Year: 1859

Address ~ the Repubulcan State Central
C0mmttocc.


Tho Legislature Of 1859. in the deIibcr-
ations and doing Of which the responsible
ty has dcvolved upon the Rcpublican ma
jority, having adjourned, and being, a. We
are, npon the eve Of Judicial election, this
Committee have thought proper at this
time to present TO your attention and con-
sidcration certain topics Of common iutor-
est to all.


The executive message Of Governor
Wisner took the inceptive Of a manly line
of State policy, looking to the advance
ment, growth, and prosperity Of our whole
State, which, rs it is now generally conced-
cd, has within it elements Of wealth and
strength inferior TO no sister State, and
needs only for their full development, on.
crgy and virtue in tho people, and far
seeing wisdom In The government. The
Legislature have responded to the spirit Of
the Executive, and have inaugurated a
State policy admirable for the present,
but looking especially to the prosperous
future that is now before us Having
the responsibilities Of the majority, they
have not evaded them, but have met and
fcarlessly discharged them. To the Re.
publican party will belong the credit in
case tho ineasurers succeed, and it is they
who must succeed, and it is they who must
answer for them in case Of failure.


These measures are we'll known, and to
some of them VIC will briefly advert.


Tho disposition Of the


SWAMP LANDS


in compliance with the terms Of the grant
from the General Government has been &C.
complished in manner most satisfactory
to al. On one hand tho voice Of the
people, the urgent and crying needs of the
newer portion Of the State, where the
lands are nearly situated,-g,od faith to
the generous donnor Of this gift required
that some action should be taken that wod
both reclaim the lands and render them ac-
cessble. On the other hand the notorious
manner in which tho internal improve
ment lands Of the State were squa, dered
and thrown awav by the former so called
Democratic Administration, upon party
favortes under the forms of law, had
brought the Administration and the Leg
isature to the determination that no law
should be passed at oil except one so
guarded that every door to wastfnlness
and fraud should be thoroughly barred
Widely different views and n score of diff
farent plans have been made to harmon
izc, and bill has been framed and pass
ed which complies with the term of the
grant--provides for the drainage and rec-
lamation-answers the cry of the needy
and sparsely settled counties for roads, and
satisfies the older counties of the State,
who were determined that this noble fund
should be 80 administered that it should lie
a legacy to their chlldren's children. These
SEQ in the increased population and wealth
which will be added to the State, and in
the increased value of land, the fulfillment
Of all their wishes in this respect. We in
yite a study Of tho careful provisions Of
this bill, and commend it to the people Of
this State as tho beginning Of a growth in
our population Of which few Of us dream.
The Chicago, the Saginaw, tho Fort Gra-
tiot, and tho Grand River turnpiEes, built
by the General Government, brought Mich
igan into the daylight and hastene1 by na-
ny years tho settlement of our State
rs those roads were to us twenty five years
ago, 80 will these State roads be to the
northern half Of the lower, and the whole
Of the Upper Peninsuar.


In close relation TO this bill is the act
granting to every actual settler oa the
swamp lands, who are landess,


HEoMsLEAD OF FORTY ACRES.


which act both increases the value Of ada
cent lands and brings them into market,
and is in exact accordance with tho great
fundamental principles Of the Republican
party, which would make every free man
the owner of free home, by means Of
free labor. In this same system, Of policy,
looking to the clearing up of our forests
and the working of our mines, is the act
appointing AN


AGENT OF IMMIGRATION.


which is disgncd to divert to our shores
the stream of European immigration, which
similar agents from other States have here
! tofore in q great measure turned from us.
Every strong arm, moved by heart that
loves our institutions, is an addition 10 the
capital Of the State In this same connec-
ton the future development. of that impor
tant part Of our State, the Lake Superior
region, imperatively demanded that their
only access to the rest Of the world.
THE sAULT STE. MARY CANAL.


should be securely fortified against threat.
ened dangers of entire destruction, or a long
interruption Of It's short season navigation.
For this the Legislature provided by loan
to be paid out OF the revenues Of the canal.


This whole system of measures fer the
development Of our State, have been ma
tured and passed by this Legislature with.
in the saort space allotted by our consttu.
ton to its sittiugs, yet we fail to find in ary
Of these acts the marks Of hasty and crude
legislation, aud they will stand as proofs,
not only of the judicious honesty and wis
dom Of that body, but Of the singleness of
purpose, energy and industry with which
tho members in both branches have devo
ted themselves To their onerous duties -
Even the hostile minority cannot but bear
witness to their uprightness of purpose and
untiring zeal.


In the appropriations for the next two