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Act No. 106, 1846-3000 Acres Appropriated.

Selected in Tuscola county,

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5,171.71

473.89

274.40

80.00

6000.00

2,920.00

80.00

3000.00

1269.82

650.18

80.00

2000.00

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No. 12. S

1848.

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

The select committee on reforms and amendments of the constitution, have given this most important subject very careful and attentive consideration, and have unanimously agreed to submit to the Senate, the following joint resolutions and report:

The first proposition considered by your committee, in connexion with this subject, was very naturally the necessity and propriety of recommending a call of a convention to frame and re-enact the entite organic law of the State. Your committee is well aware that the necessity of such a call, immediately, is insisted upon by many experienced and judicious men in the State, while as many others, admitting the deficiencies of the constitution, contend as strongly, that an entire revision should not be attempted at present.

In the last opinion your committee concur. The people, it is believed, have become wearied with too many and radical changes, and with over much legislation, and displeased with the expenses necessarily attendant thereon. They desire repose and stability. They believe that a well known and well settled rule of action, though somewhat defective, is better than frequent and costly changes in search of a more perfect one.

The present annual charges for the administration of the government and laws, though not oppressive (nor as great as in most new states,) are nevertheless quite sensibly felt by the people. The entire laws of the state have very recently passed through a radical revision, attended by a large expenditure, and yet they remain, (or at least many suppose they remain) extremely defective and still requiring long and laborious sessions of the legislature to set them right. Were the constitution of the state entirely remodelled at this time, another thorough revision of the whole body of the laws would immediately become necessary, and then what has been, we

have good reason to suppose will be again, to wit: succeeding legislatures like this and the past, will be overwhelmed with a vast number of real and fancied defects, imperfections, omissions and contradictions, which they must spend much time and money to make smooth and right again.

Besides all this it must not be forgotten that our young and comparatively weak state still rests under no inconsiderable burthen of debt and that we have now very little to meet it with beside direct taxation. That debt connot be stated at a less sum than $2,000, 000, to meet the interest of which alone we must soon collect annually $120,000. Some part also (however small) of the debt it self should be annually paid-say one twentieth. This will make

an annual demand for $100,000 more. By the Auditor General's report we are informed that the “estimated aggregate of taxation in "this state for all purposes (except municipal taxes) exceeds $600, “000 annually—of this amount $150,000 is for county taxes and about $370,000 for township purposes including school and road "taxes."

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Thus it will be perceived that hereafter our state must pay by taxation annually over $800,000!!—It is true $520,000 of this large sum is for county and township purposes, much of which is not paid in cash and none of which is withdrawn from the counties and townships in which it is levied; yet the remaining sum of near $300,000 which must be paid in cash into the State Treasury and the greater part of which, will be withdrawn from the state to meet interest and installments on the state debt annually, is a sum sufficiently large to attract serious attention.

Should we therefore in view of these facts take any step

which must involve new, and increased expense unless impelled

thereto by imperious necessity. This necessity your committee does not believe exists.

Brief as is the existence of our constitution, we will not deny that it does even now fall behind the improvements and spirit of the age in some respects; yet we contend that in the main, it is a sound and excellent instrument, conferring honor on its able framers. It certainly very clearly defines and protects the rights, duties and interests of the citizen-yet, in some respects, it is very

generally admitted, it should be amended. These amendments however, may be proposed and incorporated without expense, in the manner pointed out in that instrument itself, without any general revision. We believe, and freely admit that a new constitution will, in a few years, be demanded by the people, in a clear and distinct manner, which cannot be mistaken; but we do not believe any such demand has yet been expressed by the people. Five years from this time we shall have a vast increase of population and wealth, to enjoy our beautiful state-to develope its resources-to share its privileges-to aid in its counsels-to divide its burthens, and help pay its expenses. Five years hence also, we shall come to the great work of revision and reorganization, with increased experience and wisdom, and of course, better prepared for it. In the mean time also the interest and wants and wishes of the people will become better known. For these reasons and others, which might be named, your committee are unanimously of the opinion that it would not be wise or prudent to advise a call for a convention at this time.

Several distinct propositions for the amendment of the constitution occupied the attention of your committee: And first, the subject of biennial sessions of the legislature, in regard to which we find in the late message of the Executive the following suggestion :

"Would not the interests of the people be promoted by so modifying [the constitution] as to limit the sessions of the legislature to biennial periods?"

The reasons advanced in support of this proposed amendment,

are,

1st. A saving in the expense of legislation.

2d. More permanency in the laws, and less legislation, and 3d. The example of several of the younger States.

We regret that on a careful examination of this proposition, we have not been able to concur in opinion with the Governor and others who favor this amendment. We doubt very much whether anything material would be saved in expense by biennial sessions. The length of the sessions is not now limited, nor would it be pru dent to limit them to any short period, on account of the numerous unforeseen contingencies which arise from time to time, im

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