, 1866-12-27
FROM MICHIGAN.
Dur Detroit Letter.

our.xfon-Hls he Coming STATE Co1hvens
ZION - Democratic EehemfnR = Two
Railroad -CArlstmas-SIeAsn-
Ing and Anusentents.
Correspondents Of the Chicago Tribuhe.)
DE1noIr, December a5, 1s65.
The political situation In Michigan otfera
little that is new. We arc Whiting for the
meeting Of our Legislature, which will take
placc at noon oD Wednesday, January =
The day after New Years day. Against that
time the claimants Of contested seats are
preparing themselves With witnesses, atHda-
Wits, documents Of various kinds, and the
proper and improper instruments OF the lobby
as we'll as the flor; aud cllques and comhl-
nations arc busy canvass'ng for the Speaker.
ship Of the House and SecsetaTyships Of the
Senate and House. might predict who will
be chosen Speaker, bnt will not, lest pne1-
pccted combinations should defeat my pro-
phecy and ruin my credit as soothsayer.
In the Democratic camp the question Of
unlye. sal suffrage Is still the absorbing theme.
The chiefs aud their organ have not been
able to come to an understanding, or to de-
eide upon definite course. The organ will
not change fsom the old tactics without se-
curity against pecuniary loss, and the party
has been left gu: in the cold 50 long that II
has no money to spare for the purpose 81
tAf ii 1 nv entsse!.ss T.
br the direct Issue mag. Be avoided. The
prospect for accomplishing this, Iuasmuch
as the State Convention for revising the Con-
st.tution Is certain to consider and decide the
suffrage question next summer. Is not prom
ising; but the brightest wits Of the
| Democracy hare taken bold Of the prob
lem nj despeTuEduH.. The Convention will
be over 5whelining1y Repuhl1can-of this there
y no doubt: Ths sati1aEe M question vii 30
II the Democratic party ventures to make
| an open fight, in the election for members of
| the Convention, for Its old platform Of prcju-
| dice and caste, and the exclusion Of coIpred
voters, the Republicans viii sweep the State,
and secure Impartial suafage-o this there
Is no doubt. It is hopeless TO oppose this
| conclusion In an open party contest. What
thens The most promising programme, see-
| Ing that the Democratic organ will not come
6ul now for universal suffrage without being
secured against pccuniary loss, which the
party leaders hare been AbIe to concoct. Is q
plan 10 fight In tho Convention for the SUBJ
mission Of the suffrage question to the peo-
rlc separate ard apsrt from the rest Of the
the new Constitution may be voted upon
without change fn the suffrage, and the
| proposed change In the suffrage may be voted
urcn separately. In case this schtmc wins,
the Denaucs atic party lcnder-ttink they can
stir Up the old 1rclndices, on this one issue,
standing alone and distinct from other re.
forms in the organic Inv, with sou,e hope Of
success. l think that, standing alone by
itself, the decision Oh this issue will be Ia
favor f,impartial suffrage: But It will not
be submitted separately. There IL no gnod
| reason why it sh'suld not be Incorporated
into the new Constitution, as m integral
part Of the entire system, aud the whole
thing submitted to the people ut ouce, espe-
as the decision Of this particular issne, will
be decided In the election Of delegates.
Therefore this Democratic scheme will not
work. The vote on tue election O. delegates
, will be full vote. So will the vote On the
| aduul.on of t..e new Constitution. Bit vote
.. might he a light oue. The friends Of equal
rights In Michigan will be caught IL no such
rnhaltvd and apparent trap as this
, \ numter Of railroad schemes will
Two important projects are-the one known
, Is the Grand Trunk line, which il projected
. as a continuation OF the Canadian Grand
Trunk from Port Huron to Chlca.n, and tllt
other the old Grand Rai!Js Il indiana line
iom Fu1t Wayne. InuiAna, to Graad Eapids
Michigan. aud hence rortb eventually Il
/ | Grand Traverse. The Grand Trunk project
q cortenllales new line across the STINT.
i Gom east TO west, connecting Chtcagt
: directly with Montreal, Portland and Buston
7 to tie seabosrd. As this project leaves DE
# troit on one side Of the route, and measuF
4 ably out In the cold, 1t Is not warmly fAyorcs
# here. Tic Grand Rapids & Northern Indian;
d line has heen some twelve years struggling
: to get started. A good deal Of work ha
= l been Gone on the line; but Successive failure
= have discouraged the public considerably
The line crosses the Michigan Southern, IL
31icbiqan Central, aud the Detroit s. MI
K Maukee lines, running due north and south
:. portions OF the state--the gypsum
= lumber, and grain re:lons-wlth Chi