The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-06-17

4th inst. We have already noticed, TO some
extent, the part taken on that secession by Fer
nando Wood, oas of the principal midwives bat
the proceedings Of that remarkable Convention
deserve a more extended notice.
Among other things the Convention put forth
an Address, in which they claimed the right TO
speak for the Democratic party, inasnsch as
they express the sentiments Of the masses that
vote the Democratic ticket" We have room
only for an abstract Of this address.
They assert that the Democratic party in 1861, |
yielded TO the insanity of the moment and its
leaders, and "repndiated the fundamental truths
Of the party" What they claim these funda- !
mental truths to be, We discover little further
on.
They assest that foremost among those prin-
ciples is that Of the ssvereignty Of The States.
This is the corner stone Of the party, and upon
it rests the whole fabric. One Of the inferenees
drawn from this position is, that the National
Government has DO right TO cOercs the States,
By the use Of military force, into obedience to
the constitution :" and they fully endorse the
doctrine once asserted by Gov Seymour, 'thst
successful coercion is as much revelation as
successful secession"
10 order to induce Democrats to sustain their
peculiar views, they claim that ITO support the
var is to support con6scation-not by the courts
under the constitution, bat by aets OF Congress
contrary to the constitution emancipation and
arbitrary arrests, not by any lawful authority,
but by the monstrous aud frightful nsurpations
of the President subjugatios, not to bring the
South back into the Union, bat TO reduce it TO
the condition Of territories, and convert it into
one vast San Domingo" OF the other arguments
they employ for the same purpose, one is, that
I'VE cannot conquer the South" and another,
that "the only road TO Democratic victories is
through peace" Peace is the deduction OF
their arguments, for they sum up this point by
stating, that "the war being unconstitutional, it
cannot be prosecuted consttutionally.
We call especial attention to the following
passage from the address, which embraces the
whole argument in a nutshell, and places the
subject in = light so clear that no one need be
mi-led BY these heresies OF secession, unless his
brains are copper plated The address says:
1--WE can see 10 consistency in endeavoring
TO make an issue between supporting the war
and the Emancipation Proclamation. IL would
rs oe permanently sGccetsiuI, must be bull. up-
On principle, and not upon mutabe facts II
the G neral Government have the moral or con
stituIiOnsl -ignt TO make war upon the States
tor its own salvation, then it is without restraint
a. 10 The means used directly for that purpose
1 III rr2t..
constitution does not l,mit the number VI men
that Co gress NAV Call TO AIMS, nor specify what
color they shall b.. but il crrcts how they shall
De- mustered IN aud managed II the Govern
ment has the right e. lombard the cities burn
The property aud divide the States Of tire ,uth
Il has right 70 say that one particular Species
ct th~ir property may be wrested from them by
ary means not Inconsistent with civilized var
The Emsncipatio Proclamation is not 50 clrarlv
violation OF principle aud an assumption If ar
pitary power as the division of The State Of
Virginia"
The address closes by asserting that the war
must eud i our liberties are preserved, and that
there is no d ference between War Democrats
and Republicans" In conclusion, the commit
tee submitted the following resolutions which
~ere UNANIMOUSLY adoDteu, auu wnicn sc pub |
Iish in full. they may be valuable for future
reference;
ResoiVed, That the electors and people of the |
State OF New York, VINO have hitherto profes
sed the name and held 10 the principles known
DemOci attic, desire TO declare their unatera-
Ole attachment a. we'll to those truths, As TO the /
constitution and the amendments thereto. form /
ing the supreme law of the land that thew r.
gard obedience 70 the Constitution As alike the |
duty OF the citizen and the magistrate, and re-
gard such obedience as the only means of Der.
peIussing the Union. aud BY it the ORly hope Of
restoring the same.
Resotved, That the sovereignty Of the States
and the sovereignty OF the people, as laid down
N the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions. OF
which Jefferson and Madison we're the authors.
are the fundamental principles Of the Democrat
&c party that they are the vital essence of the
Consultation, pervHding every line and provision
OF that instrument, and TO deny them would re.
duee our political Federative system to anarchy
or despotsm.
Resolved, That under the Constitution there
is power in the Federal Government To co
cree the States, or any number Of them. bv mil
itary force. If power of coercion exists at all.
It 10 legal power, aud not military That the
Democratic party, if true eits own time honored
principles, cannot sustain q war against sover-
eisu states thAt We OeneVe II 10 be the duty
Of the party to proclaim these sentiments boldly.
that the people may feel that there is at least
one political organization which will deal honest.
y, independently and truthfully with them.
ResoEusd, That the war in its inception and
further continuance, being contrary to the Con |
must necessarily fast consume all the
elements OF Union, and hence that our duty as
citizens, our obligations men, and our relations
10 our common Father alike demand that an '
md should be put to what is repugnant to the /
ar, abhorreRt to the humanity aud civilization q
'f this enlightened era, and inconsistent with O
he benignsnt spirit OF morality aud religion.
Resotrea that the attempts to do aTay with [
he proVisieEs OF the Constitution, which point y
'ut the mode in which all crimes are to be pun b
shed, are high handed VIC lations of the sworn '
iuties of our rulers, and that the participants in
sch policy are guilty of aiming a psrrcidial
'low at the very life Of the supreme law.
Resoived, That the claim Of dictatorial and
power, under the pretext of military
necessity, and the trial of citizens, lot in the .
and or naval forces, or in the militia in setusI
ervice, by Courts Martial, are monstrous in the
ry aud execrable in practice. That il is EQUIV r
lent to al entire abrogi alton Of the Constitution il
nd the erection in its place OF military dspos U
sun.
RESOLVED, That the dogma OF unlimited sinh
nissiOn TO the viii of the Executive branch of
ne Government, is unworthy OF an American c
itiren, and moor sistent with the principles OF v