of the foregoing preamble and resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved February 11, 1867.

[ No. 9.]

JOINT RESOLUTION asking Congress for an appropriation of money, to improve Portage lake and river, in Houghton county.

Whereas, Portage lake is distant about four miles from Keweenaw Bay, (Lake Superior,) connected therewith by Portage river;

And whereas, A company has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, by the name of the "Portage Lake and River Improvement Company," having for its object the improvement of said river, so as to admit the passage of steamers and sailing vessels into Portage lake;

And whereas, A large sum of money has been expended in said improvement, and yet it is difficult to navigate said river, the channel being too narrow, crooked and not of sufficient depth, the larger steamers and vessels being compelled to lighten before they can pass through;

And whereas, Congress has heretofore made liberal appropriations of money for the improvement of harbors and rivers in different parts of the Union, but have not as yet made any for the improvement of those on Lake Superior, notwithstanding the rapid growth of our commerce, and the imperative necessity of these improvements; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators in Congress, and the members of the House of Representatives be requested to use their influence to obtain from Congress an appropriation in money, for the improvement of said Portage lake and river.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to

ransmit copies of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to out Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved February 11, 1867.

[ No. 10. ]

JOINT RESOLUTION asking Congress for an appropriation of money to improve the harbor at the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, in Allegan county.

Whereas, There is at the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, in the county of Allegan, and State of Michigan, a good natural harbor, where with a small appropriation at the entrance of the harbor, our steamers and sailing vessels can enter and lie with safety;

And whereas, The current of the river will, unless checked by substantial piers at the mouth of said river, soon wash away the foundation of the light-house erected by the general government;

And whereas, There is a large trade carried on from the mouth of said river with the city of Chicago and other lake ports, which is rendered exceedingly dangerous in consequence of the formation of a bar across the entrance of said harbor, causing vessels to pass out of said harbor partly loaded and complete the loading outside by means of lighters;

And whereas, The citizens of said county have raised quite a sum of money and expended the same in the construction of piers at the mouth of said river during the past season, thereby deepening the channel of said river and increasing the depth of water on the bar from four and a half feet to seven and a half feet;

And whereas, it is necessary to continue said piers out into Lake Michigan a distance of from eight hundred to one thousand feet, in order to protect the entrance of said harbor from the formation of sand-bars, and in order to give suitable and convenient depth of channel to afford proper facilities for the

commercial business otherwise afforded by said harbor; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to use their best endeavors to obtain an appropriation of money to aid in the construction of piers at the mouth of the Kalamazoo river to protect the harbor thereat. Approved February 12, 1867.

[ No. 11. ]

JOINT RESOLUTION asking an appropriation of lands by Congress to endow female colleges in the several States. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Legislature of the State of Michigan hereby renews the request made by the preceding Legislature, that our Senators and Representatives in Congress use their influence to procure a donation of lands by Congress to endow female colleges in the several States.

Resolved, That the Governor be and he is hereby requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved February 15, 1867.

[ No. 12. ]

JOINT RESOLUTION ratifying the proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States.

Whereas, The Congress of the United States, after solemn and mature deliberation therein, has by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, passed "a joint resolution submitting to the Legislatures of the several States a proposition to amend the constitution of the United States," which resolution is in the following words:

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of the constitution, namely:

ARTICLE XIV.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twentyone years of age in such State.

Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President or Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a mem

ber of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That in the name and in behalf of the people of this State, we do hereby ratify, approve and assent to the said amendments.

Resolved, That a copy of this assent and ratification be engrossed on parchment, and transmitted by his Excellency the Governor to the United States in Congress assembled, and that he transmit a like copy to the Secretary of State of the United States.

Approved February 15, 1867.

[ No. 13. ]

JOINT RESOLUTION to protect the fisheries of this State in the Upper Peninsula, to the people of the State and of the United States.

Whereas, Reliable information has been received that persons not citizens of this State, nor of the United States, are in the practice of temporarily emigrating to the fisheries of this State