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Governor's Message

Governor's Message image Governor's Message image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
January
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Follow cilittns of the Senate and House f Rrpresenlatires : Ilnving bt;en elccted, by a mnjority of he jieople, tu ilia cflice of chief e.xeculive MairtUtrate of our youug. bui rapicjly giowinsj ülale, anJ hoving nssiimed the high oblü.-ni.'iis und respoiisibiliiies ol thui elpvmt tl siniioii, bv-tttkinp the oath prescribeii by ihe coiistiluUon, 1 arn retjuired to coiumunicato lo you as Ilie represenlatives of llie people, the c.r.dition f the Stale, and to reccmmend for your cunsideraiioii sucli moiters os l roay deern f xpfcl ent. Wiih the iTipor:ance of Üie trut confided to rtio, I am deaply impressed,ord;il r:y abil üy to perfurin thenrduom tinne il imposes, am fearfully distruslfal. My predccehsors, in accordance wUli cuslo'm, adoptidal the orgamzatiiin of itie itate goveminetUt linve, on lx tig inducted iuto ofik-e, preceded llieir cxeculivr comniunicatioiis hy nn avowel of theif epinloni, upotrihe general priiiclplél o governmeut, the pecul.ur cimracttr o our institulions and laws, or upon sucl otlior topics of general interest, ns geem ed, at the time, most to engage the public wind. This custom is cerlainly harmleS, bu l is, l thiok,"aj certainly. without prac ücal ulilily, nmJ as l seem3 best 10 oom port with tho republican jimpliciiy of du sysiem of goveniraent, to dispense will nil unneeessary and useless ceremonies, tiave deemed it proper, o the presen occasion, to communicaie with you, only in the modoreqwirtd by the consliiution. The assembling uf ihe Legisla:ure a the eominencement of the year. furnishè a Buituble occasion lor a retrospect o ihni which is pased. In reviewing ihe year that has now just ctused upon us furever, we discover abundaut cause for oongraiulalion. No severe sickness has vi?iied the people.but genera] henlih h:.s prevailed throughout ihe len'ih aid breadth of lh lcnd. An unexatpplod degree of prosperi'y has a'.tcndi'd every brutich of business - ihe enlerprise and aciivity of ihe commercial and inercnntile cla.-.sos have never secured for '.hem richrr returns - thosp engnjsed in ihe mechan cal and other industrial purauita have l'ujnd uninterupted employmem, and received ampie cornponsaiiuu lor their labor. Although ïlie erop of our ngriculiural staple, hasnot, in some sections of the State, been ns grea', as may have been otioipaled. yet n oihers, it was never more abundara. The harvest of other farm product l;as been every vhero plenteous. All kinds of produce have been fo-Aemand, meciing a ready sale, at (air and rpmunerating prices, so tliat, upon llie whole, ihe Inbors of uur husbaiidtnen have been rewarded wilt a bounliful revurn. For lh:8e mnnifold l)lt;sings received from ! li e benificenl hand of Him who ruleth ihe natiuns, ve ouaht 10 retider tribute of unfeignedund fervent giatilude. The repoitsof ihe Auditor Gsueral eiicJ S;ate Treasurer furmsh ndatailed sifltenietit of tho trunsacliins of iheir respective depnrtments, durmg the past fiscui year, and of ihe general condiiion of ihe liaances ofihe sta:e- n ixhibition of our pecuuinry affiiirs, wliich cannct huí be gratifying lo our creditors, and a source of pride lo our cilizens - I lake gieal pleasure in presenting it lo jou, and tliro' jou lo the penplp. The receipis intothe Treasury wiihin ihe year lo the ciedi! of liie general futid, nmount lo. 85, 131, 40, and ihe disbursements for tho samn period, have been $■165,306,03, ihe receipts exceeding the xpendiinres by S19.88. 41. The WBance in the Tieasury, on tlie SOih November 18-17, inchuding the balance orí hond, tl iho close ofthe previou yenr, ■was 864,470,35 - the hule of wliicl) was currenl inoney. The amcunt availaljle for ihe uses ;nc purposes of ihe ene ml fimd.is S14. 145, 77, vvhich, durircg the present moi.th,wil be increased lo 850,939,53, by receipt from ihe I'rimary school interest funo ond the Univeisilv interest fund, for ove drafis, which will he ropaid from -lho.se funds, out of the proceeds of the annua tax to be received from the Central nnc Southern Rail Rond Companies, The laws proviáing for :he assessmen of ncertain lax upon ail talable properl; for Ihe support of the slate govern ment, were repcaled by the Revised Slat uteslor 1846 and no subsliiu'e lor iliem incorporaled tliereiti ; nor wai any la a enacted, for a similar purpuse by the Le gislature of 1847. The omission was doubtlcss uninten tional, and its cause isprobably, correct ly stated in ihe report of ihe Audito General. The aetion of Ilie Supervisors, in the various counties, has not been uniform uuon tliis subject. In some. the usua slale t.ix has been assessed ; in others no uch assessment has been made. This subject will, thercfore, commend itself to the eurly considera! ion ofthe Legisbiture and ts exigency will demand tlie enaclmenl of law, which stiaU jrive validity to ihe assessment alrendy mude, and pro vide for the future assessment of' the stuio tax in the counties where ií has bren oxnitled. Ü'sucti remcdy be promptly rovidöd, it is believpd thal no serious embarrasameni in the collec'ion of the revcnue from tbis source will bc encountered. The nggrejate vnlunlion of ihe laiab!e property of ihtf state. nccnrding'o :he returns fo'r 1847. 3 827.617,140,13. A átate lax of 2i milis on the dollar, the rate established by tlie law in (orce, prior lo the adoplion of the late revisión, assesseá on sucli vnluation, would produce nn annual revenue of 60,043, 10-$ 4,379, 56 less than the to'ai ubieisinent Tor the previous year. The ebt of ihe General Fund amounts to the suin of $305,160.06. nnd iiicludes 8100.000 for bonds chiirgable upi: ihul (Vind, and Inl ing due in 1 856- 60,000 for l'enitentiary l . r i ■ 1 s , due in 1859 artd 1860, and a 1 ab.Iiiy to ihe School Fund of $129.880 01. hich ís in ihe eonditi.ui ol n pernncnl toan to the State, ihe nni.ual iiuercsi of which i lo be p-iid oui of ihef rocídaof the specifíc tax imposed .;i ihe cnpilal -tok f iheCeotral and Soutliern Rail Road compsniet. Yhe resoütces oflhia funJ, as síníeci, rrnunt lo 8396,621 05. bes-kles llie onnua! stnie tnx, nnd olber nssels. These re coru-idered amply sufficient fnr the jnyment of all the irnmediute liabiütira f the fund, nnd it is believed (hoy w i 11 be nmdo nvailubie n ihe redemption of llie xmds. tibove meniioned. ns iliev roacli naliiriiy. The rcceipts to ihe credit of ihe Inierial jmproveinent lund during ihe yenr, Tuiounl lo $493,495 83, nnd consisi r ; ricipiil 1 v of i: vmciils inio llm tren.sui'v 'ii account of Che sale of 'he Centrul une Southern Rjiilronils. Tlir delit=: nnd liabilities of the saine 'umi. dm ing llie snmo pariod, amuiiut to ■129. 196,79, and are coinpr.scd, ctii flv', in tliö evidences of Stile indebtednes paid on uccount of snid sales, and which have nol heretofure been cbnrged ngainsl lbo futid. TIn' wiiole amount of the $2,000,000 for which Uie Cenlral Railroad was sold, logotlier witli the .sum of $27,322.14, the oleres! thereon, has been paid imo tlie Slate Trensurv in accoidance with the Act providitig f'' ïhe sale ; and on account of ïhe snle ot ihe Southern Railrond 875,000 of ihc principal, with interest amountiog to $13,500,vere receive prior to the close of the fiscal year. Oi" the evidences of Sato indel.tednes thus paid and canoelled, $1,125,000 wu of th( full paid Five Million Loan Borras $309,449,00 was in "interest Bond ;' and the nominal amount of $199,000 o ïhe '-Part Paid Bonds," boinp u portio of the $3,814,000 dt-livered to the Unite Slatrs Bajik, wasalso received at the rat of allowance prescribed by law. 'J'he debt of tho slalc on account of ih loan for Internat Improvcment may no bs staled ihus : And the present iridebiednesg of the siate on account oí internal iinprovemenïs is $2,390,599 5 The unpaid balance of ihe snle of the Southern Rail Rond, payable by msiallments, semi-annually, with interest, now arnounting to $425,000, is ronidered an availuble credit, nnd mny iherefore be properly de.ducled froin ilie 2.390,599 SI. The amouul oftho present resource and assets of ihe Interual linproveinerit fund, which, it is believed, will u! limatcly be mado uvuilable, towards the paytneftt oftliis debt, exclusive of oilier credits of the stnte, uow of duubil'ul uvnilibility, is estimuted by ihe Auditor General"atS!301,99S. The nlerest on all the fuU-paid bonds and interest bonds, to the fust jf Julv si, has been paid, or provided for, ou of the proceedsof cerlain payments made by Ibe Central Rail Rond Company, and lor the paymerit of the coupons on snic bonds, outstanding nnd faliing due il Jutiuary and July, annunlly, nmounting iiow, to the sum of $19,175 24 only ; - provisión is made by the 'act to liquídate ihe public debt and to próvido lor the paymeni of the "inlfirest thereon and foi oihcr pur poes," approved Mnrch 8, 1843, hut as the ■tnount'cannot be assossed unlil the next annual sessionofthe Board of Supervisors in October 1648, .md as the entire amotint of il cannot, undt'r tl'.e present provistuns of luw, be col lected, nnd nriiide avaüable for the purpose intended, until the lapte of more ïhan two years thereafter, 1 sugfjcst the expediency of paying the coupons, as ilipy fall dut, out of th ! treasury in nnlicipation of ihe recei)t of the ax alluded to, piovided it can be done without jreJLidice to claims thereon, which may je entil Ier] to preference. To ihe condiiion of ihat portion of ihe nterna! Imprwement debl, whicli consista of the bouds delivered lo the late U. S. Bankt and fjr whicli ihe State roc'd artia-l payment only, the special consid■ration of ihe legislatura is invited. To tmlie early provisión for the ulcimalo payment of tilia debt, botíi principal ihJ interest, appears lo me, to be nn im)erious duly, ivbicb we sliould neilher olompt nor desire to avoic!, S'ich a re is, ui ai) judgen ent, dicta'ed, alikt;, iy a wiso and prud n regard for llie lonor and inlerfsl o! l!i Slnte, and by ie proper appreciation of tiiejust rights f our cre.ülors. Tliiit ihe peop'e of Michigan intend, in jood lui'.h, to ]iay the public i'ebt, 1 canot doubi, nnd in my view, ll.eir .niereBt will be bi-sl huljsprved ly proceeding witli oul unnecessary deluy to pruvide fui' its iquiduiiona and extinguishmeat. Il is nppnrent. lliot f the siluötion, of thia drbt, lio -suíF' red to'racoain tinchanged for any cons:dirable lertn of years, he re.vilt cannot be prejudicial, as l lie íayrient of llie original atnount, largniy nugmetiteó by I he annually aocruing inerest, will have slill to bn provided lor, nnd wilb no addilionnl rfsources. The 'uith of llie Snue ia solemnly pleclged to iay all she owos, and lier citizens will 'ullfil llie sacred obligmion. To you jentlemen, h(r cliosen Reprosentatives, s cnirusted the liigh ;ind liuly oíIíck of a;uarding her .ripias, r.nd of vind enting her honor, and I feel asured ihutyou will discharge thu duty wi'h llie musí sciupuluus fií'eÜty, Tlie íiiggestions of the Auditor General in relation to this part of the State indebtedness 1 connriend to your special at teniioii ; tha whole subject is carpfully cor.sldered and ablv discussed in his report wliicii wl ba loid before you. 1 liave only lo adcl, that in whutever measure you inny think proper to adopt, for tlio accomplishni&nt of ihe great object in view - ihe pay inent of tlio nunual inlerest and the ultimate absorptiót) of the principal of the whole public tlebt,as speedily as ihe ability of tho State will permit - 1 shuil most checrfully co-opernte. The contingent dcbl oflhaSinlo, rcmaina in much the' same condition, in wliich it was statcd U be, by the last report of tho And-lor General urn] seems not tu require legis'aiive aoiion at present. 1 is liabtlities consist of the bonds oí the State 10 the amuuni ofSlüO.OOO loane3 .o the Detroit and l'ontiac Roi] Road! Oompany a similar loan, and of the sanie amouii!, to the Universily - und of the instullrnents of the surplus revenue doposilod ny the U. S. in the state Iroasury amonniing to Söjól 49. The report of the Commissioncr of tlio State Land Office, shows the to:il receipts on iccount of s;ilns of till classes of publ c lands, cliinng the past year to be 8110,589 53, of which arnount ihere was received on account of 1 he Mole number oí acres oí school lnnds sold down to the 30ih November 1647 is ninety-four thousand iiine hundred nnd thiriy seven, of which Kigh leen thousand nine hundred and niuety one 30-100 acres have been sold during the last year. The school section on vvh ch the present seat of' governrrent 's located, has been luid out by thecommissioners into tow n lots,the appraised value of which, exclusivo of tho tract selecied Tor the site of tlie Capítol, $95.527. Of thuse town lots, sales hnve been m:ide during the year to the ntnount of $ld,'33. Of the Universiiy Lands, to which the siate is entitled, forty four ihousand fbur hundred nnd sixieen and 31-100 ncres have been sehct'd - of which nineleen thousand six hundred and si nnd 80-100 acres wrre sold prior to the close of the last fiscal year. Of ihe half million iteres of Interna! Improvement land-i, appropriated by Congrtïss, Cour hundred and ninety-tivo thousand five hundred and four and 41100 ncres have been selected, of which there havo been au ld tvvo hundred and sixly-ihree thousnnd and fifly-four and 21-100 acres. Ths leyislature appropriated twenty-seven thousand acres tor the eruction of a bridge across the Grand Hivfir at Lyons and the consü'uclion of a canal arounJ the Grand Rápida, upon the saino livor; lwo 'hundred and two thousand four hundred and fifty and 20100 acres remain unsold. The balance of the grant is seven thousand foT hundred nnd ninrty-five and 95-100 acres, most of which was by the diiection of iny piedecessor. selected in the rnineril región of Lake Superior, in iursuanc,ñ of Lr.v, To th is seleclion, the Stcrrtary of the Treasury at Washington refu$a lo give his nssent or npproval, of which this.depaitinent has been offn'iullv no'ified by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. ■Whelher such npprovnl is triado necessary by llie ]nws of ihe United States, to veil in the State llie tille of tlie lands üelecled - and if o, whoilier the discfeliotl has been exercised in this case eoril'ormably to those lans, are questions requiring careful infestigaiion. That the action of that hih fum-tionary haa been in strict accordiince vvilli his views of official duty, thcro is nu reaOD fo doubt; l)ut as the subject is one in which important ntercsls of the state are involved, it s submi'.ted to the li'gislature with a view tu the ttdoption of such mensures as may seern expedierltin the prpnii-."s. I7nder tlie act of Congres, gíving i 8 consent to lbo sale of tlie 8a!t Spring Lnnds, previously selected by the state, a tortion of ihose lands, wero, for the firs! ime broua;lit nto market ant' oillered nt lublic sale, during the past yc.ir, pursuanl to the Imvs of the stnie reluting thereo - and seveo hundred and seventv-seven and 43-100 icris wciti thus so!d at the minimum pi ice of S4 ner acre. The erigiría] soleciions of ilie.e lnncLs amounled lo forly-five lliousand tliree lundred and foriy-eighi and 55-100 acre.", twcnty fbnr ihousnnd two hundred and sixtv-four and 10-100 acres of wliicli t is understoo'!, havo received the npprovnl of tliP Secrelary of the Treasury ; rom the remaining seleclions ihe approval oftliat officor ia withheld. Of ihe lands granted by Congress in id of ihe erection of piiblio buildings foi' he Slate, ihpre reinain unsold, l(cnty. even ihousand eight himdred nnd five nd 54-100 acres. Certain lands we re eceived in paymentof debla due from ïe.Michigun Stnte Bank, and othcrdebls f ihe State, vahied on apprisal at 828,76,61, of which sales have been aficctod o Ihe nmount cf 35,605,62, lsaving a alance uosold of $22,566,79. The report of the Comrnissioner ap, poir.tetl under the acl providing tor tlie removul ofihe stat of government, lo select and designase a sim in tilt) township of Lansing, in this County, oo which tb erect the CapitoT, and other .state buildings, is herewilli transaiiitivj. Various proposilions were submilted by, and in behalf, of individúala deíiroua of liaving the location made upon their own landi All lands connected wiili such projo8tons, vvere carefully explóredand esatnined, and nnoh proposol maturely considered by Iho Commissioneis ; t lie v finally, howi.-vor ahanimausley concured in the opinión, that tho interest of the State would be best suliserved, by placing tlie public, buildings uon tho siteentli section in the Township mentionod in the net referred to, and they accord. ingly desigiiated apart ol' tliai seclimi i'or such purpose. There i no suliject, paramount in imporlance, to thut ol' cominon school education - none that hm a higher claim to the fostering care of the governrneni. - I um not awure that further legislalion is necessary in relation to our pommon school system, unles t be deeined expedient to provide i'or the establishment ol Normal schools, for the educalion and qualification of téftchers. Such institu tions, when properley conducttd, have been produclive of great good, and ao oubt is entertained but such would be the result of their introducliun into our state, and being made to forroed a part of our eduuaiion svstetn. By a joint ceslutiori of the legislaiure approved March 4, 1847, tlie Superintendent of public lnstruclion was required to cornrtüfl so niuch of his animal ieports for the vears eighteen hundred aiu! forty-fivo and eighteen hundred and forty-six, ns he should deein uecessary for ihe purpose of giving general rtformalion relative lo to common schools." That du'y lias been performed, and lie "Compilation," conternplalcd by the retolulion, has been made by tliat officet and wil! be luid before you. The number of town'hips from which reports have boon rece.ved, pursuajlt 10 law, is four hundí ej an twenlyfive,sene wh:t escecding iha nurnber by vrhich re ports were mado last year. The number of school districls frorn tvhich reports have beed recetved, is iwo tbousnndï nine hundreiand fifty - being eightv one -morel hun repurted lasljear; and ilie number of hilaren reported. between the age of four and eighteen years, is one hundred and e;ght thuusund one hundred and ihirty, showin nn increasB of ten ihousund fnur hundred and Pöventy-iwo upon the number retnrned in any former year. The whole number '.lint have attended cnmnion schools durmg the past year, ns bhovvn by the returns. Trom lhe several counties, eighly-eigh! thousand ant! eighlv - ten thous-ind iwo liundrek and sevenlyihree more iban are reported to havo received such instruclion the previous year. For the year 1846, the prima ry school interest fund apportioned aniong the several coumics and townships of lhe stilte, was 27, 925 73 - tffiny-one ceüts to every child reporled botween tlie ages bef'ore mentioned. The umount divided the present year is 831,250 54 - thirty tvo cents to .each child ( ntitled by law to particípate in tlie distribution of the fund. The whole sum expended in ihestalp, during (he year, for the support of coromon schools, was 130,531 80 - S30,543 75 of which was applred to lhe building and repairing of school houses. The re are three hundred township librai ies io the slate, containing fortvthree thousand nine hundred and twenty.i-ix volumes, according to Ihö returns of the 'post yéar, being th'ity more libraries nndsix thousand nine hundred and thirtyeight volumes of booka more than were reported in 1340. These Jibraries circuíate ihrough one lliousarid ihree hundred oud furly-nine school districts, Iwo hundred and sixtyeifhtmore than have partici.ated in their betiflits, in any former year. The reiurtis evincean nCreasing interest in all paris of our Siaie, in behalf of common scuiuls, ancf of edócation genuraliy. In severa! villagos, Unior, School Hcuses have been erectèd m an expense, varying from $300 lo $3000. ind a graater wilüngnosd is manifesUfd lo emj)loy competent leachciá, and to pay au udequnie cornpensation for thêif services. The increasing usefuhiess and irospcrjiy of lbo Universiiy, camiot fail to be a souice of gralification to evury citizen of Michigan. Of lhe !wenty-six professorships contempiated by the organic law of lhe iuiioii, seven have buen alroaJy eslablisheil by the board of Kegenis, and imir chairs filled, by wbom msliuclion is j;iven.inall lbo branches of literaiuro and sciencii usually lauhl in collegiate inslitutions oí the highest grade. Of ih eeven professors sppointed, iliere il one of tho j4ncieni languoges- one of lbo Modern langusges - one of Malhometics and Natural philosophy - ono of Moral aud lutclleclual Philosophj - one of Logic, Rholoric and lhe l'hilosopliv of [] story - one of Botany and Zoology and one of Cliemistry and Geologv. . l'hu library, oonsisiing of nbnut ñw tliousnnd volutnfl, is behoved lo be one of llie musí voluabie, 'of its extent, in the U. Suites, ernbracinj; as it does, llio mol approved fortign works in llic sevcral departincnts of Luerature, Science and iho AiAs. lis cabinnl of Natural Hislory is, also, of grcnt exlent and value. The cabinot purchased of [iaron Leidercr, i.i a rare and rich collt ■clion of foicign mineral. Besides which, it hus on exiensive eolleetiun of American minerals, and fossils, logeiher wiih sniis of specimens illusirnlive of Geolngy, Zoo!ogy and Botany of Michigan, affurdiog altogeiher greater ad vañtages to ihe student in Natural listo, ry, than any similar institution in ihis country. The succpss of the University tfius far has i'xceedod tte expectalioB of its mo&t sanguine friend.s. - The number of Students now bclonging to the several classes il oiglily-tbrce. and, that ihe number will be lafgoly incrcased, ta tho commencement of eacli succeeding colleginio year. there is evcry reason to oxpcci, The professors have been se'ecled for lieir ability, lésrning and liigli moral qualities. anJ ihat they pomcu thern all, in in eminent depree, i demonsiiated, by lie rnaiuior n which iht'y liave discharged he varieu, arduous and responsible dulies ui' iheir resnectiv sialidt;?: ' . The finalices of íh $ favored íns'.ituiion, are Uso uon a mos! satilactory footing. A dobt was early contracted in íes behalf, for u loan of -9100,000 of llie lioridí oí ile si.atL', vvhic'j boa been reduceJ, (rom lime lo time, by ti'e sale of' por.iions ol ils land, (ur warranls drawn upon tlic lnturnul [iri)roveinent furia, lo $20,628 01. ad ilni uelt amount of reenue, derive-d f'rom all lourcës, duritij; Uio put ycar nnd inaiiü availabie, tor Is eheral use, afei dducling interest due on Iho balance ol Udebt, wiJJ exuced 815:0t)0, about hall oj' wliielí lias bt-eii e x ; n i u J in tliu cree:ion of ni) additionul building for doiuiilories and Locture rooms. Aiproprialions are no longor made by the Regpnls for llie support of Branche of ihe Universiiy. and iis'ruciion is conlinuedonlj in lioso at Ktilamazoo and Romeo. The reporls of the Aríjutunl Genero] nnd Quarier Master Guneral are herewith iraiisinmed. By on order made un Ihe 26ih May last, llie Quurter Masiei General's deprtment was placed undrr iIk difcrtion niid control of ilie Adjajanl Gunei al ; sinco which, lie has performed p! the duiies of bo:h drpanrnflïll. A slrong repu;nancü is marilfestcd in mniiy sec.ions of ihe State, to nn organization of tito inilitiu. Serioua cmbarrassment have beon encoiiniêred, coneqientlv, by the Adjutant Ge icral, in his iFjiíií ro obfain from the civil au:liorities of llie various lownvhifM and eonntios, prompt and accurate relurns of those liable to di military duty. Theae emborrassmems, hoivever, huve been, in a g"id degree, overeóme, lv llie zenlous and un lemitKul exerUons of lliui efficienl officer, ta wLoin iho staia is prineipölly indebtód lor the progresa Huis ar male in ilio tnrolrnent of ihu mililin. Thé whole numérica! s rcngi'i of the ihilitia of iho state is estimaied al sixty llinusa'id, embiacinfr lliose aciually enrolItc], SMcii as aio liabie 10 military duty liui nol yel rcturned, loge:her with ih active or voluntoer force. 1 comiTiend lo the favorable nolico of iho legislatiire llie prof.osilion of the Adjuuinl General, to ap propriate to the purpose of in arrnorv ihe rooms h i tuerto occupied by tlie Auditor General and Slalc Treasurer, in tMe ilate building i:i the clly of Detroit. The reasotis uii;ed sy liim (or such usd of llir rooms ia qitration, ars cerlainlv forcibla, and lo inv mind, entirely saliafaeiorv. - They are fülly delsiled o nis report. I conciir ii) opioion wiiji ;ho Adjutaní 'General, also, with regard to the proprieiy of placing at llie dispusal of his rjepartinent, a futid sufficient to dt'fray i:n riecessarv ncideotal expemes, On ihe löihof May, 1810, a requisi tion was made by the War üeparliiienl, lipón tlie Execulive Vf l his S!a:e, for the enrolment of a regiment of' vo!untet;r infantry,-of ten companies, lo be held ir. ipaclmcss fur aciive service, whun caikd Tor by the President. By a joint rcsolution of the egislalure, approed February 13, 1847, the surn ( ten thousand dollars was appropriated, to be applied in the discretion of ihe Eacüulive, in filting out nny volunteer regiment, ba'.talion or cqfnpnny, ihal might becalled from tliis state, to serve in the war vvitii Mexico. In October last, an order was i"sued by dircclion of the President, for musteiing these troops into the service of iheUniied States, and iho measures neccssaiy to secure a cornpliance wiih that order, v;rc triken without deiay, by llie proper authoriiies of the Slale. Officen of the regiment, anri of llie sevcral corripanios, have been appointed nnd commksioued, and alihough the required number of ranl; and file, in some of the coinpnnits, hns nm yct been completcd, the regiment, neveriheless, has been mustered inlothe service of the Uniied St;i!eü, and six companies huve marched to the sp;U of war. The commandersof ihü fuur companies rernaining, give assurancc that their resriective commando will be speedily fi] led, and llie whole in readir:c.-s lo fo.'low hose ho have preceded llietn. An account of lbo disburments made, and In be made, under ihe joint resolu lion referrej to, will ba submitiud to you, when the object lo wlnch they are uppliceble, hall have ben fully accomplished. The 'amount llms expended, wi!l, in due lime, be refmbursed lo ihe Siate Ireasu'ry, by the Gunern) Government. Tho protnpiitude with which our fellow citizeas responded to tliis culi, affurds an earnest ihaj iheywill cheeiTully e,icounlor any hardsliips or dunger io,r the vind;. catión of their counlry's honor or the maintainanoe of ts righis. They are enliiled to our warm and unmeasured ihar:ls ; and, that thoy inpy be ' saved from the hands of our enenues" - " prese.-veJ frum a!l perils," and reslorfd to ihèir respective fomilifsand friends, should ihe prayer of ever.y Atnnrkao [uilriot and cbristian, be oflered lo I.T:m, wlio is alone, tha uiver of vici'ory, 1 do nol proppie in nvesligntion of llie causes, whicl) linve lor! to our present un-" happy relations wilh Mexico, nor a vindioolion of llie polu-y, ly wtiici our guvernmcnl lias been guiJid iu ihe prusecution of llie ir wiih ihat Repu'jüc; E il her wüuM be upererogaiton. I: is sufficient to siy, lipre, that ili war was neiihcr goughl nor commenccü bv our o venimciit; we were forced iiilo "iliu p.-,sition, we now occüpy, by tho aggressive acl.s of Mexico herself. Shè iiiviided üar lemiory with her nrmed soldiery, and there shed tlie bluod of our citizens. Nu ciioice was left for us ; to opposc force willi force-drire the nvuder from our soil - vnnquMi her armies - caplujs her soldicrs - ubjugnta hur cilies and lowns - (ccupy aid govem lier country - Icvy coniribuüotis upon Iilt inhabilaiits for the support of our armv, uritil slie should acknowl'idgo our riglits, nul make repalaiion for llie long c;italog'jfe of njunea, comtnilfd upon our citizns, was tiie imperious duty of our government. Tholdutj.it has endcuvorcd faillifuüy 10 perform, and the efl'urts tlius far made, fiave been crowned with tiiumplianl succeg. From Palo Alto to Buena Vista, and frorn Vera Cruz to Mexico, t lie marcti of our army was but r crmtjnund series of victories. Our briive iroops, cfficers and men. have covcted ihennelvvi wiili unfadmr glory. Óf all Ihe lieroic bands, compnsing the American army in Mexico, none have served iheir country more lailtifully, bravly ind utcelully',Bban those from our own ; fiiceis nnd privatcs, resiu'ars and voiunteefi. all Imvsi deyoted ihemselvcs lo the ir cuuntry's cause, wit') a determiüed cnergy and unconquerable courng'1, tliat would nave diatinguished au aiiny of veterans. They havo pourtd out ilieir blood lika water, and tlie.ir cri]pled limbs and rnutilaied bodits ;ire ad !)ut triülilul mementos of their deeds ol J a r i ti g opon the batüa field. Tiu.'i, wrlh uil ïlieir comdutriots ri ornis, merit our liigliest praises and uur decnest erntnudo. The fiscal year of líie Stnle Prison hflí hitlieilo lerrainaled on the 31st day of October, but by llie llevised Statums of 184Ö, its accounts for l he ycur nn; lo be closed on the3üth of November, producir.g uriiíbririiiy in ihnt respect, belween it and the o'lier departmcn's. Consequently, the report ol' ils officers for the preseiit year, will embrace a period fruoi the lt of November 1846, lo the 30lh of the same inonlh, n 1817, bo:h inclusive. The nun ber of convicts remaining i ihe prison on l!ie 01t üf Ociober 1846. was one hundied. nnd twenty-two. Fnr. ty-four ore receivd belween h cat: md the 30lh of November 1847. Duiiiii tlia same period, Courleen ere pnrdonert - twenty four vvere discharged b expiration of senience - lliree died, and lwo e.-caped; and on the day last meiilíoned. the number remainirig was one liunüred and nineleen. Á Inrflc projiortion of llie labo' of ihw coiivicls ha--, d uriii j ihe jnisi, as i:i previ ons yeats( bri per lormed for individuáis, upoii con;rc'.s made w.ih ilieni Dy thi Agetit, under wli ch conlrnct ihirly ihottsaiid four hunJmd and Bighlecn day woil; have been petformed; at nn average ptia of about tliiriy-one and iwo-lliird Cdit per dav, nuiuutiting in' ihu wholê, lo $9,620 27 Tiie t'Siiinaled valué of convict lab.ir r-erfortruid fur iho sta s " 2,CC5 25 Jking tfieir Iota) eartiing $12,285 52 1 'ne lo'ttl rtcfipis of the prisiin irom the state ireasury, Irom coniracors or convict liibor.aiKÍ iVum uil otl.cr souice-, during liiö ihirieen monlhs bforo pecil ed, weTe $18,1-29 ü:? uid the toml exl'eiidiiurt1 lor Balnrien, tiubsisti'Dfc, and for all ölher purpirtf; durm;; ihe samo póriod, weie $18,00i) ktavinga balance on hand, Nuv. 3üih, 1647, of $068 61. Onr Judieiary system wil] e!;im youi uarly and coreful altehtiplii A prompt, efficiënt and wise admit:;. tration ol' the laws, t a'ilïe essential lo !lie maintenance of public and pnvnto rgiti, and the rtdress of corresponding w roo ga Bv the lato revisión of our lawj, the previously existing judiciiry system un denveiit many mattfriaj and importan; alteraliuns. 'l'he oiFice of Cimncellor was abotishad and is du'.ics added to those of the judgw of the supruine court, thoo too onerous to ba mach lóiiger bornR by those efficers. Tothe Chnncellor luis boen commitled t.he afliiiinistrotion oí'equttv jurwprudunoe, for the whole state - to him h id been given oiigiiuil j:iriïdiciiju in a'l cusfu wlierc resurt was lo be had to remedies pureh equilable, anJ his decrees termiñated thf litigation, il) a verv Inrgu proponion, ol the uts brought liefoic him. 'I'he business of that court, frorn its orgaiiization to its abulition, stendily nd rapidly mcrenscd. md dunng líie las'. years of its oxistenct', accuinulucd iargc ly upo'n its duclïPts, noiw iihstnnding the ftbiluy and uuiiring tnd'jrtry of th distin jiuiilu'd individúala wiio, ut different periods, sa i upon its benclu !'v the same revisión, tho dísti iol court a tribunal rsttbrislied for lt a'lministrai ion of Criminal Junlice alone, in four o' ttie largu counties, was abolUhed also ar.d lts duties liirown upuu the judies of the supreme court. In the tupreme courl, too, there ha been a great increase of business du ring the Jast faw years, eapeciully in the Firat judicial Circuit, where. causes had nccumulatd (tam erm lo toroi, uittil at the close cfthü last fcssion, a long calondai reoiRJued undecidi'd. Delay ofjastice, to tho man of bu-iinnss, is ahnost equivalent lo iis denial ; lor s spei dy adininslration, therefore, everv prnc'icablo lacility should be ïfFirded. Wnh a viw to reüi!v tho judges of thosupre necouri, from the great pressure anlicipated, from casting on t'iem, ihc business of thu Chancery and Crimina' Courls, anolher tribunal was created, thteffecl of which Un bcu'n, it iá true, to reduce s Miiewhat, tho labor of the j.idges, picsiding at tho circuits. Sucli rcdijction, however, bears bui n small propoitioli to '.Iib increae of their labor Consequent upen the abolition üf the two courls jus t iieuiioned. Il is nppareni, ihen, iliat with nur ;rcsen; judicial forcé, with iho ystem now Bxistmg, justice cannoi bo ■d.-ninisteréd wiih thepio up;údá ulm-li iho public in. lerost requiies, and hich prívale suitor havo u rijsht to demand. ' Ilow shull ihe evil bu reinidieJ ? Several mod:s Imvo beon fUggestQfJ. One, a íestoralion of ibo RyBlem sinperuled by ibe revisión ui' 164Ö. vvitli nn addilional justice uflhe supremo court. Anoiber, on onlargemcni of llia powers of tbe couniy couris, givinjj; to ihoaa tri bunals gfiieral junsdictimi in nll action at law, civil and criminal; and saoir) i has been proposod to reiain iho presen: system unchnnged, xcepi bv tlia kddinon oi'two jusücus lo tbc court of lat re sort. On the score of economy, the first, ] cannot doubt, is cntiilcd to a deqided pr'oföfence. 1 blwv no system bas vet been devwd. lindo; whicli so large an' omoum of judicial hibor can be peilormed, at trVe same expense, as the one idupted oti the or-ianization of our state govermoent. iScven individuals, of competent abiliiv, wouid, unquestionably, perform the xvho'le judicial service of tho state, (except such as more properly fall withiu the jurisdictiün of probniu courts and justices of tho peuce,) for rnany yaarn to com?, oud ihat 100, without ilio bid of loen 1 judges. We iiow li ave in office, tlmiy-six judget ar,d four ínjuricüon rnasleri, vvliu aru for many purposes, tinder llie laY now exisieni, ïice chanceilor. Sirong objtclkm ''Mst, n iho minds of tnany, lo n i:ouriol'c)iancery, as a distinct tribunal ; but il. lias always seerncd !ö m8 iliat so loi g ai a disiincüon be observed belwoeu legal ruJ ccuiibJe remedie, iliosu remedie could be mol conveniently. sa fel v nnd cheaply administcred when commitud lo sepárale jurisdictieiii, IC, '"üvvcvfr, you should deern it inexpedient lo ievive tlo courl oí cliancery.and yet betieve it judiciou lo restore Ihe for incr systcm, excluding tlml tribunal, the anpöimmem of ndditionnl jodgM of iho supfeme courl may bo provided for with a rorreí pondmg nurobar of judicial cif" euils, .ind t-ach judge, as noiv, made a chanceilor for h:s circuit. In case it be dfierrhined to retain the present system,I respectfully recornmend 11 careful revisión of the luw eu'ublmhmg cdtinty courls, m:my of ihe provisión of which are, by ihcir piactical operntion, nhown to be defectivo; and should you ibinrk it unwise to incrense 'hc forco upc.n ihf) bench of the court of last rosort, it would scffrt) ncceg'ary ihat thejurisdiction ol'lbi: counly courts ahuuld bu mucli M larsiecl. Shoui3 tho-c coarta bu nvested with ireneral jurfedfciion n all nclions at law, civil, and criminal, rolies-ing iho judges of ihe suprema court from the trial of issue nffaci, 1 rfoubt tiot, but ihose jndges wo'd be enabled to perföfm Húhe duties ofiha latter tribunal, and .f chancellors also. in 'heir respective circuits. Wiih micIi n reorganizaüon of ihe coun'v Conrts, componsnlion shocili] be pruvidJ rd Tor lhejudfes, piaportioneta io the labr to be performed, nnd the losponsibiü. tie aÑsUmeü by i(:osu nïïiceri. salaries thould, I iliitil, be paid out of ihe si'veial counly tiea-urits, ih amounu beinjj ellhér iixed by Inw, ordelermim d bv i Ik? sii)L'rvijor5 according lo ihe biisiné.-s of their rt-spei-tive counües. Tlie compenmuoo of judicial officeriof so coiisiderabl d'gnüy and iiiiportftnc6 a ihe counly judgea will be, inïestcd with ihe jurudmiion, I have suppoaed, ought nol lo be derived from suilors at iheir bar, hs fti's, for ihe n(.i formalice of official dut - cerlainly nol tiirec;ly4 O;ir onstltut.on teachea an instinctivo lesBon on llns gtibjecl. 'I'hc sixili arlicia of tba! Oïtrument, aficr provj ün fof i!il' appointinent of judge f)f the supiciiiH cour!, 'leclare'i tbal ' ;hey Ik.ü rt-ctiva an adequat cuii)]iensation, &c. Bul tlipv .-h'iil icceive uo lees nat ;)CrqniilfS uf ofíici." Tiiai provisión will ba applienbhi ui iili ns force, to ihe courity judgt'.s ii" tiicy be eiolhed withgoni'-ral juris liclTotl in n'l ;ictintis ril hiw. If general criminal junsd c:ion be cotlferred on those tnbunals, juro ra both grand and pot ï t, raust be summoned beibre tbem, atstmed terms to be íi.xed by l.iw. Thai soms furtfiar provisión is absoI u l e I y neecssary for the admiiiiïlrution of criminal juïifo, in the lar ge counliesj more especial 1 v in tbe counliesof WaynBj Oakland, and Wasruenáw, dues not admit rl' questiotu' LTn iér ti.o present system, with semianivial toms on'y, of ihe only cjurt of original juri-diction in crim'ml cases, perHis charg-d wjth crime, acjumiilate in ihecoiin'y jails, subject the counties t' great expenses for iheir care nnd support, ani frequently the prisoners them■■■elvos, to gre.it suffering, and l'nat too, befnre they r.re convicted of auy crime. The restoralion of the district court,oi the crerition ofailother iribunal, with the powers of that court wouKl afl'.ird nn am pi?, and it is believed an cconuinical remedy for iho-o evils. 1 submit ihe who'e subject U voUj trusting tliatils mpprlnhce will comn.e:id it to your delibérate and careful consideration. l deern it ir.y dutv to invile the atteniion of the legisla! ure, to the existing laws re'ative to granting licetiíe to iheitical exhibili ns, pubiic shovs, &c. By their provisions, township bards, and the corpora'e Boards of Village?,are empoWered to license tlieatical exhibi tions, pubiic shows and such other exhibitions a-s the_v may doem proper, to which admission isobtainéd on payment of monoy, upon suc!i terras nnd conditions as i'iry nriy think reaáonable, By the laws of man-v of ihe stntes, sa lipnvy a tax is impoted on licenes as effectunlly to prevent such exbibiiiqns altogether, or to confine ihem '.o the citíes nnl larga towrís, nnd in most of the tntes, persons obtaining license for such purposes, are compellcd to pny totbe public treasury whatshall sepm, in soma degree nt leat, an equivalent for the privileges conferred ; while the practicable operation of our law is such, th.it public sfiow.s of al most every grada ard character, nre ficensed asa m-itler of course, on application for lint purpose, and usually. it is believed, upon ihe paymant f a sum roerely nominal. It will .ippear from any colculation approachiqg loaccuracy, ih-it an expon-o of time and monev, is anniallv incurred by our ciiizeus, on account oT su.'h exhibitions, oxceeding in nniount all disbursemenls madn in support of the Suite government, and those who are permittcd to mak e this heavy draft upon us, rendar no adequate equivalent ; ihorefore, I suggest the expediency of fiing, by l.iw, a tariff of p rices for tiiese !icen.s,es rangmg upwaid from an established minimum, in proportion to the populntion of the county in which application shall bo made therefor, I recommend (hat the County Treasurrv alone be empowortd to.grant such licenses, and th-it ail money's recei ted therefor, bc paid to the treasuror of (ha proper county, and by him npnortioned1 among ihe severnl -townships in the county, to bo appKed to the purchaseof book, fur their respective libráriea. Tho subjpctofn canal oroiindihe falla ofthe St. Mnry's, at the oulle't of LakeSuperior in Ibis Statf, will be strongly presseJ u;on tho altent on ofthe legislature. TKe importance of such a work canharoly be over-tstimated. Though essentially nationa) in its characler, the general go eminent bas madeno provisión lor itscoiisiruction,and ther.e is probably, littlo reason to eVpect appro, priatidn by Congress, fur that object, só long 81 least as the country is irivblvëd in a foreign war. The state has not tlie means at command to meet .the expenses of sucli a Work, and prudence as well as good IhitH towards oi:r present creditors forbids a resort tö loaris fur such purpose, even were lhey known to bc a'-cessible. Private eritèrórlsp; and private capital alone seem available for opening this channel of connection between Lakc Superior and the water;; below. With a view to ihe attainment of this object, an act was passcd by the last legislature, grnnting a charter tó any persons who rhightbe (bund wülhig tö embark in the enlerprise. None, hovVever, have appeared to accept its ter.ns and orgamze under its provisions. It has been represented, that with some modifications ot the charter, the slock vrould be immediatoly taken, the necssary fundsprovided,the work commenced without delny and carried rapidiy forward to completion. Should such proposals, in tangible form, emanaling f rom responsible SQU rees, be submitted for yeur considerations,it will then be for you to determine, wliPthor the proposed amendmems can be made consistently withíhe general interest of the state. Of the nine million acres of land which we possess in the Upper Península, a large part is described by tl ose who lirn-e most thoroughly rxplored it, ns equal in all respects,for ihe purposes of soitle t ent and agriculture, to any portion of New England,or the morenortlicrn pan of this' península. The interests of our own state, and indeed, of the wliolo union, would be promoted by the setllement and cultivation of that country, and by the opening of i:s mines of copper and otlier valuable metáis. To enoiurage and fostcr these important and increasing interesls, by every tneans in its power, is the plain duty of the state governmeht. The produciions of the rich and inexhaustable mines of iron, copper, and siler, found along the shores of Lake Superior - the produce, too, of the fishe-ries of that lake, scarcely exceeded in extnt or value by those of Newfound land, even, and the lumber from almost boundless forpsts of pine ond cpd-ir, all must pass through the St. Mary's Cuiial when inndf. Of such vaát magnitude and iniportnnce is the business of the upper l.ike likelv soon to become, and so ndispensible lo its pro-periiy and grojvlh, is the construction of that canal, that t should beencouraged by a charter as liberal in its terms asean be granted without jeoparding thejust riglits of ihe public. I cannot permit the present occasion to pass without diroctnig your altenlion, f.r a moment, toivards an intèresting, and, I think, vnluab'e class of fóieigners, that for the last few momhs, have been arriving in our staie. They are a colony of Hollander?, Sf ftled in the cuunty of Otlowa, near Lake Michigan, remole from the iuhabived paris of the couñ y. Their languago is the low Dutch. - They aie ignurant of our vernacular longue, and a few persons in our staie can act as interpretéis of theirs. Thev are loeated in a ihickly tiinbered región, without roads, without m:ll', without mails, without mngislrates or pó■lice regulations of any kind, and indeed without most of ihoe facilities and con'Teniencfs that are deemed indispensably !necessnrv to Civilized life, even in its ■humb'esi conditions. Slill they sk hol private charity, tiör do they solicit nppropriatioria from the yubüc treasury, bul they do involie the interposition of state iegislálion so far as to e.xtend to theni the benefits of an orgnnized lownship govdinmnii!, and of such opened and öonstructed highway as will atibrd them access to milis, rnereb,lints, mechahiis, atul post offices. Tliey are a hard y, industrious, fnig-tl, moral and religious people, of wliat is denominated ihe Free Uhurch of Holland, and like the I'ilgrims of 1020 carne to this country, to esöap ■ the iniolerance of their owri, and in quest of liberty of conscience, whcre no alliance exi.ts beiween the tíhurch and the state, and where they may be permitted to worship God in their own way. The Colony riow niimhers aboui two Ihousand souls, and it is believéd, will be Jucreased annually, by many thousands of their countrymen, should they receive the' fostering care of our government, and (okens of welcomo und encouragRment from our people. I recommend the orginizatlon of a township which shall embrace the principal purchases made by thoBe colonista. - They have now, no government nmong them save the restrainls of religión and fhe rules oflheir church. Roads for their accommodation and sershtjld be opened wroughl, to far as it can be done with the means properly applicablt. to ihe object. Their seillement is in the midst of a wide unbroken wilderness, most of which, hotvever, has been purchased by individuals, or selected by the state for the purpose of Intern jl Improvement. A large amount of highway taxps is assessed tipon these non-resident lands and brought into the treasury. Would it not be just tó all concerned to nppropriale a portion, at least, of this fund to the construction of such roads as ure deemed essential to the gruwlh and prosperity of this important colony? One, perhaps, from theie principal settiementto ürandville, in the courity of Kent, another to the mouth of (rand River, in Ottawa eounty, and a thiril to some point on the Knlamazoo lliver, in the eounty of Allpgin. Of he 25,000 acres of iniernal improvement lands, appropriated, at tho last cssion of the Legislature, for the construction of a canal around the rapios of the Grand River, the Supervisors of Kent eounty, have selected eleven' thousond seven hunrired and ninety oight and 27100 ncres in the same township", and part of the same tract settled upon by the Holland Colony, and emhracing nearly all the unsold lands belonging to the state, in their immediate vicinity. By this felection, under the law retorred to, these lands may be held from sale for ihree years, of which the Hollanders wish to pinchase mrriediMely, more than four ihousand acres. I suggcst llie propriely of so amending lhe law, a3 lo auihorizu the sale of the lands so selecléd, tind tHe hutdilig the proceeds in lieu of lhe lands for the objèct of the appropriatioh. Sucit triodiflcation, it ís undsrstood, will receive the ap proba tiou of tlio Supervisors of Kent county. For a more detailed exposition of this subject, I refer you (6 tiie report of the Cohimissioher of the State Land Oflce. - In lhe views expressed by that intelligent officer, I fully concur. No nteaiure of legialalión could Ie devised, perhaps, thnt would have n greater tendency to induce emigraiion to our State than tiie colleciion nnd periodical publication of accurate statislicnl informal ion of ils varied resources and capacities. The false representa! ions of interesled persons, rriadc for the purpose of lurning the tide of emigration avvay from our shores, would be counteracied by such pubücation, and Ihousands, who now pass by us, in search of new homes, would be induced to fix their abodes in our peiiinsula. Individual or associated effoits cannot be reüed upon in a community so young as ours, for the Bccomnlishment of liria object, but it may be efTected through the nfeeney of the township, county and stnte oföcers, with litlle expense to the treasury. I submit whether a statislical bürpnu might not be eslablished in connection with one of the execu'.ive deparlments, the advantages of which would greatly üverbalance any increase of expenditure incident thereto. This subject has an importanre in a n'nv cóun'ry like ours, not known to it in an old one. Here, every thing is in a train of ac'vnncement ; every returning yea.' evhibits the whofo country and its busin?ss in a new aspect, and wilh a largelv incr'e.-.sed populación. lt-is as npcessary that s'taiistics should be renewed nnni:allv in üie western siates, as that thpy should becoïïected decemially in the old one. We re all tue fucts, alleciing the character of Michigan, the fertilily of itssoil and variety of its produciions, lliesalubrity and mildness of its climate, ils facilities fur nianufacturing, its commercial iidvantagcs, its avenues for travel nnd trjnsportation, lhe extent and value of its (ïsheries, the cofmtress wealth i fits mines, iis foresta of pinp and other valuable timber, its system of edücaiion, t!ie,-,.enterprizè and ii'.leliigpiice of its people, the simplicity nnd clie.ipne:-s of its sy stem of goVèroïnént, the lovv rate of taxation which wil! soón be reoched - were tiie details of tlipse various subjects annually prorr.ulgafed in nullionlic foim, it cannot be dou'jted but they would go far lo disabuse lhe public inind, and to bring us accessions of pepulation and iveahh, Besides, the accumulation of such e mnss of slalistic'il matter, would b of ir.VallloHe benr-(it to the state, and to ils individual citizons, in many (Aher respecté. A joint resoliition of llie lat legislature, appreved on 'the 17ih f.ln_rc.h, 1847, proposed so to arnend lhe constitución as to próvida for dividing the stalu into single ditcls for the purpose of representation. This resolution is referre.i to the Ip.gislature now corivened, and f approved by two-thirds of the members clected to ench house, is to be submiited to the people for their npproval or rejection, iri such rpan ner and at tucb time as you shall prescribe. Changos of the original Uv, shnuld he CïUl!oU6ly and spnringly made ; no allerat ion ol its provisions should be hazarded, unlss ili some material part, they are palab!y (iefecuve% Yet it would not be wie to c'.ose dur eyes against the light of experienco, if our governmental system, from iis practical oper.ition, be found imperfect, sound policy diclates ihatthe proper corrective should be applied. By tiie twenly-first clause of the fourlh aiticleofthe constitution, it is ordained ihat the legisluture shall meet on the first Monda y in January in every year. Would not the interests of the people be oromoted by somodifying ihat provis ion, as to limit tbs sesáion of the lëgislature to biennial periods ? In most new siates, and in few, perhajis, more than in our own, a strong tendency to excessive legislation has been maniiested. . Énactments, designed to effect local or private objects nlone, no wiseto the conducive to the general gooá, multiplied aci3 ofiricorporalion, and. frequent nltprations of the general laws, liave occupied much of the time of our legislatures. - Their sessions have thus been greatly protractpd and the dra fit upon the public tréasufy fnr.de proportionally heavier. As the expenses of the lègislature consiitute a greí.t part ofthe amour.t dislurspd in support of the st-ite govcnimenl, its sessions ought not lo be more frequent ihan is necessary for lhe adoption of measures nn'd emetment ol laWi absolutely essential to lhe genernl welfare. 1 resppcifully submit whether a session every altérnale year woúld nol be al! snfficienl for lbose urposes. Biennial sessions would very much diminish lhe burden upon the people, and at the .ame time tend t give greater peruiuiifiicy lo our statues. In several of the younger si ates, their legislalures convene only once in tvo years, nnd in no one oftliem, I believe, has it ever been proposet' to alter their conslilutinn in that regard. [ recommencr such f'uriher rnodification of lhe constitution nnd laws as shall provide for the eleciion, bythe pcsojilp, of all counly (ifficers, mauy of wbom are no nppuinted by the executive, and il is worthy of inquiiy whether nll slate ofïicers also, may not with advant.'ige to lhe public interest', be selected by thé direct az. tion of' the '■'.cetors. I have hiiherto deemed t inexpedienl lo iake high judicial oííioers ríective, bul the experiment recently made in n n other staie, has shaken lhe opinión I had previously entertained upon this subject, and il may not be inappropríate to the occasion to add. that in a late revisión ol theconslitulion of Illinois, biennial, in lieu of annual sessions ef their legislature were provided for,and all ofiicersof every class and grade rnade eloctive. VV hile, ín concluding lilis coinmunica!on, gentlemen, I pledge my co-operntion in all the mensures you may adopt fur llie promolion of llie public good, áloV me to exprosa an enrnest hopG that your present sesaion may be brought toa close at the carliest pèriod possible, consistently wiih a ful I and próper discharge of your cluties, and f ittvoke lor each oí US, the guidanca of Him rthose tbechihgS are unerring wisdom. , Michigan, Jan. 3d, 1848.