The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-01-10
Message of Gov. Blair,
Delivered in Joint Legislative Session, at |
Lansing, Jan. 3, 1861.
INTRODUCTORY.

INTRODUCTORY.
After period of two years, during
which the Legislative body has not as
sembled, we meet, charged with the
duty of re-examining the laws and in
stitutions of the State; to correct, so
far as we may, the errors of the past
in the light of experience, and to pro-
vide wisely, if we can, the exigencies
of the future. No higher trust than
this, can be reposed in a citizen. As
the Representatives of the people, dill
gence and patriotism will become us.
An earnest regard for their rights, in
terests and liberties, is solemn obli-
CATION npon US.
have the highest satisfaction, in be-
ing able to congratulate you upon the
general good order and prosperity of
the State. The past year has been one
of great fruitfulness. Beautiful har-
vests have put famine and distress far
away from our doors. No pestilence
has afflicted the people of the State !;
but general good health has prevailed
among them. The laws have been
cheerfully obeyed by the mass of the
people, and their infraction, by the
criminal, has been promptly punished
by wise and patriotic Judiciary. The
State has advanced rapidly in wealth
and population. The census of 1860,
taken under the laws of the United
States, shows the population of the
State to be, in round number, seven
hundred and fifty thousand.
Our soils are rich, and of great varie-
ty, producing in abundance all the
crops which belong to the latitude.
The State possesses immense forests of
valuable timber which are already a
source of great and increasing wealth.
In minerals, Michigan is withot rival.
Her mines of copper and iron are of
the very finest quality and, thus far,
seem to be measureless in extent. Coal,
also, of good quality, is now proved to
be abundant, while the explorations for
saline waters in the-Valleys of the Sag
inaw and Grand Rivers have been en-
tirely successful. Possessing a great
area of territory, surrounded on three
sides by the greatest chain of lakes on
the Continent, furnishing cheap and
easy outlet to the ocean, and the mark
cts of the world, Michigan has all the
elements of an empire within herself.
We have reason to be thankful to that
"good Providence" which is rapidly
guiding us in the course of a great, free
and happy commonwealth.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The people of the State have adopted,
with great unanimity, the amendment
to the Constitution proposed by the
last Legislature, in respect to the ses-
sions of your body. BY that amend
ment the limitation to the length of
your session is substantially swept
away. Experience, which is the true
test of all institutions, has proved that
BIENNIAL sessions of forty days are not
always, if ever, sufficient to enable the
Legislature to accomplish its work
promptly. Under that system, a some
what careless haste took the place of
that calm deliberation which is abso-
lutely essential to the enactment of
wise laws. The only limitation which
remains, is the.prohibition to introduce
any "new bill into either House, after
the first fifty days of the session shall
have expired" And though this might
be easily evaded, l have no doubt you
will observe it in good faith, as bind
ing obligation upon you. You will also
remember that the original limitation
to forty days was enacted in accor-
dance with the almost universal de-
mand of the people at the time, and to
correct what was deemed great abuse
No future occasion, trust, will occur
to renew, among the people, desire to
restore the limitation.
NEW APPORTIoNMENT.
1t becomes your duty, under Section
4, Article 4, of the Constitution, "t to
re-arrange the Senate Districts, and ap-
portion anew the Representatives
among the counties and districts, ac-
cording to the number of white inhab-
itants, and civilized persons of Indian
descent not members of any tribe"
1t will also be your duty to divide the
State into six Congressional districts,
pursuant to ratio of population fixed
by the act of Congress on that subject
In the construction of these districts.
it will be obviously just and wise to con-
slider the fact, that the newer regions
of the State will increase in population
much more rapidly than the older and
the great inequalities likely to occur in
the future, before another division is
made, may be somewhat modified by
the construction of districts with ref
erence to their future increase The
districts ought to be, in their severa
parts, and of harmonious interests
The Senatorial districts are limited ir
number by the Constitution, to thirty
two, and the House of Representatives
must consist of "not less than sixty
four, nor more than one hundred mem
bers." e-y sr
Hfa REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. asa
"The Act to further preserve the
} purity of elections, and guard agains
abuses of the elective franchises, by ;
registration of electors" passed by th'
: last Legislature, has been subjected t.
;, the test of experience, and found yer.
: conducive to the object in view. The