The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-03-01

for the relief of mental ills, and fr the cd.
ucaiion Of the specchlcss and blind which
they afford.
THE uYfvxksrTY,
which bids fair to bo the crowning glory
Of our State, has again been released from
the payment of interest on its debt to the
State as has been douo BY former Lcgisls-
turcs since 1853. That successful institu.
ton,
THE NORMAL SCHOOL,
has received the littlo that il needs. The
sum appropriated to the
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
is much less than its wants demand; yet it
will be sufficient, with great economy, to
sustain the inditution for two years TO
come--by Which time IL will have fully
demonstrated, that tho rapidity with which
other States have followed the lead Of Mich.
igan in cstabli' hing such an institution--is
owing, not 10 a spirit of initiation onlv, but
TO the fact thxt it has high and peculiar in.
tIinsic merits, which commend it 10 tho
people generally, and especially to the ag.
ricutural population. A new educational
system cannot DO brought forth perfect
like Minerva from the head Of Jove-- yet
our short experience 10 this time, has con-
vinced those who know best, and arc best
able to judge, that this school, If generous
ly fostered by the State, will in a few years
tell on the system of tilage throughout the
State---elcvatc farming ms profession, and
swell the census returns of our productions.
The net which has lately passed the Con-
gress of the United States, granting land
to similar institutions, will, if signed by the
President, soon release the State from its
support.
Adequate, but not lavish provision has
been made for the State Prison, in view Of
its increasing wants, keeping pace with the
growth of our population, Also, for the
present and charging usefulness Of the
HOUSE OF CORRECTION,
thcpurposc and arrangement Of which have
elected unanimous and unqualified praise
from all who have visited tho institution,
whether in or out Of the Legislature.
This committee have no doubt that tho
very prompt and efficient manner in which
an appropriation was made for the relief Of
tho suffering, in some Of the Northern
counties, will meet with the unanimous ap-
probation Of the people of tho State.
Aside from the leading measures Of leg
islation, tending to shape the general poll
cy of tho State, the Legislature have been
required to pass upon an unusual amount
of subjects, some of which have been spec
ial, personal, or local in their character
Others have been of general interes. and
importance. Among the latter have been
the
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION,
which have embarrassed every Legislature
that has sat since the instrument was adop-
ted, without ever, until the present winter,
having reached the point Of submission TO
the people. Under the joint resolution of
the session now closed, the people will be
called to answer at the ballot-box, yea or
nay, to proposition for calling out of ju-
ries in highway cases, for the removal Of
the limitation upon Legislative biennial
sessions, and as to modification of the in
dividusl liability clauses Of bvnk stock-hol-
ders. Tho list Of acts passed alone will
show to any citizen that a hald-working
and a.siduous body Of Legislators have gone
home to meet the approval Of their con-
| Stituents.
The passage ola
REGISTRY LAW,
for the purpose Of protecting the purity of
the elective franchise, has been an agitated
topic in this and other communities for
many years. Strong and prudent minds
have differed upon it, and in some places
where it has been made matter Of exper.
ment, the success of the experiment has
been embarrassed by the burden which the
'.g has placed upon tho shoulders OF the
honest voter. 1t is not among the least
important of the acts of the late session,
that registry law was framed and passed
In accordance with petitions from the peo-
pie, unprecedented in number, signed by
thousands cf voters, without distinction Of
party, that meets and obvates all such
objections. 1t is without doubt, tho mcst
perfect ever enacted, and reflects credit
upon the Attorney General, from whom it
emanated. Upon tral, it will be found TO
be practicable in its details and efficient in
its results giving by its provisions, as little
trouble to the voter and adding as light
burden to tho present obligations of the
citizen, as is practically consistent with the
safety of his right OF suffrage.
With some, a mistaken impression pre-
walls, that this measure imposes upon the
voter something not authorized by the con-
stitution-some new qualification. In
stead Of so doing, the object of tho law, as
plainly expressed in its terms, is simply to
protect the honest voter in the exercise Of
this inostimable right, (and that, too, with
very little trouble to himself-simply the
recording Of his pame,) and furnish addi-
tional facility for detecting the false voter
and tho impcster.
This measure was not only demanded as
protection against the wrongs and evils
Of false voting, but is plainly in accordance
with the letter and spirit of tho constitu.
ton. which provides that, "The Lcgis!a.
turo may pass laws TO preserve the purity
of elections and guard against the abuse
OF the elective franchise" This provision
has at length bcen performed, in a manner
| 40 xyb;oh mo fh;nG ,,o tooost ,.oto. all