Year: 1861

THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE


The message Of Governor BLAIR, in so
Ear as it relates to State affairs, is cred
liable paper; and seems all the more so in
contrast with the wretched intliction Of
his Immediate predecessor. II is con-
else, terse, and done in good English,
while that of his predecessor is intermin-
able, loose, verbose, and done in English
Of which the Ounce of the primary school
should blush to be guilty. And the con.
trast is as great between the general
views and character Of the recommenda-
tons OF tue two papers. The general
views of the former disclose acquaintance
with the principles of sound political
economy, and the recommendations have
reference to the present and prospective
financial ability of the State; while the
general views Of the latter are those of a
charlatan and spendthrift, and the recon-
mendations in perfect consistency with
these views. But the views and recon-
mendations of the latter are not of the
slightest consequence, and the whole per-
formance is of no other consequence than
that abroad it will lower public respect
for us as people.


We shall not be understood as endors-
ing all the views and recommendations
of Governor BLAIR with regard to State
affairs. We find no difficulty, however,
in concurring generally with him with
regard to the financial policy that should
be pursued. We trust he will adhere tn
this policy; for if he shall, and if he shall
influence the Legislature to cooperate
with him, q return viii be inaugurated
to the sound condition which disiin-
guished the State under the sdministra-
tons of Gov. BARRY and his democratic
SUCCESSORS. .. ..


We are glad that we can thus speak in
commentator of Governor BLAIR in his
relation to State affairs, If he shall con-
tinue to merit commendation, we shall as
freely accord it to him as we accord it
now. We cannot express how much we
deplore that he has not given us the
opportunity to commend him. as cordially
in his relation to National affairs. We
had hoped aad prayed that he would, in
view of the awful calamities hanging
over the country, cast aside partisanship,
and, rising TO the stature of patriot,
contribute, as he might have greatly
contributed, to arrest the course of
events which, if they shall not he specdi-
ly arrested, will involve the country in
the most terrible civil conflict the world
has ever known. We had hoped that Of
Governor BLAIR, and every good citizen
had right to hope it. We need not
discuss the question with him. But he
should have understood that it is not
South Carolina, nor the disunion leaders
of other States, that he is called upon to
aid in concliating. They've speak of
the leaders do not mean to be concili-
ated. They have not asked and do not
desire that the northern personal liber-
ty" laws should be repealed. They de-
sire that they should not be repealed
1t is the southern Union men who have
asked that these laws should be repealed,
because the repeal Of them would
strengthen their hands in the contest for
the Union, and remove one great STUN
bling block to an amicable adjustment Of
the difficulties. II is cruel in the North
not to meet these Southern Union men
half way-net to strengthen their hands
in the unequal contest which has been
cast upon them, and which they cannot
sustain unless they shall have just sach
aid as the repeal of these laws. The
circulation of Coz. BLAIR's message
through the South would carry ten thou
sand men out of the Union ranks into
those of the secessonists. Let his atti-
tude be the attitude of the North, and
irretrievablc dissolution ensues. 1t is
idle, utterly, ridiculously idle, to talk
about holding the Union together by
force. One State, or perhaps three or
four States, might be coerced if all the
others were agreed, but fourteen or ff-
teen States never. Fifteen States can
not be conquered, or, should they, what
then? .A'.


1t is by this time plain to every com
prehension, we think, that there are but
two alternatives before us: compromise
or civil war. The North must choose
between them. A part of any compro-
mise must be the repeal of the personal
liberty laws; for, we care not what any
BODY says to the contrary, they are design
ed to nullify the fugitive slave law. We
will not believe, until the belief shall be
forced upon us, that Michigan will do
nothing to avert civil war = that shc will
do nothing to save the Union from com.
plete and everlasting overthrow. For
lust 90 sure as there shall be war between
the North and South, the Union will be
overthrown, never to be re united.


We appeal TO TUE LEGIsLATuRE OF
Michigan to speak as we have not y doubt
THE People OF Michigan would speak il


they had the opportunity. We appeal
to them e. remove this obnoxious law


which is useless for any purpose, and the


refusal to remove which will 6ishcarter


every southern Union man. We appea


TO them to lay aside partisanship and tc


do that which will he hailed with Joy al


over the land. We appeal TO them tc


assist in paving the way for peaceful


administration by ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Free Press.


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the more graceful they become in thei
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