pc
nd pie were desperately swearing, about ye
all ago, that they would never take any pap
ne money again. But they have, and now pr
ed family is rife.
cd A few evenings since, l heard sermon d
IN. livered by a clergyman just from England,
no which he took occasion to speak of the fes