MICHIGAN. 



645 





neither easy nor desirable. With reference to 

 the election proposed to be held, and the sug- 

 gestion of M. Drouyn de 1'Huys that an early 

 acknowledgment of the Empire by the United 

 States would be convenient to France, he ob- 

 served, " that the United States could not an- 

 ticipate the action of the people of Mexico, and 

 had not the least purpose or desire to interfere 

 with their free choice, or disturb them in the 

 enjoyment of whatever institutions of govern- 

 ment they might, in the exercise of an absolute 

 freedom, establish." He also requested that 

 the French minister might be informed, " that 



Resolved, That the governor be requested to forward 

 a copy of the foregoing preamble and joint resolu- 

 tions to each of our senators and representatives in 

 Congress, and to the governors of the several loyal 



States. 



The only election held during the year was 

 one for the choice of Supreme Court and Cir- 

 cuit Judges and Regents of the University. The 

 democratic nominating convention met at De- 

 troit on Feb. llth, and among the resolutions 

 adopted by it were the following : 



Resolved, That the allegiance of the citizen is due 

 alone to the Constitution and laws made in pursuance 

 thereof not to any man or officer, or administration : 

 the U mted btates continue to regard Mexico as and whatever support is due to any officer of this Gov- 

 the theatre of a war which has not yet ended *>ernment, is due alone by virtue of the Constitution and 

 in the subversion of a government long existing the laws. 



Resolved, That the Union has no existence separate 



there, with which the United States remain in 

 the relation of peace and sincere friendship ; 

 and that, for this reason, the United States are 

 not now at liberty to consider the question of 

 recognizing a government which, in the further 

 chances of war, may come into its place. The 

 United States, consistently with their princi- 

 ples, can do no otherwise than leave the desti- 

 nies of Mexico in the keeping of her own peo- 

 ple, and recognize their sovereignty and inde- 

 pendence in whatever form they themselves 

 shall choose that this sovereignty and independ- 

 ence shall be manifested." 



MICHIGAN. The Legislature of Michigan 

 assembled at Lansing on the 1st "Wednesday of 

 January, 1863, and was organized by the choice 

 of the republican candidates for presiding offi- 

 cers in both branches* Austin Blair, reflected 

 by the republicans governor in the preceding 

 November, was inaugurated on the 8th, and in 

 his message represented the financial condition 

 of the State as satisfactory. The number of 

 troops furnished by Michigan to that date he 

 stated at 45,000 ; but 2,900 were still wanting 

 to complete the quota of the State under the 

 President's call of 1862. He sustained the 

 emancipation policy of Mr. Lincoln and favor- 

 ed the employment of colored men in the U. S. 

 army. On the 9th the Legislature by joint 

 ballot reflected Zachariah Chandler a U. S. 

 ;enator for six years, from March 4th, 1863. 

 n he following resolutions were adopted : 



Whereas, The present rebellion threatens the peace 

 ,nd perpetuity of the Union of the States, and requires 

 he united efforts of all patriotic and loyal citizens to 

 iustain the Administration to restore a permanent and 

 honorable peace to the whole country ; therefore 



Resolved, That we will sustain the National Admin- 

 istration with all the means in our power, in all its ef- 

 forts to quell the present rebellion, and restore peace 

 to the Union. 



Resolved, That we unreservedly approve the Procla- 

 mation of the President of the United States, issued on 

 the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred 

 and sixty-three, abolishing slavery in the insurgent 

 States and districts of the Union, believing it to DC a 

 neasure demanded by the necessities of war, as well as 

 >y the soundest dictates of humanity. 



Resolved, That %ye are unalterably opposed to any 



rms of compromise or accommodation with the reb- 

 els, while under arms, and acting in hostility to the 

 Government of the Union, and on this we express but 

 one sentiment unconditional submission, and obe- 

 dience to the laws and Constitution of the Union. 





from the Federal Constitution, but, being created solely 

 by that instrument, it can only exist by virtue thereof, 

 and, when the provisions of that Constitution are sus- 

 pended, either in time of war or in peace, whether by 

 the North or the South, it is alike disunion. 



Resolved, That the Constitution cannot be maintain- 

 ed, nor the Union preserved, in opposition to public 

 feeling, by the mere exercise of coercive powers con- 

 fided to the General Government, and that, in case of 

 differences and conflicts between the States and the 

 Federal Government, too powerful for adjustment by 

 the civil departments of the Government, the appeal is 

 not to the States or to the General Government, but 

 to the people peacefully assembled, by their represent- 

 atives in convention. 



Resolved, That, to attain the objects of the foregoing 

 resolution, we hereby memorialize the Congress of the 

 United States, the Administration at Washington, .and 

 the Executives and Legislatures of the several States, 

 to take such immediate action as may be necessary to 

 enable the people to meet in convention aforesaid; and 

 we, therefore, earnestly recommend to our fellow citi- 

 zens everywhere to observe and keep all their lawful 

 and constitutional obligations, to abstain from all vio- 

 lence, and meet together, and reason each with the 

 other upon the best mode to attain the great blessing 

 of peace, union, and liberty. 



Other resolutions denounced the attempt to 

 abridge freedom of speech, the suspension of 

 the habeas corpus, arbitrary arrests and impris- 

 onments, the establishment of a censorship of 

 the press, " the proposed taxation of the labor- 

 ing white man to purchase the freedom and se- 

 cure the elevation of the negro," and other 

 " flagrant and monstrous usurpations of the ad- 

 ministration." The " ruinous heresy of seces- 

 sion" was also condemned as " unwarranted by 

 the Constitution and destructive alike of the 

 security and perpetuity of the Government, and 

 the peace and liberty of the people." 



The republican convention met at the same 

 place on Feb. 12th. Their resolutions sustained 

 every prominent administrative act of the 

 President, and declared that, in subduing the 

 rebellion, he should employ every means estab- 

 lished by the rules of warfare among civilized 

 nations. The following embody the substance 

 of their opinions : 



Resolved, That so long as the rebels, with arms in 

 their hands, set at defiance the Constitution and laws 

 of the United States, and openly proclaim their pur- 

 pose to be the destruction of the Government, no 

 terms of compromise or accommodation can be offered 

 or accepted. Unconditional surrender of all armed 

 traitors is the first great law of national life. 



