East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-01-21

: r'T- y II I
the Federal Government This we be-
lieve President Lincoln is honestly aud
sincerely trying to do. His message is
emincntly conservative; so much so that
he is complained Of most bitterly BY ex-
treme partizans on both sides The sbo-
litionists complain of il, because he does
not come out with bold and plain propo-
sitiohs to arm slaves, TO emsncipate, all
who will fee from their masters and flock
TO our armies, and issue a proclamation
declaring al the slaves Of rebel masters
free men. On the other hand the Union
men of Kentucky, as indicated by the
Louisville Journal, complain, because he
has not come out boldly against any such,
policy, and denounced it, and pledged
himself against it. 70 Neither extreme
condemn him for what lie has said, bnt
for what he has not said. Neither party
condemn him so much for what he has
done, as for what he has not done. The
part of Fremont's proclamation modified
and overraled. by the President, was en-
tirely impractical in its character; 1t was
as idle ss the winds, so far as any effect
it could have had upon the slaves Of rsb-
els, or upon the war. Its only effect was
and would have been to, alarm the Union
men of the border States, and all the
slave States, by showing them that the
Administration disregarded the Federal
Constitution, disregsrded State rights,
intended to treat the Federal Government
as consolidated government, and to
seize upon the present wicked rebellion
asa apretence Of justification for welding
all the powers of the government, both
civil and military, to emancipate slaves,
and overturn the institution of slavery.
The President has pursued medium
course ip accordance with the early usages
Of the government, and while he gives
satisfaction to neither party Of the ex-
tremists, we hope his course will be sus-
tanned byja large majority of the people.
If such should not be the case, our Union
will be lost forever. In the present exi
gencies Of our country, threatened with
danger on every side, whether he is right
or wrong, all conservative men should
rally around him as the only ark Of safety.
He is at the head Of the government the
country must have . head and leader
and that leader must be sustained by the
peaple or else the nation must inevitably
60 to ruin. He is our political leader,
= right and is his duty to prescribe the
executive policy of the government, and
TO advise as to its legislative policy. 1t
is his duty to see that the laws are faith
fully execu ted. The Constitution is the
supreme law Of the land, which he has
sworn to support, and be is bound by his
/
oath and his duty to overruls every act
OF his subordinate sppointees, and to
veto every act Of Congress, not in &C.
cordsnce with the Constitution of the
United States. He has vast powers. In
Union there is strength and safety, and
during our present troubles there is no
safety but to cling to him, and follow
whore he leads, let him be right or wrong.
The people Of the North are nearly
unanimous in favor of the Union;. but
unfortunately they are greatly divided in
opinion respecting the constitutions
grounds upon which the Union is based
as we'll as in relation to the proper meas.
ures to maintain the Union in its integ
nty. J The Constitution has established
and the Presidents is in favor of main
tsining, Q confederated government, .
federal union; but some now seem deter
mined to seize upon the war as pre-
text for converting it into consolidated
Upion-rinto consolidated government
} The 4th article of the Bill of Rights o
} the Constitution of Massachusetts,, is a
30 .5VAa ~ ooHapn9G1Lni ocNuF lta
follows: uo bas ,r1fE14he1oo iEsgS 3
: s"The people of this commonwealth
{ have the sole and exclusive right of gov
erning shemsclves, as q free, sovercigl
and independent State; aud do, and for
ever shall, exercise and enjoy every power
jurisdiction and right which is not, o
!, may not hereafter be, by them expressl,
delegated to the United States of Americ'
in Congress sssembled."hqe bos tiuya
mo- The 7th article Of the Bill of Right
contained in the Constitution Of New
4 Hampshire is in nearly the same words
= The same sovereign and independsn
o powers on oil local and municipal ques
J. sioas and matters, pertaining TO th
& State, are retained BY each State. Thi
q IL u ! q IL r