PROPOSED CONSTITUTION

OF THE

STATE OF MICHIGAN.

The People of the State of Michigan do ordain this Constitution :

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 northwest 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 fif teenth, 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 Canada in Lake Erie; thence with the said boundary line between the United States and Canada through the Detroit river, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair river, Lake Huron, the St. Mary's river and Lake Superior, to a point where the said line last touches Lake Superior; thence in a direct line through Lake Superior

to the mouth of the Montreal river; thence through the middle of the main channel of the said Montreal river to the head waters thereof, as marked upon the survey made by Captain Cramm, by authority of the United States; thence in a direct line to the center of the channel between Middle and South Islands, in the Lake of the Desert; thence in a direct line to the southern shore of Lake Brule; thence along said. southern shore and down the Brule river to the main channel of the Menominee river; thence down the centre of the main channel of the same, to the center of the most usual shipchannel of the Green Bay of Lake Michigan; thence through the center of the most usual ship-channel of the said bay to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence through the middle of Lake Michigan to the northern boundary of the State of Indiana, as that line was established by the act of Congress, of the nineteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixteen; thence due east with the north boundary line of the said State of Indiana to the northeast 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 their equal benefit, security, and protection; they have the right to change or reform the same whenever the public good requires. No special privilege or immunity shall be granted that may not be revoked.

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, or, against his consent, to contribute to the erection or support of any place of religious worship, or to pay tithes, taxes, or other rates, for the support of any minister of the gospel, or teacher of religion.

SEC. 3. The civil and political rights, privileges and capacities of no person shall be diminished or enlarged, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness, on account of his opinions or belief concerning matters of religion, nor shall any witness be questioned touching his religious belief.

SEC. 4. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the accused shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. SEC. 5. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall be passed.

SEC. 6. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

SEC. 7. The right of trial by jury shall remain, but shall be deemed to be waived in all civil cases, unless demanded by one of the parties in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. The legislature may authorize, in all civil and criminal cases, a trial by jury of a less number than twelve men.

SEC. 8. In every criminal prosecution, the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, to be informed of the accusation, to be confronted with witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

SEC. 9. Any suitor in any court in this State shall have the right to prosecute or defend his suit, either in person or by attorney.

SEC. 10. The person, houses, papers and possessions of every person shall be secure from unreasonable search and

seizure. No warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing such place, person or thing, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

SEC. 11. No person, after acquittal upon the merits, shall be tried for the same offense. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for murder and treason, when the proof is evident or the presumption great.

SEC. 12. Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it, or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason, unless upon the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

SEC. 13. Excessive bail shall not be required; excessive fines shall not be imposed; cruel or unusual punishments shall not be inflicted, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.

SEC. 14. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law. No person shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself. But if any person shall elect to make a statement in his own behalf, he shall be subject to cross-examination relative to the matter of such statement.

SEC. 15. No person shall be imprisoned for debt arising out of or founded on contract, express or implied, except in case of fraud, or breach of trust, or for moneys collected by public officers, or in any professional employment. No person shall be imprisoned for a military fine in time of peace.

SEC. 16. Every person has a right to bear arms for the defense of himself and of the State.

SEC. 17. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.

SEC. 18. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner or occupant, nor in time of war, except in a manner prescribed by law.

SEC. 19. The people have the right peaceably to assemble,