New-York tribune., 1868-04-04
UICHfG4N.


9, State election, as well as her ordinary
township elections. The present Constitution
of the State provides that in 1856, and IN each
sixteenth year thereafter, the question OF
general revision of the organic law shall be
submitted to the people. In 1866, such re-
vision was ordered by a vote of 1s,5Oj TO @,63.
The Legislature, at its subsequent session in
1867, passed law providing for the assembling
of a Convention on May - OF that year, and
for the choice of one member thereof for each
representative district in the April election
This Convention was in session 100 days last
Sumner, and thoroughly Overbauled and rad
ically amended the State Constitution, and or
dered the revised instrument TO be submitted
to the people, for ratification or rejection, next
week.
The new Constitution, except the issues OF
prohibition and of annual sessions, is sub
mitted to the people as whole. Its Article
on the Elective Franchise embOdes the prn-
cipe of Impartial Suffrage, and this is the Only
political question involved. The other changes
are calculated to greatly advance the material
prosperity of the State. The revised instIu-
ment is free from many of the purely legisla-
tive and injuriously restrictive provisions that
have made the present Constitution an actual
hindrance to the development of Michigan, and
led to its being denounced by prominent
Democrat as "an indictment against the Legs
"laturer The remodeling of the judiciary
system the increased care of the interests OF the
newer portions of the State, the hberalizing OF
exemptions, the increase OK educational facili-
ties, the judicious restriction of municipal aid
- anti A
limitations to legislative control of the subject
of salaries, the abolition of several clauses In
juriously affecting the rights of corporators.
and thus retarding the industrial progress OF
the community-these are some of the import
ant amendments that the Convention OF 1857
made and submitted to the people.
! In addition to the main Constitution and the
issues it presents the electors are called TO vote
separately upon alternative propositions pro-
yding for annual or biennial sessions of the
! Legislature, and also upon the question OK
| leaving the new Constitution Gf it be ratlned)
wholly silent upon the subject of the liquor
traffic, or of incorporating therein the following
clause:
1.-THE Legislature shall not pass any act authorizing
the grant ~ license for the sale OF ardent spirits nox
catin liquors. but shall by law prohibit the sale Oh ~
/ same as beverage
Originally the ratification of the Constitution
did not promise to become in any respect q
patty question, and in the Convention the
representatives of both political organizations
co6perated in perfecting the various Articles
The incorporation of Impartial Suffrage, how
ever. brought the Democratic wrath upon the
whole affair, and the party is working 10
secure its defeat with an activity and thorough
ness that have never been surpassed IN ltS
history in the State. The Republicans. whose
organization in Michigan has suffered from tho
ease with which they invariably carry it, have
been slow in taking the field against their an
tagonists, and not until very recently has any
thing approaching systematic work upon then
mart been even attempted. The late State
Convention, however, indorsed Impartial SUI
frage and the new Constitution, and the pros
poets of the success of both have since tna'
date materially improved.
The friends of Equal Rights are not, now
ever. over sanguine. Michigan contains Son'o
Republicans who are SO impregnated VII"
caste preiudice "a 10 refuse to favor the en-
franchisement of the 200 colored men whom
the new Constitution would admit to the baliot'
box. The election is held at an unusual time.
and light vote will be polled-a fact tha'
viii decidedly favor the Democrats. In some
localities particular sections of the new Con.
stitution are distasteful, and will make vote.
against it. Many people have been deceiVeo,
NV grossi1iss that have been circulated con
cerning II, and will vote for its rejection unuef
a total misspprehension of its real NATURE
While large per centage of the Republicans
will undoubtedly vote for its ratification, 'he
foregoing causes viii produce many deiec-
tions. The result, therefore, viii afford no IN
dicadon Of, the condition Of parties in Micm-