The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-07-03
Convention of Michigan.

of its proceedings thus far, thereis much reason
to expect that the principles which have been
developed by republican government, will be
cngrafted upon the Constitution of Michigan.
Among these we may mention biennial sessions
of the Legislature. The abolition of the dis
tinction existing at present between the Courts
of Law and Courts of Equity, SO as to rest the
decision of the court upon the merits, and not
the legal technicalities of the case. The aboli-
ton of the Probate Court as an exclusive juris-
diction. The submission of the acts of the LIE.
gislature to the Supreme Court, previous to the
acts becoming laws, in order that the court might
decide upon their conshtutionalty.
Several amendments have been proposed, the
effect of which would be, that the Legislature
should have no power to pass any act Of incor-
poration, other than those for municipal purpos-
es. The same amendment forbids associations
or individuals issuing notes certificates to Cir
culate as money. The two last amendments
are analogous to portions of our Constitution, as
are several others which have been proposed
Another amendment proposes that the Lcgisla-
tive department of the government consist of
one House only. For States, we consider this
decided improvement. There is not that ana
logy between the Legislative departments of the
! General and State Governments. which requires
them to be almost identical in their organization.
We think that one House, in which the State
would be represented by single district delegates,
would be far more democratic, far more republi-
can, and in much better keeping with the spirit,
habits, and necessities of the age. There is but
one, and there can be but one interest represent
ed in the State Legislature; and any attempt to
classify the people as to make it appear that
the Senate represents one thing and the House
another, is an attempt at aping the manners, Gus
toms, and times of another uge, of another peo-
Pile, and of another system of government. This
would not be applicable to the Legislature of the
General Government, when the Senate repre-
sents one interest or sovereignty, and the Rep
| resentatives another We should like to see the
one House system tried by some one ofthc States
now forming new system.
| The amendment which proposes a remodcling
ofthe courts of justice is one of the most import
ant, and one of the most difficult to be accom-
/
smooth down the incongruities of the ancient
laws; and though they are by no means adapt
ted to present state of social existance, they
are nevertheless not only tolerated, but clung to
as a matter of necessity. The reason is, that
we have tried no other system. We act in this
respect like barbarians, who would put on all the
outward garbs of civilization, but retain all the
barbarous customs and superstitions of their for
mer life.
Outwardly and apparently, our laws are such
as would seem applicable to civilized society in
a state of progress, but within the court where
these laws come to be applied, we are just where
we were left by the Barons of Runnymeadc.
The same scraping and bowing, demurring
and rejoining, butting and rebutting, surrubut-
ting and sparring is kept up with as much for
mulity and apparent necessity as it did when
technical Formally, and not equitable merits,
weighed down the scale of Justice. And what
is the use of all this in republic where cheap
and speedy justice should be secured to ALP
| Could not the intercourse of man with man be
SO regulated, that recital ofone man s griev-
ance against another before acompetcnt tribunal,
the testimony could be heard, and the case de
cided, without reference to precedents of other
States or other courts; but in compliance with
the laws of the State or community where the
matter in controversy arose? We think this
could be done, and we believe it ought to be
done, and done speedily, before those habits be-
come fixed upon us, which will prevent us from
doing hereafter without much trouble, what we
can do now without costing us a pang.
We trust that our Committee of Revision will
have adopted code of laws suitable to the foun-
dation upon which our social system rests, and
that such code will be adopted by the next &c.
neral Assembly will be in harmony with the
feelings, wants, wishes and interests of the great
mass ofthe people who have heretofore suffer-
ed from the incongruities and Inconsistencies
of a system utterly at variance with republican
form of government. We regret that so much
Indifference among the people has caused a
feeling to grow up in the minds of many, to the
effect that the people are satisfied with the pres
ent state of things, and that they desire no
change. This Indifference is not the result of a
want of desire on the part Of the people, but it
is caused by repeated disappointments, when
there, existed well-founded hope that things
would have been changed. afgn aaa nra5-i
The people have begun to think, that since no
change has. taken place, after repeated promises
and reiterated attempts at reform, that therefore
no reformatory change can be successfully made
But there is better time coming. The great
Empire State has set noble example and all
who will, may follow England, too, feels the
necessity of throwing off the incumbrance of
technicality, and arraying herself with the armor
of common sense, she is marching against the
obstacles which obstruct her peoples path in the
attainment Of common justice. 2sh " sill1 @H!
And shall we remain behind? Not, indeed,
if we can have locomotion to obey our will But
what say the people? Willthey be. governed
by technicality without law, or by law without
technlcality. Let them answer. ..,Dr.t,.z,
An editor out west threw the Cuban flag from