The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12

Of which depends upon the protection these ,av.
give him. That they defective and afford grea.
facilities for frauds Is well known and that serou.
frauds are often committed by means OF them a
notorious. The acknowledgment OF deeds il quite
too much a matter OF form, and false person
atoms take place before officers who
certify to the acknowledgment OF
parties they do not know. These deeds 20 upon
record, and the record becomes primary evidence
Of conveyance, proving both the identity Of tn
grantor and the Official character Of the officer
suggest whether an original might not DO fled in
as this would afford the means of detecting for
geries. II this were done, perhaps conveyances
should be required TO be executed in duplicate In
the same connection suggest that the proprety OF
a legislative form for Conveyance.
which should be Short and the effect OF which
as warranty or otherwise should be
determined by law, might be considered. II our
deeds were short and uniform not only would thu
expense OF conveyances and record be reduced
but Am confident our records would be In much
better and more reliable shape than they now are
And desire to have you consider carefully
whether the records ought TO be primary evidence
at all. 1t is not such in some States but is evil
dence only when the failure to produce the original
Is satisfactorily explained. Under our system IL
there Is anything wrong or suspicious In a mans
conveyance he is interested in not producing it,
but may bring forward the record In which the
Suspicious facts do not appear.
SPECIAL COMMISSION
am aware that notifications Of much import.
ance, and OF radical nature, affecting laws for the
assessment and collection Of taxes, and laws for
the execution and registration of conveyances
ought to be made with great CAGE, AMI only after
much thoughtful investigation. Bearing In mind
the time limited by custom for u session of the
Legislature and the pressure of business necessarily
incident to IL. IL seems TO me doubtful whether you
can give these SUBJECTS during your session, that
careful investigation that their importance seems
to demand. therefore suggest that they be re
ferred to special commission consisting OF three
men of ability and experience to carefully put ia
form and submit such amendments and changes
may seem desirable and wise, for the action OF
the Legislature hereafter.
JUDICIAL CIRCUITS
The judicial circuits of the State ought at an
early day to be reorganized with better regard 20
population and territory, and thus secure a more
equal division in the labor of the Circuit Judges.
At present the work in some circuits is hard and
much greater than should be imposed upon single
Judge. while in others 1t is light and really less
than IL should be. The failure Of the people OF
the State at the recent election to vote increased
compensation to the Judges is perhaps in q meas
ure due to feeling that some of the circuit,
are much smaller than they really ought TO be.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
One OF the amendments to the constitution,
adopted by the popular vote at the recent general
election, authorizes the Legislature hereafter to
submit any proposed amendments to that instru-
ment to the people, to be voted upon at the spring
election. This change will give opportunity for an
expression of the popular will in regard 70 pro-
posed amendment while IL Is yet fresh from ths
discussion and action Of the Legislature. 1t will
Also / apprehend, conduce to q better understand
ing than heretofore of the merits Of the proposition
to be voted on. Such amendments, submitted at
general election, apt to be lost sight Of in the
heat OF partisan strife.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
II has been the cherished policy Of this State 20
furnish facilities for the education OF every child
within its boundaries. The trainers OF the const-
tuition provided for a system Of free schools, and
their descendants have developed that policy until
now ample opportunity for a free education Ia
afforded to all who may desire TO avail Themselves
Of its benefits not only in the common branches OF
learning, but also in the higher grades Of finished
and classical culture. With 5000 common schools
open an average seven months per year. maintained
cost of 49, GEO. and $780, 600 children in regu
lar attendance, every citizen must feel that upon
the influence of these schools rests in great meas
ure the future Of the State. Whatever shall add 10
their efficiency shall have my hearty approval.
INJECTIONS.
Under our system Of government, fair and I'M
trammeled suffrage Is OF vital importance. The
whole direction of public affairs, the authority TO
make or unmake laws, the interests Of persons and
of property the very existence Of our free insttu.
tions, all hinge upon the freedom of the elector and
the purity Of the ballotbox II is through the bal
lot that the sovereign will of the people expressed
and every possible safeguard should be thrown
around IL to prevent the use of corrupting lnfiu-
ences or the casting Of illegal votes. In the heat
and passion Of great political excitement, in the
ambition for power and place, the inducement to
secure success even by chicanery and fraud Ia
great and cannot be too strongly guarded against.
More stringent measures should be adopted to
prevent the brbng of electors and the corrupt use
Of money az a means for buying or influencing
votes. The procuring of Illegal votes, either by
solicitation intimidation, ought TO be visited with
severe pun ishment, and more vigorous and effec-
tive laws should be enacted to prevent the practice,
now too frequent. of betting large on the re-
| suit of al election. 1t is well to remember that in
former periods wherever such corruptlng inhu-
ences were permitted in government of the people.
violence, anarchy, and destruction of free insti
buttons followed. Our State election laws are IN
many respects defective and should
receive your careful attention. In
the registration of electors more time
should intervene between the day of closing the
registration and the day of election that oppor-
tuniy may be had TO ascertain the right to suffrage
of any doubtful names appearing the list.
Election boards should be organized and consti.
tuted not TO be composed exclusively OF men Of
political party; IL Is but fair and just that the
opposite party have at least representative on The
board. Provisions should also be made that persons
who candidates for office should not
be canvassers OF the votes given for or
against themselves. They interested par
ties who might be tempted for their own
benefit into injustice and fraud. The law does not
usually allow men TO pronounce Judgment in cases
where they directly concerned, and there
should certainly be no exception in ascertainiDg
and determining the result OF holly contested
elections where rivalry is great and pre- JUDGE bit
ter. Places for the vending and sale of intoxicating
liquors ought te be closed on the day Of election.
Whatever diversity of views there may be in regard
to prohibiting restricting the liquor traffic gen.
orally. it seems to me that no one will question the
propiiety of making elections IA Tar as
possible free from its baneful influence. II il y
fact that Intoxicating liquors sold in the inn
mediate vicinity OF many Of our voting places, AMI
that men TO be seen about the polls exercising
the highest prerogative known TO freemen partly
or wholly intoxicated. These ca,es may not be-
yet the Importance OF our elections and
the general good Of the community seem TO de-
mand that the surroundings shall be such that the
eector mag exercise the most sober and deliberate
Judgment Most assuredly everything that tends
to deprave and corrupt the voter should be
cluded from the vicinity of the polls.
LIQUOR LAWS.
At the recent general election the provision Of
the constitution prohibiting the Legislature from
authorizing the grant Of license for the sale Of ar
dent spirits or other Intoxicating liquors, by vote
Of the people stricken out, and full power 10
vested in the Legislature to license, reetrct, or
prohibit this traffic. in such manner as 1t may deem
expedient and wise. The laws now in force upon
this subject were enacted by your immediate
predecessors, and have been in operation but
. short time. In fact hardly snsicient time
has elapsed since their validity was affirmed
by the Supreme Court to give them fair
trial. The sale of intoxicating liquors IA 4
beverage is An evil Of great magnitude, producing
q large amount of wretchedness, paupe rism and
crime, and it should be kept under such guards ana
restrictions will most effectaally prevent It's
bad results. I do not believe that license Law
would be any improvement on The present taxing
system, nor do believe that the people OF the
state by their recent vote, inssnded that the one
| should be abandoned for the other. I suest.gS
| therefore, that such defects as may have been
| found in the workings OF the existing law De
remedied by Amendment and that 70 remain in
force to the end that its power 70 hrnit and ess.
| the evils of intemperance nay be more 'ui'y ano
| fairly tested.
LIQUIDATION.
Anumber of years experience as . member Oh