04-16-4/3 7W 84 * CONSTITUTIONS OF 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: 3 Amendments: Original text in brackets [ ]; new portions in italics. The People of the State of Michigan do ordain this. Constitution. ARTICLE I. PREAMBLE. We, the people of the State of Michigan, ́grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of nations, for civil and religious liberty, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance thereof, do ordain and establish the following Constitution: ARTICLE I. BOUNDARIES AND SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. The State of Michigan consists of SECTION 1. The State of Michigan is and has jurisdiction over the territory bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencembraced within the following boun- ing at a point on the eastern boundary daries to-wit: Commencing at a point line of the State of Indiana, where a on the eastern boundary line of the direct line drawn from the southern State of Indiana, where a direct line extremity of Lake Michigan to the most drawn from the southern extremity of northerly cape of the Maumee Bay, shall Lake Michigan to the most northerly intersect the same, said point being the cape of the Maumee Bay, shall inter- north-west corner of the State of Ohio, sect the same-said point being the as established by an act of Congress north-west corner of the State of Ohio, entitled, "An act to establish the as established by act of Congress en- northern boundary line of the State of titled "an act to establish the northerly Ohio, and to provide for the admission boundary line of the State of Ohio, of the State of Michigan into the Union and to provide for the admission of the upon the conditions therein expressed," State of Michigan into the Union upon approved June fifteenth, one thousand the conditions therein expressed," ap- eight hundred and thirty-six; thence proved June fifteenth, one thousand with the said boundary line of the State eight hundred and thirty-six; thence of Ohio till it intersects the boundary with the said boundary line of the line between the United States and CONSTITUTION OF 1835. CONSTITUTION, OF 1850. CONSTITUTION OF 1867. [See Art. XII, Sec. 9.] ARTICLE I. 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. 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 Capthence 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 bounof the said State of Indiana to the north- dary line of the said State of Indiana east corner thereof; and thence south to the north-east corner thereof; and with the eastern boundary line of Indi- thence south with the eastern boundary ana to the place of beginning. line of Indiana to the place of beginning. : |