The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-09-18
Constitutional Commission.


cordance with the joint resolution
of the Legislature of 1878, to re-
wise tie Constitution of Michigan.
Their report is to be submitted
to the Governor, by the 1st Of De
cember next.
BY this resolution the Governor
was empowered to appoint two
members of the commission fro,E
each Congressional district. Up
to yesterday, II 70 the 1S men-
bers appoiated had arrived as
follows: Ashley Pond, E. W.
Meddaugh, Edwin Willits, Sui
livan M, Culcheon, CHARLES Up
son, Isaac M. Crane, Hezekiah
&. Wells, Henry II. H.ley, SOL
omon l.. Withey, Lyman q. Ma
son, Ira ID. Grouse, Lysandcr
Woodard John Devine, Hcrschel
Ii. Hatch, David ii. Jerome, Seth
q. Moffatt, and James Il. Dever-
eaux,
At roll call, Wednesday, twelve
members only were present, and
were sworn into office by the Sec.
retary of State.
uczekiah G Wells of Kalama-
ZOO was chosen Temporary Chair
man, and Samuel +. Cook, of
Washteuaw, Temporary Secretary.
Mr.. Wells, on taking the chair
made a short and able speech on
The duties devolving upon the
Commission. They were to act,
not as representatives ofa party,
not as political partisans, but to
honestly and fairly suggest such
changes in the constitutional law
of Michigan asth interests of a
great and growing people de-
mand.
At the afternoon session sew
cral additional members appear
ed and were sworn in. The
Commission was permanently or.
ganized by the election Of S. M.
Cutcheon OF Washtonaw as Chair.
man, he receiving 13 votes ; S. l..
Withey Of Kent, 3; and 3 scatter.
ing.
Henry S. Clubb was elected
Clerk, receiving ~ of 13 votes
cast.
The following additional Of
licers were appointed by the
Chair: William d. Burnham !;
Chairman's Messenger, David S.
Barry; Clerks Messenger, Frank
II. Jeuison; Messengers, Frank
Rice and George p, Brown.
Messrs. Withey, Riley, and
Willis were appointed on the
first day committee to draft
rules Of the government Of the
Commission, and they reported on
Thursday a set Of rules which
were adopted.
The leading members of the
Commission believe that the work
will be performed within 80 days,
and from present appearances, the
Commission will continue in ses-
sion until the labors devolving
upon 1t is fully performed. 1t is
an able body Of man, representing
fairly the various interests and
political opinions of the people Of
the State, and oil its members
seem to be actuated by desire to
make the necessary amendment
to the Constitution, and such as
the people shall approve.
A general regret has been felt
that Hon. q v. N. Lothrop de.
clined to act as a member; but his
successor, Ashley Pond, is one
of the ablest lawyers of Detroit
and a man we'll worthy of trust
confidence.
In looking over the personnel
of the Commission, we are well
satisfied that they can perform
the labor of perfecting Constitu-
tional Amendments in lees than
one third the tune that it could
be done by a Constitutional Con-
veution, and that the work will be
Of such a character as to COM
press our Constitution iuto much
smaller compress, and eliminate
many of the Limitations which
have caused SO much dissatisfac-
ton among the people.
The best organic law this coun-
try his produced is the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, and 1t
has been the least tamrered with.
The American people are learn
ing the fact that the organic law
Of State should not consist chief
ly Of limitations npon the power
of the people, but should rather
be a chart, making ont the dit
ferent branches OF government
and Limitations, leaving as far as