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THE

DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

1976

1

OF THE

STATE OF MICHIGAN,

Convened at the City of Lansing, Wednesday, May 15th, 1867.

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Je 3.27.43

CONSTITUTIONS OF MICHIGAN.

CONSTITUTION OF 1835.

CONSTITUTION OF 1850.

CONSTITUTION OF 1867.

[For amendments see notes.]

In Convention, begun at the city of Detroit, on the second Monday of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five:

We, the people of the territory of Michigan, as established by the act of Congress of the eleventh day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and five, in conformity to the fifth article of the ordinance providing for the government of the territory of the United States north-west of the river Ohio, believing that the time has arrived when our present political condition ought to cease, and the right of self-government be asserted; and availing ourselves of that provision of the aforesaid ordinance of the Congress of the United States, of the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and the acts of Congress passed in accordance therewith, which entitles us to admission into the Union, upon a condition which has been fulfilled, do, by our delegates in Convention assembled, mutually agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of "The State of Michigan," and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same:

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ARTICLE I. BOUNDARIES.

The State of Michigan consists of and has jurisdiction over the territory embraced within the following boundaries to-wit: Commencing at a point on the eastern boundary line of the State of Indiana, where a direct line drawn from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Maumee Bay, shall intersect the same said point being the north-west corner of the State of Ohio, as established by act of Congress entitled "an act to establish the northerly boundary line of the State of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the State of Michigan into the Union upon the conditions therein expressed," approved June fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six; thence with the said boundary line of the

ARTICLE I.

BOUNDARIES AND SEAT OF GOVERNMENT,

SECTION 1. The State of Michigan is bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at a point on the eastern boundary line of the State of Indiana, where a direct line drawn from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Maumee Bay, shall intersect the same, said point being the north-west corner of the State of Ohio, as established by an act of Congress entitled, "An act to establish the northern boundary line of the State of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the State of Michigan into the Union. upon the conditions therein expressed, approved June fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six; thence with the said boundary line of the State of Ohio till it intersects the boundary line between the United States and

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1. All political power is inherent in the people.

2. Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people; and they have the right at all times to alter or reform the same, and to abolish one form of government and establish another, whenever the public good requires it.

3. No man or set of men are entitled to exclusive or separate privileges.

4. Every person has a right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience; and no person can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support, against his will, any place of religious worship, or pay any tithes, taxes or other rates, for the support of any minister of the gospel or teacher of religion.

5. No money shall be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of religious societies, or theological or religious seminaries.

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State of Ohio, till it intersects the Canada, in Lake Erie; thence with the
boundary line between the United said boundary line between the United
States and Canada, in Lake Erie; States and Canada through the Detroit
thence with said boundary line between | river, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair river,
the United States and Canada, through Lake Huron, the St. Mary's river and
the Detroit river, Lake Huron and Lake Superior, to a point where the
Lake Superior, to a point where the said line last touches Lake Superior;
said line last touches Lake Superior; thence in a direct line through Lake
thence in a direct line through Lake Superior to the mouth of the Montreal
Superior, to the mouth of the Montreal river; thence through the middle of
river; thence through the middle of the main channel of the said Montreal
the main channel of the said river river to the head waters thereof, as
Montreal to the head waters thereof; marked upon the survey made by Cap-
thence in a direct line to the centre of tain Cramm, by authority of the United
the channel between Middle and South States; thence in a direct line to the
Islands, in the Lake of the Desert; center of the channel between Middle
thence in a direct line to the southern and South Islands, in the Lake of the
shore of Lake Brule; thence along said Desert; thence in a direct line to the
southern shore and down the river southern shore of Lake Brule; thence
Brule to the main channel of the Me- along said southern shore and down
nominee river; thence down the centre the Brule river to the main channel of
of the main channel of the same to the Menominee river; thence down the
the centre of the most usual ship center of the main channel of the same
channel of the Green Bay of Lake to the center of the most usual ship
Michigan; thence through the centre channel of the Green Bay, of Lake
of the most usual ship channel Michigan; thence through the center of
of the said Bay, to the middle of the most usual channel of the said bay
Lake Michigan; thence through the to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence
middle of Lake Michigan to the north- through the middle of Lake Michigan
ern boundary of the State of Indiana, to the northern boundary of the State
as that line was established by the act of Indiana, as that line was established
of Congress of the nineteenth of April, by the act of Congress, of the nineteenth
eighteen hundred and sixteen; thence of April, eighteen hundred and sixteen;
due east with the north boundary line thence due east with the north boun-
of the said State of Indiana to the north-dary line of the said State of Indiana
east corner thereof; and thence south
with the eastern boundary line of Indi-
ana to the place of beginning.

ARTICLE II.

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

SECTION 1. The seat of government shall be in Lansing, where it is now established.

[See Art. IV, Sec. 39.]

[See Art. IV, Sec. 40.1

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to the north-east corner thereof; and thence south with the eastern boundary line of Indiana to the place of beginning.

Sec. 2. The seat of government shall remain at Lansing.

ARTICLE II.

BILL OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 1. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people; and they have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it.

Sec. 2. Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of religious worship, or pay tithes, taxes or other rates, for the support of any minister of the gospel, or teacher of religion.

[See Art. V, Sec. 31.]

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