The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-02-28
Michigan Constitutional COnrenffons
by W. 2. GEORGE.

There have been five constitutional
Conventions held in Michigan.
From the time when the military
post at Detroit was surrendered by the
British authorities to the United States
Government in 1896, until the first Ter
ritorial organization in 1905, Michigan
was controlled by military commander,
although nomnall y a part of the coun.
try included in Ohio Territory until
1902, and then in Indiana Territory un
til 1905.
From the latter year, until 1924 Mich
igan was under the anomalous authority
known as the Governor and Judges,
wherein legislative, executive, and ju-
dicial powers were within somewhat
vague limits exercised by four men.
From 1924 to 1888 the Territory was
ruled by a Governor and Territorial
Council and it was by an act of this
Council, approved January 2G, 1885,
that the first constitutional Convention
was called. \ census taken in 1884
having shown S7,273 free inhabitants
within the limits of Michigan, it was re.
solved to form State government un.
der the authority given by the ordinance
of l1S1, which required only a popula-
tion of G000J
The above act Of the Territorial Coun-
eli provided for the election Of - dele
gates, to be chosen on saturday April
ith, lS35, by the ballots Of the free
white maic inhabitants above = / years
Of age who had reS.9cl three months or
more IN the Territory. WAYNE County
elected Il delegates, Monroe 9. lena
wee :. Wa,h'cuaw ID, Oakland H. Ma
comb 4, St CLAIR >, Jackson ,, Hills.
dale and Branch l. Calhoun >, Kala-
mazoo }, Cass }, St Joseph 3, Berren
:, Nacliiaac /, and Chippewa ] These
delegates were rcquirei to meet at tbe
capitol in Detroit on Jte second Monday
of May, 1880, and they assembled ac,
cordingly
John BiddIe of Wayne County was
appointed President by resolution, and
in the same manner Charles w. Whip.
pie and Marshal j. Bacon were ap
pointed Secretaries. The sessions of
the Convention lasted until June oath.
Its various provisions were djgested, put
IN proper form, and adopted by vote
OF - yeas 10 two nays The question
OF ratItying THIS Constitution was sub.
mltted 10 The people ut an election held
on the first Monday Of October, 1885,
ana they adopted il: yeas G,299, nays
l,a59.
Among the members Of this Couven.
veUtion still living are John j. Adam
of Tccumseh, and Hezekiah G.. Wells
of Kalamazoo.
The boundary OF this State border
ing upon Ohio included a fertile strip of
laud and also the mouth of the Maumee
River where the city of Toledo now
stands Ohio was unwilling to surren.
der THIS land aud city site, having
claimed it for several years, though with.
out color Of law, and being large
State, ably represented in Congress, she
naa Suinc,Ght influence to defeat the
r'%Ht' OF Micli'g'n' having 30 vote, and
Gniy tho smgie voice o. a Territorial
delegate CONGRESS mad' 1t prere
qu''''e 20 'A' admission oi tbe State m
% Tue oh.on 'hat AisAleaa should SIR.
'enGeF ,e, 'oiS 0isl''ea terg..lt..
mere were 'fo'a.' -. .'..'as si'ns the
'.f'e' 'etWc'" i'e militia OF Ai5higan
ma o' OIi9, s"d : ''.5 owoaat oi
'hF.atehi's sa'@' pfof.'nlaop, ami cor
F,sf'H4e'so :, Iel"sen 09'.r1or Mason OF
h's'''-''. 'o' l'',.'..' 'ieas oi 0I''.
'''1 o.. tie sol'at'lts received a po.
Ilt' 01J iiIn' iat'm4ii'n from President
jackson ,l'' ta should u.s. armed fore"
70 EeeP t3' peace u u. heeamo rcc's
safy
licti-au' nfmg ao'pIed hcr state
C'ns5'VntIo9, oid not wait Tor Congress
% 20 accept II before beginning her State
Government, but elected Legislature
ana STATE olIcerS ID November, 1888.
IDS legislature passed an act, which
was approved July 10Th, 1886, provid-