The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-09-04
Con.titution Of nrichiran.

SenteO 10 the people VI ttias 0IdIe SoHsutu-
ton, which, in most Of its important features, is
not only Democratic and Republican, but, to
many minds, will appear as Radical in the ex-
IRENE. We shall endeavor to present those fea
lures in which thsC Constitution differs from most,
if not all others, devised by the other States of
this Confederacy, for their welfare in govern
ment. 49,
During the sitting of the Convention, many
propositions were made by members Of the body
for more radical changes than have been finally
incorporated into this instrument Among these
were the abolition of the Senate House of the
Legislature, and the modification, if not the en-
tire abrogation, of the present Grand Jury sys-
tenn.
We are not at present informed with what de-
gree of favor those propositions were received
by the Convention; but for ourselves, we did in
dulge the hope that the time had come when the
necessity for continuance Of two branches of
the Legislative department of State governments
no longer existed, and that popular opinion had
arrived at that point of perfection which disre-
garded the principles which were founded rather
upon the habits and prejudices of the past, than
the necessities of the present or future. But the
former have triumphed for while longer. Ne
cessity alone has been insufficient to wrestle
with custom and prejudice, and the people of
Michigan have been left where the Convention
found them, with two Legislative chambers to
tease and vex each other over the enactment of
their laws. In like manner, and for similar rea-
sons, the Grand Jury system, one of the loath-
some excrescenses on Republican Government,
has bid defiance to the manifestations of dissa-
tisfaction with which it has been regarded. The
Convention left that, oo,where it was found, to
become more intolerable from the contrast which
it presents, when compared with the perfection
of other parts of the new system of government.
Other features, too, for which public opinion
no less than public utility, had demanded nearer
conformity with existing customs were left to
present themselves in contrast with the beauty
and simplicity with which the more radical
changes have been effected. But of these minor
details we have not space to speak. We shall
now present those changes in which we find no
analogy in our own or other Constitutions
The Legislative Department of the govern
ment consists of a Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives like other States; but unlike the man.
ner IN which other States are divided into dis
tricts, the Constitution of Michigan provides that
each senatorial and representative district shall
be entitled to but one Senator and Representa-
tive. This feature alone is worth the whole cost
and trouble of revising the Constitution; and it
is made still more perfert, inasmuch as it takes
from the Legislature the power of forming or
dividing the districts, and places that power in
The hands of county officers, who are more i'm
mediately responsible for the faithful execution
Of their trust than an irresponsible body the ma
ority of whom are unknown to the people i'm
mediately interested. These clauses ofthe Con-
stitution guard against what is now technically
known among politicians as gerrymamdering-a
species of political meandering which makes
district of voters follow the course of the polti-
cal stream of the party in power. Most of this
is prevented by the constitution of Michigan.
Now, as to the power and privileges of the
Legislature. The 10Th section of the Article
which relates to the Legislative Department.,
pr Divides that "No bill or joint resolution shall
become law without the concurrence of ma
orty of ALL the members elected to each house.
This feature is no less important and necessary
han it will be found radical and conservative
adical in its cause, and conservative in its eff
ects. Its object is to prevent the passage of
avs by minority of the legislature, and this
object it will accomplish effectually. We are
lot aware that such provision exists in the con-
titution of any other State, while it should be
prominent feature in them all.
Those who have even the smallest experience
n the enactment of laws, will at once recognise
he propriety of insisting that majority of ALL
he members of each House should concur in
he enactment of a law, instead of leaving that
ower to be exercised by majority of the men,
ers present. 1t not unfrequently happens that P
nder the present system in all the States, as [
veil as IN Congress, laws are enacted by mi P
orty of the members elected. Frequently does O
happen that bare quorum or majority of all d
he members are left to transact business, and C
ust as frequently are laws passed through our C
legislatures by one-third of the members elect t
III this is prevented by the Constitution of Mi
higan, which requires the concurrence of the
majority of the members elected to each House
. the enactment of laws.
Another provision of the same section is that, 7
m the passage Of all bills, the vote shall be by
'eas and nays, and be entered on the Journal
These provisions are salutary checks upon idle
members and hasty legislation. Bills cannot,
nder these checks, pass through so rapidly, nor r
an small organized faction rule in the Legis- +
ature. 1t frequently happens that advantage is .
aiken of the absence of idle members to run .
measures through to final vote, and leopard the
interests Of the constituents of such dlers; but
y these provisions, in order to secure maiori-
y Of ALL, 1t will always be necessary to have
I'LL house on final vote, and as it requires all
nal votes to be recorded on the journal as
natter of course, that careless indifference in
oting which so often prevails, will be prevented k
The privileges usually accorded to the speak
r of the House and President of the Senate,