Year: 1862




leaders of The revolt iel the ayengng power OF
outraged people and the just c. Of the laws. Let
il not be said that by any mitigation OF the punish
me OF those who responsible for this great crime
against liberty, order and law, We give encourage
ment In the fnlu to the il famous repetition of this
great wickednesss And those who after the opper- |
tuny Of rctrving their error, and of returning TO
loyalty has been freely offered persist in revolt must
also share in the punishment of the leaders. The
display Of the power of the Government must be
made complete in the punishment of those to pardon
whom would be crime against our postsrity.


But b'youd this, in all our dealings with the peo-
Pile of the South IL is duty to adhere TO the Con-
stuon, in all its parts, with all implications, aud
all its guarantees. Towards those Who have lie de-
ceived aud misled who have cherished their love OF
/ the Union and kept silence only under compusion
and when resistance to their usurapaton would have
been fruitless themselves to u.s. must observe
the Constitution which protects their rights well as
IL must not be said that under the pretence of
defending the Constitution, We violate its plain letter
and evident spirit, those who have rebeed against
the Constitution without pcrtcxt excuse in the
beginning, when the authority of the goverl m mt
is established and they are completely subject to its
WILL they must not be permitted to point 10 SIN lie
violation Of the Constitution in all the action OF the
| government towards them.
| And while shall not, this occasion tread upon
the delicate ground of political controversy may
not say, that If there any who, by method and
with heart which finds warrant Ia the Constu-
ton, and which no necessity demands, would accom-
plish great REFORM and ep away, at once an
evil which, it is undeDiabe, II at the foundation of
the rebellion, and its occasion and pretext should
not such reflect that it, a gradual and certain
suit Of the war, by the action Of the people most in
tercsted 10y the inevitable influence OF Northern id, as
and Northern emigration this great reform can be ac
complshed, IL will be far better than to exert doubt


u powers to stretch the Constitution albeit to serve
desirable purpose, when an adherence TO the Con-
sttuon is only simple duty towards those who
have stood fast by the Union in evil days, and will
most successfully aud completely restore the Union,
f its restoration is possible and reconstruct the Re
public in its ancient form and spirit.


Rightly to direct and successfully to accomplish
this noble work of restoring the Union, is the task
not only OF rulers and atesmen, but OF the people
Aud when consider what multitude Of issues are
To grow out OF recent events, how widely the field OF
our politics is TO be enlarged what vast questions of


finance, of domestic and foreign relations concerning
our enlarged military and naval power and the neces
sites thereby imposed upon us, our increased public
burdens and their influence upon industrial pursuits
all the great questions and duties which will be forced
upon in the future, must seriously feel that all
the patriotism and intelligence of the people is to be
called in requisiton to control these great issues to
safe and happy results.


And the primary duty Of the people, in view Of
these things is to elevate the standard of ability and
character in those who aspire to public life, and 10
count no man worthy the trust Of leadership who is
not fitted by wisdom, training, experience, and in
tegrty ro the high duty OF guiding the counselS and
directing the action of great people. In the new
exeghces that are upon us, can the people insist too





are public servants : Looking back upon the whole
history of the causes which have brought our pres
ent trials upon US, we are of this corruption and
weakness in public life have been not the least among
the sources of our calamtes. No country is safe,
when ambition, lust of power, self seeking and ava
rice become the controlling motives of legislators and
rulers. We have seen period of decline in public
virtue, let the better age OF craftsmanship be
newed. Our public men must look back to the
ler days Of the Republic and If they can find in the
teachings of the Fathers counscls Immediately ap-
pcabe to the new questions and large interests of
The present tme they may at least emulate the strcnu
ons public virtue the selfsacricing fidelity the abb
solving patriotism of those who our liberties and
bu ded our institutions, the compcers and associates
of Washington, and in their day and generation,
serve faithfully and well in their high functions of
leaders and statesmen of an enlightened Christian
! people.


In tho future work and destiny Of the American
Republic, in that of empire, prosperity, and
success which, We may confidently hope, is yet be-
fore Us, the share of the region in which lot is
cast is 10 be large and influential perhaps larger and
more influential than that of any other section of the
Union. And il is no reproach to us, even this day
while we give hearty praise and honor to all sections
of the North, that we congratulate ourselves in the
recollection that In this great contest for the existence
Of the government, the Northwest has shown her ap


probation of the interest she has in the manainance
Of the Union and the pcrpetuity Of institutions
Nowhere else has patriotism been more fcrvent or
self-sacrifcing; nowhere else has there been moro
cheerful submission to the burdens which i'm
poses upon the people; nowhere else did the sum-
mons " to arms for the defence of the Union find
reader response Let history record it the praise
and glory OF the men OF the Northwest that upon
hundred fields In every scene of siege encounter,


In every day of trial or danger in every strait peril
OF battle, their vaior, endurance and resolution have
not been unworthy to be compared with that of their
brethren from all othr section OF the country in that
great army of the Union in which there is rivalry
except in devotion to common cause.


And 1t is privilege and pride to-day fellow cit
zens to dwell with peculiar satisfaction upon the
past which our own Michigan has taken In the work
: of the past year. and to rejoice when remember
that she has not fallen behind the foremost of her
sister States in patriotic ardor in eager aud active
$ loyalty To-day we recall the heroic record Of our
brethern of the Michigan regime nts, from the begin
ing of the war down To this very hour and proud
that there is no line of that record which does not
tell Of courage, constancy and dprowss IL is enough
Of glory for Michigan to remember the field Of Man
assas lost indeed, but forever honorable for where
brcthcrn and friends In the ranks of the first Mich


gan, took part in that disgra,ci roue and that sad
j der day upon James Island, where the men of the
, Eighth Michigan marched with steady step and l.
fatering bravery, through the storm Of fire, two GU;
! of every five, to certain death. What monumental
marble, or what words Of paneygic can tly express
our grateful homage for the conduct of our brcth-
ren OF Michigan, foremost upon these memorable
fields, and on so many Others during the year that
represented these What offerings of thankfuness
and praise Of gratitude and love, shall We not pour
ont at the feet OF those who, We trust, will speedily
y return 10 Dcarltg tnc banners unucr WniCn We
then forth, ablaze with the glory of their
herosm and loaded with the laurels and tropics OF
victory


Shall we not rise up with one accord to offer wei
u come and honor to returning heroes, WILLIAMS
}, RICHARDSON, FRNroy, ROBERTS, BRoDHBAD, STocK-
= TON, TsRaY, CHAxPEis, (but why mention names J
To all that noble company Of leaders and men, whose
c names will be cherished in the hearts Of the people
Of Michigan, long the shall rise upon thi.


beautiful Peninsula, or the waters Of rivers shal
" flow downward to the main. Nor, trust will tha