cure its passage. The next legislature "follow in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors," and the amendment comes down to the people at the ballot box of an exciting general election. There, in the "melee" of party strife, and personal altercation, when partisan feelings are in the ascendant, and the qualifications of rival candidates for office, the principal theme of debate, there, the work of amending the constitution-the organic law of the land-the very essence of the tenure by which we hold our property, our liberty, our lives even, goes on sub silentio, if any individual can be found sufficiently interested to prepare and distribute ballots. A single fact may be here cited in corroboration of the above statement. At our last election, an amendment to the constitution was submitted to the electors for their determination. Some 56,692 votes were cast for the Presidential electors, and only 31 to 32,000 votes on the amend

ment.

The committee beg leave to remark that two amendments have been made to our constitution by joint resolution; the one effecting a change as to the days of election, embracing a single point that could be understood at a glance; the other was also an independent proposition relative to the creation of a debt on the credit of the state, and which, upon investigation, they apprehend will be found fatally defective. If this be so, then we have an additional reason for distrusting the wisdom of attempting the important amendment now under consideration, by joint resolution.

Had the committee leisure to enter more fully upon the investigation of this subject, and did they feel justified in enlarging the ordinary limits of a business report, they believe that in connexion with what has been already stated, they could fully sustain the following successive propositions :

1st. The adoption of the proposed amendment would tend to unsettle the constitution;

2nd. It would remedy no pressing evil, and introduce no valuable improvement;

3rd. It is opposed to the settled policy of all wise American legislation.

4th. It would retard the prosperity of our citizens and embarrass our state operations;

5th. It would decrease the strict accountability of our public offi

cers;

6th. It would essentially abridge the present safeguards of the constitution;

7th. It would enlarge the limits of the executive patronage;

8th. It would either unsettle or defer the revision of our statute laws;

9th. If our constitution is to be thus modified and changed, then it should be entirely revised by a convention, to be recommended by the two houses, voted for by a majority of the electors called by the leglislature, and duly organized under existing provisions therefor. F. J. LITTLEJOHN, Chairman Judiciary Committee.

W. T. HOWELL,

L. M. MASON, Members of Judiciary Committee.

February 24, 1845.

The following are the joint resolutions of the House of Representatives referred to the above committee :

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendments to the constitution of this state be proposed, to wit: Strike out of section four, article four the word "annually" and insert "biennially;" in lieu thereof, so that the section as amended will read "the Representatives shall be chosen biennially on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, by the electors of the several counties or districts into which the state shall be divided for that purpose.

Also, strike out of section five, article four, on the first line the words "two years" and insert "four years." On the third line before the word "constitution" insert the word "amended." On the sixth line strike out the word "first" and insert the word "second" instead. On the seventh line strike out the word "second" and insert "fourth" instead. And on the eighth line strike out the word "annually" and insert "biennially" instead; so that the said fifth section will, as amended, read "the Senators shall be chosen for four years, at the same time and in the same manner as the Representatives are required to be chosen. At the first session of the legislature under

this amended constitution, they shall be divided by lot from their respective districts, as nearly as may be into two equal classes: the seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, and of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year; so that one half thereof, as nearly as may be, shall be chosen biennially thereafter."

Also, strike out of section six, article four, the word "annually" and instead thereof insert the word "biennially," so that the section will, as amended, read, "The state shall be divided at each new apportionment into a number not less than four nor more than eight senatorial districts, to be always composed of contiguous territory; so that each district shall elect an equal number of Senators biennially, as nearly as may be; and no county shall be divided in the formation of such district."

Also, strike out of section twenty-one, article four the words "every year" and insert instead the words "each alternate year," and the word "Monday" and insert "Tuesday," so that said section 21 will read, "the legislature shall meet on the first Tuesday of January in each alternate year, and at no other period, unless otherwise directed by law, or provided for in this constitution."

Also, add a new section to the said article four of the constitution, to be numbered section twenty-three, article four, as follows, to wit: 23. The first session of the legislature under the amended constitution shall be on the first Tuesday of January, 1849.

Resolved, That the proposed amendment to the constitution be published and referred to the next legislature according to the provisions of the tenth article of the constitution."

No. 11. S

1845.

Report of Committee on Public Instruction, respecting Exchange of Literary Productions:

The Committee on Public Instruction to whom was referred the special message of the Executive transmitting to the Senate two communications from Alexander Vattemare, on the subject of an international exchange of literary productions, works of art, specimens of natural history, &c., having had the same under consideration, have directed me to make the following report:

That in the opinion of your committee, no undertaking of ancient or modern times is better calculated to improve and elevate the standard of education and general practical knowledge throughout the civilized world, than that of Mr. Vattemare. It has been made satisfactorily to appear to your committee that this gentleman has for many years zealously devoted his time, talents, and fortune in securing the establishment of a system of international exchanges designed to facilitate the acquisition, by the masses, of practical knowledge best calculated to ameliorate their condition, to promote the ends of science, and in fine, to place within the reach of every man who desires the improvement of his own mind, a great proportion of those facilities which heretofore could only be gained to the wealthy, by years of expensive travel and research in foreign lands.

If a geological knowledge of our own State be of vital importance and value to its citizens, a similar knowledge of the world cannot be less so to the whole community. If the natural and political history and condition of Michigan is of so much importance to the literature of France, Austria, and other countries of Europe, most certainly the means of acquiring a similar knowledge of those and other countries cannot be uselessly deposited in the archives of our own cherished institutions of learning.

Your committee know full well that the practical intelligence and enterprize of the people of Michigan is not surpassed by that of any

of the older States; and while Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and one or two older States, have with avidity availed themselves of the advantages arising from this system of exchanges, it should not be said that Michigan is exclusively engaged in shuffling away the sands of its existence in a down hill scramble for a pittance of gold, and that those other States are alone engaged in the erection of mon umental pyramids of mental greatness, as imperishable as the great acknowledged author of our existence.

Your committee have learned with regret that many valuable documents and other works of a literary and scientific character addressed by Mr. Vattemare "to the State of Michigan,” have been suffered, from some unknown cause, to remain in a storehouse in New York for over eighteen months last past, and from the Governor's Message above mentioned, it appears that another collection of a similar character has arived there, destined for the use and benefit of this State, amounting in all to about one hundred volumes.

These works, your committee understand, are subject to the order of the proper officers of the State, on payment of charges for freight and storage; and it is believed that no remarks of the committee will be necessary to induce the Legislature to take such action in the premises as will, while it secures to our University library a choice addition to its literature, show at least a common degree of courtesy to the philanthropic donor, and so far as is palpably consistent with our circumstances and condition, a reciprocation of his favors. The committee would therefore recommend the adoption of the accompanying resolution.

A. C. SMITH.