Year: 1861

when the whole country is excited, and
the cry of disunion is ringing in our
ears. We cannot shut our eyes to the
painful truth that one portion of our
common country is fast arraying itsell
against another-that already one OF
the sovereign States of this Republic
has declared by a solemn ordinance OF
her people that she no longer forms an
integral part of this Union, and that
other States are expected soon to follow
her example.


Michigan cannot remain an indif-
ferent spectator when she sees sister
State thus attempting to subvert the
happiest government on earth, and dis
member and b~eak in fragments the
union of the States. We love the
Union. Our fidelity and loyalty never
have been, and will not now be ques-
toned. 1t is but natural then that we
should wish to know what good cause,
if any, really exists for this most un-
natural estrangement of our southern
sister. 1t is claimed that the non-
slaveholding States are trampling upon
the constitutional rights of the slave
holding, and that the Republican party
was organized and has elected the
President of the United States for the
purpose of aggression upon the institu-
ton of slavery in the States where it
legally exists. We deny the charge.
We say distinctly, that although we
loathe and detest the institution of
slavery, yet we have no intention of
interfering with it in the States where
it is now tolerated by law. Neither
have we any desire or disposition to
interfere with the constitutional rights
of any one of our sister States. The
constitution under which we have lived
for more than seventy years was passed
by shareholders, and ratified by slave
holding people. 1t is made up of con-
cessions and compromises, without
which it could never have been adopted,
and we believe it to be the most perfect
form of government that human wisdom
could devise. 1t is not a pro-slavery
instrument; on the contrary, its declared
object is to "secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
1t recognizes the existence of slavery
as q State and not as national insti-
tuition, and provides for the rendition
of the fugitive. 1t is a form of gov.
ernment created by the people and not
by the States, and none but the people
can abrogate it. Each and every part
of that instrument is equally binding
upon all, and no one part is more sacred
than another. So careful were our
fathers in guarding against the extern
sion of slavery into the Territories-the
common property of the United States
that two months before the adoption
of the constitution, Congress passed
an ordinance foreverprohibiting slavery
upon every foot of the Territories then
owned by the United States. The in
stitution of slavery was considered as
local in its character, and of temporary
duration. Gradually, however, has it
increased both in magnitude and power
until it now threatens our peace and
demands nationality at the hands of the
government, or in default thereof the
compact entered into by our fathers
shall be broken, and this proud temple
of liberty desecrated to unholy pur-
poses. For more than thirty years
portions of our common country have
shown restlessness of spirit not at all
compatible with our peace and har-
mony, and now, as if emboldened by
the successes Of the past, the startling
doctrine is advanced that no real union
has ever existed between us-that it
was all a myth--that the government
which our fathers intended to be as
lasting as the hills, is really limited in
duration by the will of any particular
State-that Cuba, after we shall have
purchased her for three hundred mil
lions of dollars, may go back to Spain
and again offer herself for sale in the
market. Another doctrine, still more
startling, if possible, than the former,
is also advanced. 1t is that this mighty
nation whose flag has floated in every
sea, and in every cline, is now power
less in the hands of any State that may
see fit to secede and treat her laws with
contempt; as if the right of self pres
ervation and protection were not inher-
ent in every government! Are the
army and navy Of the United States
''useless Institutions" and only to be
employed for the protection of slavery
in the territories? /? Is there no virtue
in that part of the Constitution which
declares it to be the duty of the Prcsi-
dent "to take care :hat the laws be
faithfully executed ?" Is the oath which
he takes ''to preserve, protect and de-
fend the Constitution" an idle mockery
of words? The recent election of a
Republican President is made one of
the grounds of complaint against the
North. The Constitution and the laws
of the land point out the manner of
electing the President. ] believe the
late election was conducted strictly in
accordance with law. ] have heard of
no instance of alleged fraud in any one
of the States casting its vote for the
Republican candidate. No riot at the
polls-no sstufing" of ballot boxes-no
fraudulent returns-no driving of free
citizens from the polls at the point of
the bayonet. On the contrary, all was
peace and quiet, and the friends of the
numerous candidates for that high
Office had fair opportunity of being