the heads of the traitors who provoke it, must rest the responsibility. In such a contest the God of battles has no attribute that can take sides with the revolutionists of the Slave States. I recommend you at an early day to make manifest. to the gentlemen who represent this State in the two Houses of Congress and to the country, that Michigan is loyal to the Union, the Constitution and the Laws, and will defend them to the uttermost; and to proffer to the President of the United States, the whole military power of the State for that purpose. Oh, for the firm, steady hand of a Washington, or a Jackson, to guide the Ship of State in this perilous storm. Let us hope that we shall find him on the 4th of March. Meantime, let us abide in the faith of our fathers-"Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever." AUSTIN BLAIR. February 14, 1861 From Journal of the House of Representatives, p. 683 TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: I herewith transmit to the Legislature, joint resolutions of the States of New York and Indiana, for the appointment of commissioners from those States, to meet commissioners from other States in the city of Washington, on the invitation of the Legislature of Virginia. Being aware of the previous action of the Legislature upon this subject, I have hesitated before further calling attention to it; but it has seemed to me that the circumstances affecting the propriety of sending the commissioners, are so far changed as to justify a further consid eration of the question. It is, perhaps, also proper for me to say that I have communications from some of the delegation in Congress, indicating, that while they have entirely approved of the previous action of the Legislature, they think that Michigan might now be represented in the so-called Peace Convention, with credit to herself, and benefit to the whole country. It is also said, that if commissioners can arrive in Washington by the 20th instant, they will be in time to take part in the deliberations of the Convention. Without any expression of my own opinion upon this delicate question, I submit the whole question to the wisdom and patriotism of the Legislature, in which my confidence is perfect. AUSTIN BLAIR. To THE SENATE: February 15, 1861 From Journal of the Senate, p. 459 I acknowledge the receipt of the resolution of your honorable body requesting certain information in regard to the arms and military equipments of the State. In reply I herewith transmit the response of the Adjutant General to my demand for such information, which is all that is within my reach. Though the Governor is by law made Commander-in-Chief, yet practically the military department has been entirely under the control of the Adjutant General, whose office is kept at a distance. It results that my means of knowledge in respect to that department are not of the most satisfactory kind. Very respectfully, AUSTIN BLAIR. February 21, 1861 From Journal of the House of Representatives, p. 910 TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The Board of Control of the Saint Mary's Falls Ship Canal, acknowledge the receipt of the resolution of your Honorable Body, requesting certain information concerning the Canal, its gross receipts and expenditures. The Canal was opened June 18, 1855, and the reports of the Superintendent for the time being will furnish most of the information sought, for each year since that time. A table is herewith transmitted, showing the gross receipts up to Nov. 30, 1860, together with the expenditures for that period, so far as the same can be ascertained. The items composing the aggregate of expenditures may be found in the monthly statements required of the Superintendent, but are too voluminous to be embodied here. I take this opportunity to transmit to the Legislature the annual report of the Superintendent for the year 1860. Also a statement of receipts and expenses from the books of the Auditor General's office. AUSTIN BLAIR. February 23, 1861 From Journal of the Senate, pp. 598-599 TO THE LEGISLATURE: I herewith communicate to the Legislature the accompanying memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Kansas, together with the letter of acting Governor Beebe in regard to the same. There is no longer any doubt that a large portion of the people of Kansas are suffering from the greatest of all calamities, famine. Their appeal is to the humanity of their neighbors who have plenty. The extent of the calamity is so great that the efforts of private and individual benevolence have proved inefficient for anything like adequate relief. The great State of New York has appropriated from the public treasury the munificent sum of fifty thousand dollars, for the relief of the suffering people of Kansas. It will add to the just renown of that State. I recommend the accompanying memorial to your early attention. AUSTIN BLAIR. March 4, 1861 From Journal of the House of Representatives, pp. 1168-1169 TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: I herewith return to your Honorable Body the act entitled With my objections to the same. My objections relate wholly to the second section of the act, which makes invalid any unrecorded deed or mortgage as against a subsequent levy of execution on the same premises, unless the grantee named in the deed shall be in actual possession. No matter how honest the transaction may be, a careless or ignorant neglect to record the deed or mortgage for thirty days will turn the land over to the payment of another man's debt; and the result is the same though the execution creditor has actual notice of the existence of the deed or mortgage and of a full consideration honestly paid for the same. There is also a class of cases in which deeds have been actually recorded, but on account of some defect of form, were not legally entitled to record. In such a case, the record is a nullity, and under this second section I do not see anything to prevent the creditors of the grantor from seizing the premises and appropriating them with full knowledge of all the equities of the case. On the whole, I can see no good to arise from the change of the law contemplated by this second section to at all compensate for the dangers incurred. It seeks to overturn a well-settled rule that has existed for a very great length of time, and under which, I think, no serious difficulties have occurred which call for correction. Such changes, in any case, ought to be made with extreme caution, and only when the necessity for them is very clear. If the second section was stricken from the act I should very willingly approve it. March 5, 1861 AUSTIN BLAIR. TO THE SENATE: From Journal of the Senate, p. 822 I herewith transmit a communication from the Treasury Department, at Washington, asking a cession of jurisdiction over the territory required for the erection of certain light houses. The early erection of these structures is greatly to be desired, and I recommend the Legislature to comply with the request before the close of the present session. AUSTIN BLAIR. 1862 January 2, 1862 From Joint Documents of the State of Michigan, pp. 1-11. FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: At the time of the adjournment of the Extra Session, in May last, it was hardly contemplated that it would be found indispensable to call the Legislature together again within the year. The Southern Rebellion, just then initiated by the formal secession of several States, and the seizure of Fort Sumter by military power, had not yet assumed the gigantic proportions which it now wears. It found the loyal States in profound repose, diligently engaged in the cultivation of the arts and humanities which belong to peace, but wholly unused to war. They had long accustomed themselves to believe that under our form of government every dispute that could arise would be peacefully settled by the verdict of the ballot box, and when they perceived that a considerable number of States preferred the barbarism of war, and had deliberately appealed to the sword, they were illy prepared to meet that appeal. Of men, loyal, hardy, patriotic men, there were enough, and much more than enough; but of the knowledge of war, and of supplies of arms and munitions, there was a sad lack everywhere. Michigan, with more than a hundred thousand fighting men, had arms for hardly more than a thousand, and for military organization, she had next to none at all. The ordinary courses of trade and business had been rudely and almost instantaneously broken up, and new ones had to be sought out. Doubt and distrust were everywhere. In the midst of these conditions we started out to explore the new paths which were to be trodden hereafter. We were now to learn war; to create armies; arm and equip them for the field and send them forth to fight those against whom they had done no wrong and had never intended any, and who were bound by obligations the most solemn to keep peace towards them. The ordinary machinery of government has been found inadequate to meet the exigencies of our present rapidly changing affairs, and a frequent resort to the legislative power is rendered imperative. Nor ought this to be regarded as at all strange. It is only in the light of events themselves that their logic is clear, and human forecast cannot always be relied upon to meet the demands of the future. Especially is this true of times like the present. Our good Ship of State is driven before a furious gale, and the best navigator can hardly tell what of disaster the next wave may bring. It is the duty of every one on board, wisely, prudently, and bravely to stand |