East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-02-17
EAST SAGINAW MICHIGAN, FEBRUARY II. 1863.
Resolutions Of the Democratic
n. state Convention.

&. i-. State Convention.
: The following resolutions were unati
mously adopted by the Democratic
State Convention held at Detroit, Feb
III, 1863. co. 5.seH s~
ResOiCcd, That the condition towhicf
our country has been brought hy tn,
radical and hostile factions, North anc
South, calls upon every democrat t.
stand by the old landmarks, and the
principles of the democratic party.
That we stand by the constitution
the Union, the laws and the persona
liberty Of the citizen, and hold him un
worthy to enjoy constitutional freedom
who is willing to sacrifice any or eithe,
of these to the corrupt faction which
has set up and is attempting to WELD
despotic and arbitrary power at Wash
ington. .eg -.a it.i-.l l4 a14-Ia
ResOlred, That the allegiance Of the
citizen is due alone to the constitution
and laws made in pursuance thereof
not To any man, or officer, or admins
tration-and whatever support is due
to any officer Of this government is due
alone by virtue of the constitution and
the laws. f''-l'' "'
ReSolccd, That the Union has no ex
istence separte from the Federal con.
stitution, but, being created solely by
that instrument, it can only exist by
virtue thereof, ami, when the provisions
of that consti' ution are Suspended
either in time of war or in peace. wheth.
er by the North or the South, it is alike
disunion. .....l
Resolycd, That tho constitution can.
not be maintained, nor tho Union pre-.
served, III opposition TO public feeling,
by the mere exercise Of coercive powers,
confided to the general government, and
that, in case of differences and conflicts
between the States and the Federal
government, too powerful for adjust
nent by the civil departments of the
government, the appeal is not to the
sword by the States or by the general
government, but to the people, peace.
fully assembled by their representatives
in convention.
Resolred, further, therefore, That, to
attain the objects of the foregoing reso.
luton, we hereby memorable the Con
gress of the United States, the admin.
istration at Washington, and the Ex.
ecutives and Legislatures Of the several
States, TO take such immediate action
as may be necessary to enable the peo.
pie to meet in convention aforesaid; and
we therefore earnestly recommend ia
our fellow citizens everywhere to oh.
serve and keep all their lawful and con.
stitutional obligations, to abstain from
all violence, and meet together and
reason each with the other upon the
best mode Ia attain the great blessings
of peace union and liberty. .lr
Resoiced, That there can be no liberty
where there is not frcedom Of speech
and freedom of the press, and that, in
the language of DAME! Webster: "Sen
timents lately sprung up, and now grow
ing popular, render it neceasHry to be
explicit an this point. 1t is the ancient
and constitutional right of this people
10 canvass public measures and the
merits of public men 1t is home
bred right-a fireside privilege. 1t ha,
ever been enjoyed in every honse, cot
tage, and cabin in the nation. 1t Is no
to be drawn into controversy. Tt j. as
uhdouhted as the right Of breathing tn,
air and walking on the earth. Belong
ing to private life IS right it belong,
to public life as duty. This high con
stitutional right we defend and exercise
in all places, 10 times Of war and il
times of peace, and in all times living
we will assert it; dying we will assert
| it., and, should we leave no other legacy
TO our children, by tho blessing cf Coz
we will leave them, the ipberitance o
free principles, and the example of !
manly, independent and constitutions
defense of them" .t...i.,os ,s. ,o...-.
i Rssolped, That the act of the Fedora
administration, 10 suspcuding the wri
OF habeas corpas, the arrest of citizen
not subject tn military law, withou
warrant or authority; transporting then
to distant States; incarcerating then
without charge or accnsa,ion; denyin:
them the right of trial by jury, wit
nesses intheir favor, and counsel 70
their defense; withholding from tbeu
all knowledge of their sccusers, ant
: the cause of their arrest; answering
their, petitions for redress by repeate,
injury and insult; prescribing in man.
cases, as q condition of their release
test oaths, arbitrary and illegal; in tn
abridgment. of freedom Of speech and o
the press; 10 suppresSing newspaper
by military force, and establishing a ecu
sorship wholly incompatible with th
freedom of thought anil expression O
: opinion; in the establishment of sys
TEN of espionage by secret police, Y
G invade the sacred privacylof unsuspect
ing citizens; in declaring martial Law
over States not in rebellion, and wher
the courts are open aud unobstructc,
, for the punishment of crime; IN declar
ing the slaves of loyal, as well as dialoy
al citizens, in certain States ani part
of States, free; in the attempted enforce
, ment of compensated emancipation; il
, the proposed taxation of the laboripI
white man To purchase the freedom an