470 



MICHIGAN. 



right of secession to exist in all the States, and 

 no government then remains to us hut only a 

 voluntary association of States, dissolvable at 

 the pleasure of any of them. 



" If South Carolina may of right secede, then 

 may also New York and Louisiana, thus cutting 

 off the free right of way of the entire North- 

 west to the ocean in both directions. The 

 doctrine cannot be admitted. Self-preservation, 

 if no other reason, would compel us to resist." 



He claimed that the Constitution of the United 

 States is not a compact or league between in- 

 dependent sovereign States; on the contrary, 

 that it is the foundation of a government estab- 

 lished by the people of the United States as a 

 whole, perpetual in its character, and possess- 

 ing all the elements of a sovereign power and 

 nationality. He denied that the Personal 

 Liberty laws have had the effect to prevent the 

 execution of the Fugitive Slave law in a single 

 instance, but whenever an appeal had been 

 . made to the Courts to enforce that law, it has 

 been done in good faith. 



He invited judicial scrutiny into the legislation 

 of the State, and was willing to abide by the 

 result, but was not willing that the State should 

 be humiliated by compliance with the demand 

 to repeal these laws, accompanied by threats of 

 violence and war. He concluded by recom- 

 mending that, at an early day, the Legislature 

 should make it manifest to their representatives 

 in Congress, and to the country, that Michigan 

 was loyal to the Union, the Constitution and 

 the laws, and would defend them to the utter- 

 most, and proffer to the President of the United 

 States the whole military force of the State for 

 that purpose. 



The Legislature acted upon this recommenda- 

 tion, and on the 2d of February passed the fol- 

 lowing resolutions : 



Whereas ; certain citizens of the United States are at 

 this time in open rebellion against the Government, 

 and by overt acts threaten its peace and harmony, and 

 to compass its final overthrow ; therefore, 



Resolved, That the Government of the United States 

 is supreme, with full inherent powers of self-protection 

 and defence. 



Resolved, That Michigan adheres to the Government 

 as ordained by the Constitution, and, for sustaining 

 it intact, hereby pledges and tenders to the General 

 Government all its military power and material re- 

 sources. 



Resolved, That concession and compromise are not 

 to be entertained or offered to traitors, while the rights 

 and interests of Union-loving citizens should be re- 

 garded and respected in every place and under all 

 circumstances. 



Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be re- 

 quested to forward a copy of these resolutions to our 

 Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to the 

 Governors of our sister States. 



The same day a resolution which had been 

 offered in the Senate, authorizing the Governor 

 to appoint five commissioners to the Peace Con- 

 vention at "Washington, was rejected yeas 15, 

 nays 15. 



On the llth of March, after an animated 

 debate, the House of Kepresentatives indefi- 

 nitely postponed the consideration of the bill 



for the repeal of the Personal Liberty law : yeas 

 48, nays 24. 



The call of the President for troops on the 

 15th of April met with a hearty response from 

 the people of Michigan. On the 1 7th inst., the 

 venerable Gen. Cass made a vigorous and 

 earnest speech in favor of the war, and the 

 maintenance of the Union and the Constitution. 

 In every part of the State men and means 

 were promptly offered. On the 25th of April 

 the Governor issued his proclamation for an 

 extra session of the Legislature to meet on 

 the 7th of May. Five regiments had then been 

 offered to him, and nine were forming. The 

 Legislature met at Lansing on the 7th of May. 

 Governor Blair's Message recommended that 

 the law of last session, providing for raising 

 two regiments, should be amended to authorize 

 four more, with power to raise ten if needed; 

 that volunteers, while in service of the State 

 preparatory to being mustered into service of 

 the United States, should be paid the same rate 

 as they were entitled to after being mustered 

 into that service ; also that all subsequent en- 

 listments should be for three years, unless 

 sooner discharged. To meet every exigency, 

 he favored a loan of not less than one million 

 of dollars, bonds to be issued in small amounts, 

 in which case he believed the whole would be 

 taken by citizens of this State ; and he also re- 

 commended the Legislature to enact a law 

 authorizing townships to levy taxes for the 

 support of families of volunteers. 



The Legislature adjourned on the llth, hav- 

 ing first passed the military, volunteer relief, 

 and loan bills, by a unanimous vote. The first 

 provided that new regiments could be enrolled 

 as directed by the Governor, and be transfer- 

 able at the President's order into the Federjil 

 service. The loan bill provided for $1,000,000 

 loan, by the issue of bonds running 25 years, 

 and drawing seven per cent, interest. 



The quota of Michigan, under the call for 

 three-months men, was only a single regiment, 

 and only one was enlisted for that time ; all 

 subsequent enlistments being for three years. 

 On the 1st of January, 1862, the State had 

 raised, and sent into the field, besides this re- 

 giment, according to the report of Adjutant- 

 General Bobertson, the following troops : 



Infantry regiments 17 



Cavalry regiments (in service) 3 



Lancers' regiment (organizing) 1 



Engineer regiment 1 



Sharpshooters, companies 6 



Artillery, companies 7 



Horseguard, battalion 1 



The foregoing is composed of the following 

 number of men : 



Commission officers 663 



Enlisted men. 20,885 



Companies organized in Michigan, and gone into 



service in other States 1,679 



Men enlisted in other States 778 



Total 24,000 



Quota required from Michigan 19,500 



Excess 4,500 



