The Commissioners Again

Tho Legislatura of Michigan - or thü House - spont three or four days last week n atiother ntteinpl to send Commissioner.s to Washington. The subject was brought up by thoTransmission to tho House of tho following special message ÍVoin (rov. BtAiB : " State of IIiciiigan', Exi:cutivk Ornoic.J '■ LiNsixo, Feb. 14, lfc'Cl, J To the House of Reprcseiitntires : "I herewith transmit to the Legislature joint resol uüons of the State of I New York and lodiann for the appointment of Oommissionora from those State3 to moet Coinmissioners from ! othcr States in the city of Washington on the invitation of the Legislature of ' Vireinia. " JBeing aware of tho previous action ' of tlae Legislature upon this subject, I 1 have hesitated before calling attention to it. I3;it it has seemed to me thnt ! circumstances nffecting the propriety ' ( of sending Oommissioners uro so i k ; :. chnuged as to jtitily u furthor con : dderation of the rjtteti'n. ' It.is perhnps ul.-tu pnper for meto sny th:it L have reeeived unTumunieatioús (rom 80me of tho dclegjation in Congresa indicating iha', vxhilethey 1 have entirely approved of tire previoun 1 sction of lbo L'jgislatuiv, they tbink i Michigan might now !.- reprusente'd in , tho 60-oalled Peaoe Convention with credit to herself and b&nefit lo Ihe whóle country. It salen sid, il ' missioners oan arr!ve n Washington by tho 20th inst., i'ui'v wül bo in time lo tako part in tha delibérutions of thc , convention. , " Without nny expresión of my ovrn j opinión npon this delicate question, I , gubmit tho rhole nubject to the wisdom and patriotism of tho Legislatura, in , which my confidente is perfect. (Signed) ' At'.STlN BLAIE." The mC8sago took tho House ov : . largo nomber oí merabers by surprise, and it remained for tho futuro proooe.lings to biing out the reasons for ihis aclion [ thu öovernor. It was retorred, however, without instructions to a committee of five, conhisting of Hessru. Morrison, Joy, J. M. Wilson, ILiire and Douglasf, which coinmittoe, at the same sessioo, uoaounously reported aa follows : The select coratnittoo to whoin was referrsd tho Governor's message conimnt.ica'ing the resolutions of trio State of New York and Indiana, nppointing dclegates to the iionventixn at Washington i'rom the differnnt States to consult upon the questions Eigitating the country, hrivo had the samo uu'ier their oonsideraiion, and havo nnanimoubly eoticluded to recommênd tito aconinpanyiog preamblo and joint resolutions to be adopted by this lou'iMaiuro fSigned] A. H. M0RHI80N, JAMP3 F. JOY, JOHN IIAIRE, T. M. WILSOS", C 0. D0U6LAS9, Coruiiiittee. JOIXT KES0LÜIIONS, Providing for the appoinmi'nt of delégate to the Peace Conference of iitatcs now atsemülcd at Washington. Whereas, Tho State of Michigan is willing to muet and cocfer freély oh ai! occasions with the several States of the CJnioa upon eiibjeeta of general impórtanos, when such conf'ei once can pro rnote tbe general wolf'are of tho country ; and Whtreas, Questions of grave moment have arirten between tho ditforent Otates of the Union ; therdbro Resolved, by the üinnt" and House of Representativos, That the Govornor of this State be and in heroby authorized to appoint livo Cotnmissioners to proceed iorthwith to Washington and confer with ihe respective Statea ot with any association of delégales from such States, and report their doings to tho Legislature at its present session ; it boing expreisly deelared that their acts shall be at all times un der the control and subject to tho üpproval of the Logislature. Resoloed, That, whüe we are thns willing to moet and confer with dolottos l'roru other Status upon quo-tions ngitating and dinturbing tbe public peace, we ücüovo that the eonstitution. if regarded and obeycd, 'ould afford the surest safeguard against every npprehonded ovil ; and thut, if there exista any real grievanoo in any seotion of tho country whicli it w inadoqunte to redress, the proper and appropriate raethod is by an arnendnieiit thereto aecording to the provisions con'ained (in artielo 5) in that instrument itsolf. Notwithstanding these resolutions gave the absoluto nppointing of the five Commissioner.i to the Governor, and reserved to the Legislature, ut is present tession, tho approval of their acts, it did not satis fy tho radicáis; , Mr. Prinolb, of Jaokson, tho mouth-piece of Gav. Blaie in Ihe EIouso, offerod tha following substituto : Wke.eas, Tho General Assetnbly of Virginiu. on the 19th day of January, 1861, passed certain resolutions inviting "all such rflatos as are willing to uiiite with Virginia in ati earnest efifort to , the piv.-ent unhappv controversitjd in the spirit in which thoconstituüon was originally iormed, and oonsisto.i;ly with its principies, so as to afiord the poople of the .slaveholding Slates adeqliata guarantees for tho securityof their rights," to appoint Commissioners ( to meet other-s at at Washington ; Wliereas, The terme ot such invitation poeni to contémplate new tees in nddilion to those of the eonti tütion for the institution ef elavery, and honco were not sucli as, in the opinión of the Legislatura of Michigan, rondci'cd it proper to acc&pt such invitiou in the first iostanoe, yet, inaBmaeh as a majority of the States the prevaüin"' eon timen t of which ave those of the people of Michigan have appointed and sont auob Cominissioners to the meeting at Washington, and t is understood that such State.s desire the action now taken ; thcrefore. be it Resolved, by ie Señale and House of Representa' ivrs of the Slate of Michigan, That the Govurnor of this State be and U hcreby authonzed and reijuestod to appoint and duly coiranisfcion five aha and firm tnen, representing the popular sentiment of this State, ti rnoul th'e said Cuminissioners assembind at the invitation of Virginia, and part in the deliberations of euch mcetitiif. Retotred, furlher, That the said Commiesioners o to be appointed and cormnisMoned, b fii.! tiey aro herby t)8tructed not t concedo rr npivo t' any comproniise or aniendment of the c nstittl'.i in whioh shall rueogiiizo tho ii!lu nl' property in mao, or ny right ol transit throngh tho freo States of n.anturij with Iheir slaven, or authnrtze the. oxton-ion of slavory to terrilory niuv U;r ; and (liat iin-li C'iuinii.s.siolH'rs ; sliull hd iit mII tii nes subject to furthcr iottructtonii IVom tlii.s Legislature. A sj-.iiitüd discussion spruna; up( which v::s partrcipated rn by Memr Joy, Shank, M ■n-i.son, Watcrbury, Alexandor, and othors, in tavorof the report of the commktuo and :ig:iiünt instruoliona ; and iy Messrs. Child.-, Howcll, and Pringlu ia favor of thu subHtitu'e, uikI ol instructing tho Con:ii)isn'!iu:a n suc.h terina that tliey joulil posfiWv do nd servioö to the cause of the Union. The substituto was adojited by i vo'.o cf 4'2 to 36. the members iroin this coun'y voting, Messrs. Childs, CuteheoD, and Stevens for theto, and Mr. öregory Bgttlnst. The resolmions wcre theii orderod to i third reading, he rulos suspended, rcad a third timo jut upon tbeir pamage; and lost, veas I i", d;i}'í; !ü; Messrs. Cutcbeoo and I Stevens vuting for, and Messrs. Childs ind Gregory aguinst Pending a motiou to reconsider, the ilouse Qiljoúi'oed. The sahject carne up again on PrïJay, irevious to whiob, howevoi, it havi;)g ten reportod tliat t lio Representativos rom thiá Stata, in Congreso, wero get;ing "ahaky," Mr. Ciüi.ds oflered the 'ollowiag rosolutions, alleging thom to e preparntory to the appuiotmont of L'eaee Counnissioners: Resofpfd, That our Senators in Conj;ross be instructed, and our Represen :utives in that body requested, to opposo any urnondincnt to the Constitución reoognizing the riijli t of property yi irían, or autborizing the extensión oí jlavery into territory now freo. Resolved, That. tho Qovernor be requested to torward a copy of the abova lint rasnlutioQ to e;ich of our Senators imd Lieprosontativea n Congress. The.se resolutions being put through u ii leí tho provious quostion, bv a striet party vote, the motion to re-coni-ider the veto by which Pki.wíi.h's substituto was 1 ií;t, was adopted. And thon MrPi;!ni;:,i:, having changed bis niind over tiighf, moved to rofer the the resolutione back to the conv.niitee with inslnictions to report as a substitute, bis preanible, and ñatead of' his resolutions a resolntion ippointing Senators lii.MGHA.M and Cuandlkr Commissioners with authority to eawt five votes. An üinondment was offered to this substitutt', instruo'.ing Mnssrs. Bikohim and CiíANDLRii, the only two men in Michigan ín wliorn the Governor and PéINglb had caofidenco. Mr. Bkowkbll a!so offered a substituto, providing for the appointment, without any instructions, of Messrs. Elon Faknswoiuh, Q lionas Martín, Alpiisus Felcii, Hezekiah (}. Welles, and Georob A. Cos, as Commisiioners. Tho amendinent and subsli.ute bei:j lost, Mr. PniNold's motion prevniled, tho resolutions were re'erred baok, the Oommittee oboyed nstruction?, roported the resoluíions back to :ho ílouse, and they v.ere put upon thcir passage and lost by a vote oí of 40 to 3t, not receiving a maj.irity of all the members elect. The Demócrata all voteJ yea, and the radical Republicana voted no or did not vote atoll. Messrs. Childs and Stevens aro roeorded among tho noos, and Mr. Cjtcheon's ñamo does not appear. - And so anothor act in the farce ended. In the process of disenssion in the House and in cnacu, it catne out that Gov. Klaip. had recelved letters from Senators Binquau and Ciia.ndi.eh urging the appointment of Commissioners, and that Messrs. Ciiasb, of Ohio; anc Field and Wadswortij, of New York had tclographed,asking that the Senators from this State bo appointed Commismissionors. It also caino out that tliese Commissioners wero waoted to preveni any actioa ot tbo Poaco Conlerenct looking to a peaceful aod iimioable settlement of tho present diifieultics. - There was a probability that the conser vative men in tho Peace Conference were in a majority, and tliatthey wouk agreo upon a plan of adjustment satisfaotory to all the border States, slavo and i'ree, and Commissioners from Michigan, from ultra-aboliüonizod Michigan, ultra-abolitionized Comniissionurg - o:)lv anothcr name for disunionists - wero wantod to hold tho balance o: power, prevent action, and break up tho Conference. It also came out thal the Michigan members of tho House wero not ultra enough for this purposo that they wero advising a repeal of thr personal liberty Iaw8, thal they wero in the interest of the Seward ving, wore favoring an amieu la arrangement for tho preservation of the Union, anti were not to bo trusted to represent in the Conference the abolitionized-Republioan State of Miohigan. Messrs. Iiixoham and Chanuler, of all the Michigan men at Washington or iu Michigan, enjoyed the full confidenco of the ultraists, nnd must bo comtnissioned to cast fivo votes. And this is the vvhy of the new act n the farce. It was disgrace enough in tho first instanco for Michigan to refuso to appoint Comtniesionera to tho Conference, torefuM to consult on tho stato of tho Union, to place herself on the record by the sido of South Carolina, as wantiug no peaceful solution of the difficulties which d arken tho national horizon. It was a more damning burden of disgrace for the Michigan Legislature, at the moment when the country was hoping an agreernent of the Conference, to attempt to send a Commission of ultrkists to block the wheels, and prevent harmonious action. If thero ie any relief in the picture it is to be found in the fact that Michigan has but two men who could be trusted on such an errand. Wo will only add that the House refeolutions of instruction wjre tabled in the Senate by a vote of 15 to 11. I " A bilí s pending bofore the LegUtuturo omeodiog tha law fur the Encouragernentof Agriculture and the Müchnnic Arts. The law now rrn;kes t obÜgatory iipon Boards of Baperviso.rs, where County Agiicultural Socleties exist and rafee Ronually a epeottied KUtn, to li'vy, collect, nnd p.iy over to Buch Sooioty :. tas notleestban 1-lotli nor ti) cxcod l-2Oth of a mi!) on ihu dollar f 1 tlic aggregnto valualion of tho üoiínty. The bilí refeirod to, rnakes t (.itiniüil wit.!) the Board to Icvy tho tas or not. It 'a designed especially tor tliis Ooonty, and if' passed will havd tlie uflect to tu ko over $200 a yoar írom Ote funda of tlio Washtoaaiy County Agricultura] acre! Horticultura! Society, for judgingby paet efforta in the Board of 3uperv.Moni, it will refuse to levy n tíix tor tho " Encouragcmont if Agncultural and the Mechanic Arta'1 as soon as it is made op'.ioual. Members alibuld boware thai attemptingto legislate fó this County thcy do not injure all tho Agnculturul Bpcieties m the , S:ate Boards of Supervisors are not i' proverbial for liberality, public spirit, ' ' or even justico, and an optional tas vvill ' not beleviöd iu i:ino counlies out of ton thronghout tbe S'.ato. , Ou uilizena h:ive sent up numcrously , gned remonstraoces against the pas i snge of the bil!. }W The cnato Committcc on Public Lands have reported the Swamp Land Road systcin, provided for liy the j latnre of 1859, a very extravagant . tem. Thcy ünd frora its workings that a oreaf doal of moncy is paid out and a very little '.vork done. From the tables aceompanying their report we find tho 1 owing expenditures : Pur dkiii of Ooniiniséioner! $10,648 00 Expousea " 1.240 73 Unpaid claims of " 1.965 32 Expenses of Survcyg " 11,208 77 Puidon Contrncts, Cash i!l,134 07 Lands 21,008 21 These figures show payments to Oomraissioners, Surfeyors, &c , of $25,052 82, and on contracta of $42,202 28 ; so that every dollars worth of actual labor on the roads and ditches, has eost over fifty ceuts lor preliuiinary surveys and superintendence. When this bill passed the Seuatc it was proposed to amend the titlo so that it would rend " a bill to próvido places for huiigry Republicana," or some. thing of that sort, which facts prove woul'.l have been a fitting title. The Cotnmittco reeoinraend a reductiou of the nnmber of Ooramissioners, that paymonts be made only iu Lauds, and that tho policy be abandoued of building roads in adva:icc of setllement, and through uninhabited wildernesses. It is the latter roads that have made such inroads upon the treasury. SkËT" Four years ago two new judicial district were croated in tbid State - prineipally to próvido places for Mr. Howell, of Newaygo, and another hungry Republican. Mr. Howell didn't get nominated, and ofeourse hasivt boen privileged to li"e on the State. But he is now a member of tho Legislature, aud vtith an eye on the maiu chance has asked and obtaiucd leave to introduce a bill to divide the 9th judicial district, and to fonn a new or.e. ï Gen. Jepk. Davis, of Miseia. BÏppi was inaugurated President of tho ': Confedérate States of Amorica' on Monday last. Wu have his inaugural addresa i:i type, but aro obiiged to postpono its publication until next week. It regarda secession as an acluality, and does not scom to contémplate tho possibility of a re-con-. struction of the Union. JfáST We trust that every reader, be ho Democrat or bo lio Kepubliean, wil] give the Minority Report of tho House Committeo on Judiciary- seo first pago - a eareíul and candid perusul. It is a fuir, vigorous, strong document, and effectiially etStin'ffaishea any claim to constitutionality which tho personal liberty laws oí this State may have cdJOyed' ■_.,., tW Mr. IIii.l, of Baginaw, bas introdiKovl into the Houso, a bill to es tablish a obair of Ilomeopathy in tho University of Michigan ; also a bill to establish a Peínalo Colloge, and mako it a brancb of the University. Whero aro the í'unds to como froni ? raay be considered a pertinent qnestion, inasmuch as tho constitmion has given the Board of Regents " direction and control of all expenditures frorn the University Interest Fund." 1 Washington dates of tha 19th inst., announce Gen. Wool critioally I il], witb pneumoniu. He was in attenclunce upon tho Peaco OoBferenoe, as a Cominissionor from New York. One member of the Conference, Mr. Wiugiit, of Ohio, died last week. J3P It is proposed at Liinsing to pass a bill authorizing tho State Treasurer to endorse the bonds of the United States to the amount of $750,000, or thereabouts - that beiug the aggregate priucipal and interest of the amount of surplus Uuited States funds deposited with tho State "on cali" some tweuty or twenty-fivo years ago. Tho Constitution stauds in the way of this little arrangement, wo apprehend. UST" If private advices are not at fault there is something of an " irrepressiblo conflict" raging iu the llepubliean ranks at Lansing. Caacus discussions wax wrothy, and epithets are given and returned in the halls of the Houscs. It is evon said that meinbers have been 1 dregsed,and by brothor Itepublicans, in no less mild language than " you lic and I oan prove it." And we presume it could be proved. fyST We received a cali from Hon. C. S. Greqory, of the 4th District, on Monday. lie saya things are working at Lansing, and that the Legislature will probably adjourn about the lOth of March. jJTjT" We understand that Gov. Blaik oponly and violently condemns JuJgcs Martin, Campbell and Ciikistianoi for i ' volunteering" their opinions as to the ; unconstitutionality of the nullifying personal liberty law of this State, lt is to be prcsumcd that these gentlemen aro as familiar vrith their duty as the Governor ! oan bu. II:id they given a different opinión the Governor would not havo condeinned them. OF" It is reported tlat Messrs. Lan'k, ' Childs, HowEtt, and othcr ultra EepubIlicansin the Legislatura - the " raio old'1 ' Aboütion stock - have road Senator SbwaüD and othcr Kepublieans oecupying high places, out of the party. We are daily antioipatiag that thoy will pass a resolutiou ordering Lincoln to revokc the appointment of Skwakd, as Seoretary of State. fZST 'ïko Battle Creek Journal, heretofore opposed, iu common parlance, to " backing down," has been couvinoed by tho irresistible logio and law of tho jority report of the Comniittee en ' siary, and now urgca a ropeal of the personal liberty-lawa. ESP The bill for enlarging tbo boun. daries of our City passed the House ■ 3D ï"riday last, and was ordered to a . íhird reading in Señale on Tuesday. - ft is probably a luw bofore this. t" Uon. B. F. Guaxgek leit for Washington on Tuesday. Principal business to witness the inauguration of Lincoln, and look after tho local offi. :es. Candidates aro getting impatient. JÊ" A lïepublican Oaucus is to be leid at Chelsea to-day to nomínate a aandidato for Post m aster. Id1 Tho exainination of John Mc Kinnky is etill pi-ogressing at Lansing. We cannot spare space for details. lLF Mr. Browmb, Editor of the defunct Consti'ution bas been comniissioned to inforra the Government at Washington of tho election of Jeff Davis as President of the Southern Coofederacy. It is intimated that ho will not be received. ÏLÏL? I' 's now said that the Border States are dissatidfied with ihe doings of tho new Cc nfederacy. and that if they go out of the Union they will forrn a Confederacy of their own. TPST The eleotions in Missouri and Arkansas held on Monday went deoi dedly Union. The vote shows that Missouri is not for secession in any event, and Arkansas has voted against a convention to considor the subject. - The tide is turning. EP" Tho Peae Conference is expected to take a final voto on pending propositions to-day. fëf The President elect was enthusiastioally received at New York, on Wcdnesday. Yesterday he was to bo welüomod at Philadelphia. To-day he will reach Baltitnore, and to morrow Washington. JD3E" The Upper Península is ee'riously discussing secession frorn this State and annexation to Canada. And so we go. Where will dismemberment end?