The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-01-24

ready with tho amended charter as socn rs the
money can be ready.
But have resaon 10 10 satisfied that during
the present state of the nonoy market the
large amount required to build, or warrant the
commencement of the road, cannot now bo
raised. Mr.. Mcpherson, one of tho principal
contractors, gentlemen from Montreal, in q
vpvxssss,ssiatsas ~ sa5jij mari OF tas
fall, on the subject of special sossion for the
amendment of this charter, assured me that
they relied upon raising the principal sum tc
build the road in England; and being asked i
il could bo raised there in case of a material
change in the money market, (Which was then
very easy or of war in Europe, (Which was
then problemalical,) he replied, distinctly, thai
il could not. and would not bo attempted
There can bo no objection to the amendment
asked and il would be safc, beyond reasona
BILE doubt, to suppose it will be made, If asked
for, at tho next regular session. The capital
stock of the company, is now two million dol
lars, and if they have the money to exDend, il
would be all they could oxpond boforo tho rog
ular session will convene.
There is no very pressing necessity of i'm
mediate legislation on the subject of swamp
lands; and when legislation shall be had,
doubtless much diversity of opinion will oxist
hs u WHuJ kluu VI ltHloiuliou 10 DcSLs
Somo amendment to tho tax law would be
well, but can see no "cxtraordinary OCCASION
for it, before regular session. The law will
be as good for tho year to como as for the
! year past, with the past years experience
! The Maine Law (so called) is thought by ma
| ny TO be probem, and have had an oppor-
tunity 10 know that the friends of a perfect
law took tho existing law as tho best that
could be obtained from tho present legislature.
| Therefore, while legislation might be desi-
rable OH all these, and some other subjects, [
| am unable TO 500 such an extraordinary oeca-
sion for it as the constitution cantcmplates. -
AS incidental to the main question of extra
ordinary occasion" may be considered the
fact, that have no very satisfactory evidence
that, in relation to General Railroad Law,
such change has been made in the mind; of
members of tho legislature as TO secure its
passage. A special session would bo only for
30 days. Since tho adjournment of tho logis-
lature two or three members have died; among
them. the Speaker of the House. The House
would not be full, or elections would be re-
qurcd; and, necessarily, n new organization,
in part would require more or less time. As
many believe notice of an amendment OF a
charter must bo given thirty days before the
session at which it is asked. it would not at
most, be more than ten or eleven months, aftor
a special session, before the regular session
would convene.
1t has been the general opinion that under
the old constitution tho greatest alllicton of
tho State was excess of Legislation. TO rem
edy this, biennial sessions, virtually limited to
forty days, have been provided for under the
new constitution. As we hayJ had, since It's
adoption, two regular sessions, and one special
session, (,hroe sessions in three years,) the
propriety Of the great change has not been
fully tested: and the executive should do moth
ing, unless absolutely necessary, to prevent
fair trial Of anticipated reforms If the Gov
ernor can be easily persuaded TO call special
sessions of the legislature, tho OBJECT would be
10 leave much legislation that might DO done
at regular session for tho next special ses-
sion. The cost of an extra session is an OBJ
lection TO it; but tho expense OF ono special
session is not as Objectionable as the prece-
don't it may aid in establishing, or tho coun-
tenance it might give TO a call of future ses-
sions and their consequent expense.
Ii is climoi by many that demonstration
has been made. showing a strong expression
of a majority of the people in favor of a called
session. ! havo watched the progress of this
demonstration with an anxious desire 10 judge
of il correctly, that | might obey tho voice of
tho people, if no constitutional barrier intor,
posed. Much of the influence TO obtain the
demonstration that has been made, has been
by appeals TO local interests, and by holding
the bright hopo, as to the result of called ses-
sion, of railroad here, and a railroad there,
in various parts of tho Stato the aggregate
of which would be moro than any reasonable
man could expect to bo built within tho State
in the next fifty years. A special session is
nevertheless honestly asked for by large and
intelligent portion of tho people, (however,
mostly confined to localities anticipating es-
pecisl benefits but from my personal cquain
tance with many of them am sure that were
our positions at this time reversed, and the re-
sponsibilty of the Executive placed usdvi-
dedly upon each of them, they would judge of
this matter, and decide this question, as have;
and that, having due respect for their position,
rs Chief Magistrate Of an intelligent people
and Sovereign State, they would strive to vim
dicato the honor of the people and State, as
well as their own position, by firm adherence
to constitutional duty, in spite OF fattering
praise or unbecoming asperSions.
1t is hoped that the discussion on this SUBJ
iect, and the general interest taken in it, will
do much good, by fully determining the legis-
lation which the people shall demand at tho
next session, and the policy of general laws
under the constitution, and by enabling their
representatives to know and carry out their
wishes. I la l rsH
# was never intended by tho constitution
that the Governor should be so much the
judge whether the peoples representatives
had obeyed the voice of their constituents, and
enacted such laws as they desired, as 20 smpow-
or him to call them together at his will TO con-
slider again what they had considered or TO do
what they had not seen fit to do, unless in
pOsitiDe reality the interests of the State were
left to suffer in an "extraordinary manner
and that too, for want of immediate legisla-
tion.
The constitution novor intended that the
Governor should have power virtually to do |
termine whether tho policy of benial sessions
is wiso or unwise, or whether forty days in two |
yoars 10 sufficient time to do tho legislation of
this rapidly growing State. All powers Of
this nature tho people have justly retained l
have full confidence to believe, If these pow
ers of the people are not iuterfered with by
the Executive, they will bo better prepared to
determine the wisdom of the policy referred
to. when they shall again be called upon to
act.
But to concludo-as regards special ses-