have, therefore, selected only four propositions to be submitted. They believe that these propositions will meet the most obnoxious features of the constitution, and they would respectfully suggest that the attempt to make these amendments more extensive, will very greatly endanger the passage of any amendments, both in the Legislature and before the people. The above consideration, together with the fact that the question was separately submitted to the people at the time of the adoption of the present constitution, has restrained your committee from submit ting an amendment in accordance with the prayer of nu merous petitoners, to strike out the word "white" where ever it occurs in the constitution.

Your committee have also declined to submit an amendment in accordance with the prayer of numerous petitioners, to extend the elective franchise to women, from a full conviction that such an innovation upon the long established customs of the country, while it would in no material degree add to the real influence of the women of our land, would, by bringing them into the exciting, and not unfrequently, revolting arena of political strife, so destroy and overthrow the high regard for female character, which is now such a world-wide characteristic of Americans, as to really defeat the objects which the friends of this measure seem to have in view, viz: the enlargement of the sphere of female influence.

The first amendment your committee recommend is to strike out the word "second" in sec. 33, of art. 4. This amendment simply makes the sessions of the Legislature annual instead of biennial. Your committee are of opinion that the interests of a new and only partially developed State, as ours is, demand the care and attention of the Legislature oftener than once in two years. Nor do they believe that a simple extention of time with biennial sessions will meet the want. There is, indeed, a serious question whether an extension of the time ought not to be

made even with annual sessions. More than half of the forty days now allowed for the sessions of your Legislature must necessarily be spent by the members newly elected in becoming acquainted with the routine of business, each other, and the diversified wants of an undeveloped State. Then, in the short remaining time, any legislation at all commensurate with those wants, will almost of necessity, be hasty and superficial, so that the succeeding Legislature is obliged to spend a large portion of its time in remedying the imperfections of its predecessor. The second proposed amendment is to strike out sec. 2 of art. 18.

This is the clause of the constitution which makes it necessary to call out a jury in the laying out of highways. Your committee are of opinion that the laws and other provisions of the constitution sufficiently protect private property.

The third proposed amendment is to strike out sec. 47 of art. 4.

This is the clause of the constitution which prevents the Legislature from granting license for the sale of intoxicating liquors.

It is claimed very generally that the present prohibitory liquor law is a dead letter on our statute books, and that the system of prohibition is thus proved a failure. But, say the advocates of this view, there should be some restraint upon the traffic, and they desire to return to the license system. Your committee are of opinion that the wisest policy for the State is to re-submit this question to the popular vote, and they believe that whatever decision may be reached at this time, after the experience and thorough discussion which have been had since the passage of the present law, will be acquiesced in by all the various interests affected by the question.

The fourth proposed amendment is so to amend sec. 3 of art. 15 that the individual liability of stockholders in

banking corporatious may be limited to an amount equal to double the value of their stock.

The Legislature of 1857 passed a general banking law, which your committee believe to be one of the most guarded and perfectly safe banking laws in the United States. Indeed, it seems to have been the great object of the Legislature, in considering the subject, to make a law under whish the bill-holder could, under no circumstances, suffer loss. But your committee are of opinion that very little business will be done under this law, from the fact that no capitalist will be willing to place his money in an institution where he is to be held individually liable for the debts of the whole concern, to the amount of all he is, or ever is to be worth.

The question then is, shall we do the business of this State upon the bank notes of of surrounding States, which we know nothing about, and could not control if we knew all about them, or shall we have our own currency, which being right among us, we shall know all about, and which is at all times subject to the control of our own legislature, and the banks issuing which are responsible to State officers of our own creating.

Your committee purpose to have these amendments submitted separately to the electors of the State, being numbered so that the vote can be taken upon each without reference to the rest.

Your committee, therefore, respectfully submit the accompanying joint resolution, and recommend its passage. R. E. TROWBRIDGE,

Chairman.

N

[ No. 13. ]

REPORT of the Committee on Incorporations in relation to the grant of lands made to Railroad Companies. The committee on incorporations, to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message as relates to the land grants made to certain Railroad Companies, and subjects connected therewith, report:

That they have had the same under consideration, and in view of the immense impetus which the construction of these roads would give to the settlement of the northern portion of Michigan, your committee cannot but conclude that the most liberal policy consonant with the security of the State, should be adopted in relation to these roads.

The views of the Governor are so just, and so much in accordance with the opinions entertained by your committee, that it is deemed better to quote that portion of the message, which is as follows:

"The roads in aid of which this grant was made, have all been located and surveyed, (excepting in the Upper Peninsula,) and have an aggregate length of over eleven

hundred and fifty miles. The building of them is of vital importance to us. They are chiefly located through the unsettled portion of the State, and no one can estimate the great advantages to be derived from their construction. At least thirty millions of dollars will have to be expended to fully complete and equip them for business, and a majority of this vast amount of capital must be brought here from foreign parts and distributed among our me chanics and laboring men, thereby adding to the individual wealth of our citizens and to the wealth of our State.

"True policy requires that you should be liberal with these roads-foster and encourage them--and in so doing you will promote the prosperity of the State. You should claim nothing from them on the strength of the grant made by Congress. The State bears to them the same relation that the guardian bears to his ward, and faithfully in all things should she perform the duties of that guardianship. It is claimed that the act of February, 1857, places upon these roads a tax too burdensome to be borne, and one disproportioned to the tax paid by the roads now in operation. These new roads, (to be built as they must be, through an entire wilderness,) ought not to be taxed too high-at all events no higher than the roads already constructed through the settled portions of our State. I respectfully call your attention to the different Acts of legislation upon this subject, and recommend that they be so amended that the burthen of taxation will be equally borne by all these different roads in proportion to their several capacities."

It is believed that no language of your committee could add strength to this emphatic recommendation of the Executive, and the committee have therefore instructed their chairman to report a bill providing for such an amendment of the existing laws as will confer upon the several land grant Railroad Companies one hundred and twenty sections of land upon the completion of twenty consecu