Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-21
For the State Sentinel.
University of INSTRUMENTATION OF TN .
Democratic students.
"UsIvERsiTY or MIcHIGAs,"l
ANN ARBoR, Mich. Dec. II, '63.

"UsIvERslTY OF MIcHIGAs,"1
ANN ARBoR, Mich. Dec. II, '63.
EDiroR SExrIsEL:-We cannot request for the
following resolutions the space in your columns
necessary for their publication without first ex-
planning. as due TO your many readers. as well as
to ourselves, the causes which have induced US to
place them before the public.
On the 4th of November last, delegation of
students from the University visited Hon. @. L.
Vallandig cham at Windsor, Q. W. This affair
has elected considerable comment from the Wese-
ern press. and quite degree of feeling has been
inspired among the people. Republican journals
have industrously circulated the report that the
| University OF Michigan is "copperhead institu-
ton" This assertion fred she hearts of certain
Republican members of the University and they
heroieaiiy resolved to cast it off,
On Saturday morning, December 5th, they
held meeting and their indignation found vent
in series of resolutions which for falsity and
scurrility we venture to say, cannot be excelled.
These resolutions have boen published, and
through them it has gone forth to the world that
the character of the University is essentially Re
publican, that the Democratic attendance is in
significant in numbers and inferior in scholarship.
To day this false impression has been corrected,
and it has been demonstrated beyond question
that the Democratic element of our proud institu
ton is neither insignificant nor inferior and that
the cardinal principles of democracy here i've
supported by, a body of students, intelligent, nu
merous, and, above all, fearless. There has been
to- day meeting of the Democratic students. 1t
bad been proposed to assemble in the Law Chapel,
but this room was closed against US by the Fac
ulty. Not inundated. however the Democracy
procured at once the largest hall in the city. Mr..
| O'Neal then, as Chairman, called the meeting to
order. when the following resolutions were unan-
mously adopted:
Recognizing the validity of those great pr!nci
Piles founded in natural justice, and underlying
the structure of all equitable society; deriving
their authority from the constitution of man, aud
their sanction from the experience of ages-prin-
ciples fifty expressed by the great charter of
| English liberty, which declares that no freeman
shall be tlken or imprisoned or dissezed, or out
lawed, or banished, or in any way destroyed. un-
less by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the
laws of the land: and
WHEREAS. Clement L. Vallandigham having
been forcby seized by military powers, tried by
an authority unrecognized by the Constitution OF
the United States, and condemned for nothing
else but the exercise of the inalienable right OF
free speech, was driven within the lines of re-
bellion hateful alike to his country and to him.
self; and
WHEREAS, The said Clement L. Vallandig-
ham, sympathziug in no respect with the enc
mics of his government, and therefore dsdaning
to remain in their midst. has taken refuge be-
meath the flag of a neutral power; and
WHEREAS, A delegation of students from the
university of Michigan have. in unosten-
tatious manner, visited him in his retreatr and
WHEREAS, This action of the said delegation
has met malignant and unauthorized censure
from certain Republican members of the Uni.
versity as being unpatriotic and disloyal there
tIre, beit
Resoiped, That we consider the Punishment oil
G. L Vallandigham not only cruel as an act OF
cruel injustice him. but also a fragrant breach
OF constitutional provisions, and an encroach
ment upon the rights of all American citizens
and while we profess to be true to the Govern
ment we nevertheless unhesitatingly condemn tbs
action of the Administration in this matter.
g Tha ia the internal administration OF tn,
State, the only legitimate exercise of mtar,
power is not in the subversion of law, but in aid
of the civil authority to enforce the law anC
maintain is supremacy; that es citizens we ow'
no obedience TO military law, and no submission
to military dctation; that we acknowledge NJ
rgt. of censorship in any person, party or ad
ministration over our conduct, politics or morals
, and that the exercise OF any such power is an in
: fringement of our rights. and insult to thu
dignity of every American citizen.
3. That the true principles of LOYALTY consist II
obedience and devotion to the Constitution as tn
$ supreme law of the land, as interpreted by tn
, courts, and as sustained by the faith and hstor
e of our country.
4 a. That we brand the resolutions recent
e passed by the Republican members, of the Uni
e versity. unmerited. unjust and untruthfu, con
ceived in an intoerant and bigoted spirit and car
ried with unfairness and threats.
5. That while we do not desire to create tn
impression that the University of Michigan la
, any partisan character whatever, we nevertheless
claim that the course of the present Administers
ton in the conduct of the war is deprecated, tina
their assumption of arbitrary power is opposed
and that their high handed acts of tyranny ar
execrated by at least three hundred of its mem
|, bers.