claims against, their respective counties; and the sum so fixed or defined shall be subject to no appeal.

gislature, when the Senate shall proceed to try the same.

Sec. 4. No judicial officer shall exercise his office after an impeachment is directed, until he is acquitted.

Sec. 5. The Governor may make a pro

Sec. 11. The board of supervisors of each organized county may provide for laying out highways, constructing bridges, and organizing townships, under such re-visional appointment to fill a vacancy occastrictions and limitations as shall be prescribed by law.

ARTICLE XI.

TOWNSHIPS.

Sec. 1. There shall be elected annually, on the first Monday of April, in each organized township, one supervisor, one township clerk, who shall be ex officio school inspector, one commissioner of highways, one township treasurer, one school inspector, not exceeding four constables, and one overseer of highways for each highway district, whose powers and duties shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. Each organized township shall be a body corporate, with such powers and immunities as shall be prescribed by law. All suits and proceedings by or agains at township, shall be in the name thereof.

ARTICLE XII.

IMPEACHMENTS AND REMOVALS FROM OFFICE. Sec. 1. The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching civil officers for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors; but a majority of the members elected shall be necessary to direct an impeachment.

sioned by the suspension of an officer until he shall be acquitted, or until after the election and qualification of a successor.

Sec. 6. For reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient ground for the impeachment of a judge, the Governor shall remove him on a concurrent resolution of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the Legislature; but the cause for which such removal is required, shall be stated at length in such resolution.

Sec. 7. The Legislature shall provide by law for the removal of any officer elected by a county, township or school district, in

such manner and for sueh cause as to them shall seem just and proper.

ARTICLE XIII.

EDUCATION.

Sec. 1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have the general supervision of public instruction, and his duties shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. The proceeds from the sales of all lands that have been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to the State for educational purposes, and the proceeds of all lands or other property given by individuals, or appropriated by the State for like purposes, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, the interest and income of which, together with the rents of all such lands as may remain unsold, shall be inviolably appropriated and annually applied to the specific objects of the original gift, grant or appropriation.

Sec. 2. Every impeachment shall be tried by the Senate. When the Governor or Lieutenant Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. When an impeachment is directed, the Senate shall take an oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try and determine the same according to the evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected. Judgment in case of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office; but the party convicted shall be lia-primary schools. ble to punisment according to law.

Sec. 3. All land, the titles to which shall fail from a defect of heirs, shall escheat to the State; and the interest on the clear proceeds from the sales thereof, shall be appropriated exclusively to the support of

Sec. 4. The Legislature shall, within five Sec. 3. When an impeachment is direc-years from the adoption of this constituted, the House of Representatives shall tion, provide for and establish a system of elect from their own body three members, primary schools, whereby a school shall whose duty it shall be to prosecute such be kept without charge for tuition, at least impeachment. No impeachment shall be three months in each year, in every school tried until the final adjournment of the Le- district in the State; and all instruction in

said schools shall be conducted in the English language.

Sec. 5. A school shall be maintained in each school district, at least three months in each year. Any school district neglecting to maintain such school, shall be deprived for the ensuing of year its proportion of the income of the primary school fund, and of all funds arising from taxes for the support of schools.

Sec. 6. There shall be elected in each judicial circuit, at the time of the election of the judge of such circuit, a regent of the University, whose term of office shall be the same as that of such judge. The regents thus elected shall constitute the board of regents of the University of Michigan.

Sec. 7. The regents of the University and their successors in office shall continue to constitute the body corporate, known by the name and title of "the regents of the University of Michigan.”

Sec. 8. The regents of the University shall, at their first annual meeting, or as soon thereafter as may be, elect a president of the University, who shall be exofficio a member of their board, with the privilege of speaking, but not of voting. He shall preside at the meetings of the regents, and be the principal executive officer of the University. The board of regents shall have the general supervision of the University, and the direction and control of all expenditures from the University interest fund.

and agricultural improvement; and shall, as soon as practicable, provide for the establishment of an agricultural school. The Legislature may appropriate the twenty-two sections of salt spring lands now unappropriated, or the money arising from the sale of the same, where such lands have been already sold, and any land which may hereafter be granted or appropriated for such purpose, for the support and maintenance of such school, and may make the same a branch of the University, for instruction in agriculture and the natural sciences connected therewith, and place the same under the supervision of the regents of the University.

Sec. 12. The Legislature shall also provide for the establishment of at least one library in each township; and all fines assessed and collected in the several coun÷ ties and townships for any breach of the penal laws, shall be exclusively applied to the support of such libraries.

ARTICLE XIV.

FINANCE AND TAXATION.

Sec. 1. All specific State taxes, except those received from the mining companies of the upper peninsula, shall be applied in paying the interest upon the primary school, university and other educational funds, and the interest and principal of the State debt, in the order herein recited, until the extinguishment of the State debt, other than the amounts due to educational funds; when such specific taxes shall be added Sec. 9. There shall be elected at the to, and constitute a part of the primary general election in the year one thousand school interest fund. The Legislature shall eight hundred and fifty-two, three mem- provide for an annual tax, sufficient, with bers of a State board of education; one other resources, to pay the estimated exfor two years, one for four years, and one penses of the State government, the interfor six years; and at each succeeding bi-est of the State debt, and such deficiency ennial election there shall be elected one as may occur in the resources. member of such board, who shall hold his office for six years. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be ex-officio a member and Secretary of such board. The board shall have the general supervision of the State Normal school, and their duties shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. The Legislature shall provide by law a sinking fund of at least twenty thousand dollars a year, to commence in eighteen hundred and fifty-two, with compound interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and an annual increase of at least five per cent., to be applied solely to the payment and extinguishment of the principal of the State debt, other than the amounts due to educational funds, and shall be continued until the extinguishment Sec. 11. The Legislature shall encour- thereof. The unfunded debt shall not be age the promotion of intellectual, scientific | funded or redeemed at a value exceeding

Sec. 10. Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants who are deaf, dumb, blind or insane, shall always be fostered and supported.

that established by law in one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

Sec. 14. Every law which imposes, continues or revives a tax, shall distinctly state the tax, and the object to which it is to be applied; and it shall not be sufficient to refer to any other law to fix such tax or ob

Sec. 3. The State may contract debts to meet deficits in revenues. Such debts shall not in the aggregate at any one time exceed fifty thousand dollars. The mo-ject.. neys so raised shall be applied to the purposes for which they were obtained, or to the payment of the debts so contracted.

Sec. 4. The State may contract debts to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or defend the State in time of war. The money arising from the contracting of such debts shall be applied to the purpose for which it was raised, or to repay such debts. Sec. 5. No money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of appropriations made by law.

Sec. 6. The credit of the State shall not be granted to or in aid of any person, association or corporation.

Sec. 7. No scrip, certificate, or other evidence of State indebtedness shall be issued, except for the redemption of stock previously issued, or for such debts as are expressly authorized in this constitution.

Sec. 8. The State shall not subscribe to or be interested in the stock of any compaay, association or corporation.

Sec. 9. The State shall not be a party to or interested in any work of internal improvement, nor engaged in carrying on any such work, except in the expenditure of grants to the State of land or other property.

Sec. 10. The State may continue to collect all specific taxes accruing to the treasury under existing laws. The Legislature may provide for the collection of specific taxes from banking, rail road, plank road, and other corporations hereafter created.

Sec. 11. The Legislature shall provide an uniform rule of taxation, except on property paying specific taxes; and taxes shall be levied on such property as shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 12. All assessments hereafter authorized shall be on, property at its cash value.

Sec. 13. The Legislature shall provide for an equalization by a State board in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, and every fifth year thereafter, of assessments on all taxable property except that paying specific taxes.

ARTICLE XV.

CORPORATIONS.

Sec. 1. Corporations may be formed under general laws; but shall not be created by special act, except for municipal purposes. All laws passed pursuant to this section, may be altered, amended or repealed.

Sec. 2. No banking law or law for banking purposes, or amendments thereof, shall have effect until the same shall, after its passage, be submitted to a vote of the electors of the State, at a general election, and be approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon at such election.

Sec. 3. The officers and stockholders of every corporation or association for banking purposes, issuing bank notes or paper credits to circulate as money, shall be individually liable for all debts contracted during the time of their being officers or stockholders of such corporation or associ

ation.

Sec. 4. The Legislature shall provide by law for the registry of all bills or notes issued or put in circulation as money, and shall require security to the full amount of notes and bills so registered, in State or United States stocks bearing interest, which shall be deposited with the State Treasurer for the redemption of such bills or notes in specie.

Sec. 5. In case of the insolvency of any bank or banking asociation, the bill hold ers thereof shall be entitled to preference in payment, over all other creditors of such bank or association.

Sec. 6. The Legislature shall pass no law authorizing or sanctioning the suspension of specie payments by any person, association or corporation.

Sec. 7. The stockholders of all corporations and joint stock associations shall be individually liable for all labor performed for such corporation or association.

Sec. 8. The Legislature shall pass no law altering or amending any act of incorporation heretofore granted, without the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each house; nor shall any such act

be renewed or extended. This restriction court, issued for the collection of any debt shall not apply to municipal corporations. contracted after the adoption of this conSec. 9. The property of no person shall stitution. be taken by any corporation for public use, without compensation being first made or secured, in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. Every homested of not exceeding forty acres of land, and the dwelling house thereon, and the appurtenances to be selected by the owner thereof, and not included in any town plat, city or village; or instead thereof, at the option of the own

Sec. 10. No corporation, except for municipal purposes, or for the construction of rail roads, plank roads and canals, shall beer, any lot in any city, village or recorded created for a longer time than thirty years. Sec. 11. The term "corporations," as used in the preceding sections of this article, shall be construed to include all associations and joint stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships. All corporations shall have the right to sue and be subject to be sued in all courts, in like cases as natural per-emption shall not extend to any mort

sons.

Sec. 12. No corporation shall hold any real estate hereafter acquired for a longer period than ten years, except such real estate as shall be actually occupied by such corporation in the exercise of its franchises. Sec. 13. The Legislature shall provide for the incorporation and organization of cities and villages, and shall restrict their powers of taxation, borrowing money, contracting debts, and loaning their credit.

Sec. 14. Judicial officers of cities and villages shall be elected, and all other officers shall be elected or appointed at such time and in such manner as the Legislature may direct.

Sec. 15. Private property shall not be taken for public improvements in cities and villages without the consent of the owner, unless the compensation therefor shall first be determined by a jury of freeholders, and actually paid or secured in the manner provided by law.

Sec. 16. Previous notice of any application for an alteration of the charter of any corporation shall be given in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

ARTICLE XVI.

EXEMPTIONS.

Sec. 1. The personal property of every resident of this State, to consist of such property only as shall be designated by law, shall be exempted to the amount of not less than five hundred dollars, from sale on execution or other final process of any

town plat, or such parts of lots as shall be equal thereto, and the dwelling house thereon, and its appurtenances, owned and occupied by any resident of the State, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, shall be exempt from forced sale on execution, or any other final process from a court, for any debt contracted after the adoption of this constitution. Such ex

gage thereon lawfully obtained; but such mortgage or other alienation of such land by the owner thereof, if a married man, shall not be valid without the signature of the wife to the same.

Sec. 3. The homested of a family, after the death of the owner thereof, shall be exempt from the payment of his debts, contracted after the adoption of this constitution, in all cases during the minority

of his children.

Sec. 4. If the owner of a homested die, leaving a widow, but no children, the same shall be exempt, and the rents and profits thereof shall accrue to her benefit during the time of her widowhood, unless she be the owner of a homested in her own right.

Sec. 5. The real and personal estate of every female, acquired before marriage, and all property to which she may afterwards become entitled by gift, grant, inheritance or devise, shall be and remain the estate and property of such female, and shall not be liable for the debts, obligations or engagements of her husband, and may be devised or bequeathed by her as if she were unmarried.

ARTICLE XVII.

MILITIA.

Sec. 1. The militia shall be composed of all able bodied white male citizents between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such as are exempted by the laws of the United States or of this State; but all such citizens, of any religious de

nomination whatever, who, from scruples | further improvement of the navigation of

of conscience, may be averse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom, upon such conditions as shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. The Legislature shall provide by law for organizing, equipping and disciplining the militia, in such manner as they shall deem expedient, not incompatible with the laws of the United States.

Sec. 3. Officers of the militia shall be elected or appointed, and be commissioned in such manner as may be provided by law.

ARTICLE XVIII.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

such streams.

Sec. 5. An accurate statement of the receipts and expenditures of the public moneys shall be attached to and published with the laws, at every regular session of the Legislature.

Sec. 6. The laws, public records, and the written judicial and legislative proceedings of the State shall be conducted, promulgated and preserved in the English language.

Sec. 7. Every person has a right to bear arms for the defence of himself and the State.

Sec. 8. The military shall, in all cases, and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

law.

any

Sec. 1. Members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except Sec. 9. No soldier shall, in time of peace, such officers as may by law be exemptbe quartered in house without the coned, shall, before they enter on the du-sent of the owner or occupant, nor in time ties of their respective offices, take and of war, except in a manner prescribed by subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of this State, and that I will faithfully discharge the duaccording to the best of my ability." And no other cath, declaration or test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public

ties of the office of

trust.

Sec. 2. When private property is taken for the use or benefit of the public, the necessity for using such property, and the just compensation to be made therefor, except when to be made by the State, shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve freeholders, residing in the vicinity of such holders, residing in the vicinity of such property, or by not less than three commissioners, appointed by a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 3. No mechanical trade shall hereafter be taught to convicts in the State prison of this State, except the manufacture of those articles of which the chief supply for home consumption is imported from other States or countries.

Sec. 4. No navigable stream in this State shall be either bridged or dammed without authority from the board of supervisors of the proper county, under the provisions of law. No such law shall prejudice the right of individuals to the free navigation of such streams, or preclude the State from the

Sec. 10. The people have the right peaceably to assemble together, to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the Legislature for redress of grievances.

Sec. 11. Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime, shall ever be tolerated in this State.

Sec. 12. No lease or grant hereafter of agricultural land for a longer period than of any kind, shall be valid. years, reserving any rent or service

twelve

Sec. 13. Aliens who are, or who may hereafter become, bona fide residents of this State, shall enjoy the same rights in respect to the possession, enjoyment and inheritance of property, as native born citi

zens.

Sec. 14. The property of no person shall be taken for public use without just compensation therefor. Private roads may be opened in the manner to be prescribed by law; but in every case the necessities of the road and the amount of all damage to be sustained by the opening thereof, shall be first determined by a jury of freeholders; and such amount, together with the expenses of proceedings, shall be paid by the person or persons to be benefitted.

Sec. 15. No general revision of the laws shall hereafter be made. When a reprint thereof becomes necessary, the Legislature in joint convention shall appoint a suita