The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-06-09
"reminiscences of Mchigan'S Legisia
ton During the War ofthe
Rebellion.

Written by Hon J. J. Woodman, member of
Michigan legislature from 1861 TO 1872, and speak
during the sessions Of 90, 20, II and -, and
speaker pro TEN during session Of 1867.
To clearly understand the condi-
tons and influences surrounding the
legislature of 1861, a brief review of
the state of the country at that time
seems TO be necessary. The question
of African slavery had long been the
cause Of a bitter controversy between
the North and South. The fugitive
slave law, the bred Scott decision
and the repeal of the Missouri COM
promise, were not sufficient to satisfy
the South; and the election of 1860
demonstrated that secession from the
federal union, which had long been in
contemplation was to be inaugurated.
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglass were the opposing candi-
dates of the two great political parties
of the nation, and nominated at their
national convention. Both were
known to be a BILE. honest and conServ-
ative men. But they were both
northern men, and hoping to defeat
both, the South put two independent
southern candidates into the field
Breckenridge of Kentucky and Bell
of Tennessee, in order to divide the
electoral vote and throw the election
OF president into the house of repre-
sentatives, where they had confidence
Of success. But the triumphant cleo
= &C. Il,
for secession.
In his fourth annual message to
congress, December 3, 1860, President
Buchanan expressed the opinion that
mo power existed in the constitution
to prevent secession, or force a seced-
ing state back into the union;" and on
the Goth day of that month South Car
DINA issued an ordinance of secession.
Under this troubled condition of the
country the legislature convened on
the ID day of January, 1901. The
members had been elected by the two
political parties, but political differ
ences seemed to be forgotten or laid
aside, and the all important questions
were, what course should the general
government pursue and what action
should the Michigan legislature take?
States were seeding, the property of
the government confscated, and the
administration had declared that there
was no remedy. Members differed in
their opinions upon these questions.
Some thought that the seeding states
should be permitted TO go in peace
and establish a separate government.
Others, perhaps more radical, claimed
that such a course would be ruin TO
must be saved, peaceably if possible,
but at whatever the cost might be. 1t
was also evident that Canada was
sympathizing with and encouraging
the seeding states; and in case of an
armed conflict, it was claimed would
become an ally Of the South, and that
Detroit and other cities along the
border were unprotected. A measure
was finally introduced to bond the
state for 500, 600 for a defense fund
to be used in case of necessity.
Among the members of the house,
whose influence had much weight,
were James f. Joy and Sullivan NJ.
Cutchen of Detroit, Judge William T.
Howell of Newago and Thomas ID.
Gilbert of Grand Rapids. And in the
senate Judge Soloman l.. Whitney and
John b. Owen. In opposing the meas
ure, Mr.. Joy said: "a bomb from
the Canadian shore would make me
as poor as l came into the world, and
yet l would rather see that 500, 600
sunk in the Detroit river than to see
it appropriated for such a purpose. "
1t was the opinion of large majority
of both houses that no act should be
passed that could be construed as
preparation for an armed conflict.
On the 10th of January, 1901, the leg
islature of Virginia adopted a series
of resolutions, calling for a conven-
ton of delegates from all of the states,
North and South, to meet in the city
of Washington on the 4th of February,
to consider and adopt some measure
(which would guarantee TO the slaveA
holding states adequate security for
their rights. The resolutions also