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The object of this work is to supply a want long felt and now fully recognized by the people. Books have been written on the science of government, which have gained admittance into our schools; and many of our youth have, in this way, acquired much valuable information. They have learned some of the first lessons of civil government, and have been made acquainted with an outline of the government of the United States, but as yet they have not been supplied with that information concerning our own State Government, and our own responsibilities and duties so important to enable us to act well our part as citizens.

If the succeeding pages of this work shall serve to impart a knowledge of our civil jurisprudence, and of the framework and machinery of our State Government, if they shall furnish an insight into our political institutions, then surely it will inspire in the hearts of those who study them, a devotion to those institutions; and the more we know of them, the more shall we admire the wisdom and appreciate the statesmanship of the great and good men whose business it was to lay broad and deep the foundations upon which we, as a State, have built and are building.

The demand for a second edition, within two months from the time when the first was issued, has encouraged the author to revise the work. It is hoped that the historical sketch, and other matter which has been added to this edition, will greatly enhance its value and usefulness as a text-book.

To J. E. Scripps, editor of the Detroit Evening News, the author is indebted for a portion of the matter embraced in the historical sketch; and to W. S. George, editor of the Lansing Republican, for the matter of which the chapter relative to the names of the counties is composed.

TO TEACHERS AND PUPILS.

In preparing the following work, the author has consulted with a number of prominent educators in the State, as to the best plan for presenting the matter contained therein. While all agree that it is desirable, in writing a text-book, to employ such language as shall be comprehended by the youngest student, yet, on the whole, it is believed to be better in a work of this kind, to use ordinary language, and even technical terms when such are used in the law books to which we have occasion to refer. These words and terms must, sooner or later, be comprehended; and, in the judgment of the author, it would be unwise to attempt to exclude them. But, for the benefit of the younger students, it has been thought advisable to print all words, the definition or meaning of which it is conceived may not readily occur to them, in italics. The definition of most of the words printed in italics will be given in an appendix arranged in alphabetical order, and to which the student can easily refer. This reference, it is believed, will tend to fix the definition in the memory.

Some objection has been made to the introduction of questions, and that upon the ground that they are often so suggestive of the answer as to enable the pupil to respond correctly, though he may not have fully mastered the text. All this is true when the questions are leading; but when this is avoided and the questions are so framed as to merely call attention to the subject under consideration, they serve a most valuable purpose. Those things which the author deems important, are thus suggested to the teacher, who, in too many instances, it is feared, would otherwise pass over them without proper consideration.

GOVERNMENT OF MICHIGAN.

[For the definition of most of the words printed in italics, see appendix.]

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In the language of the Chippewa tribe of Indians, the word Mitchaw, signifies great, and Sagiegan, a lake. These words were applied by the members of that tribe to lakes Michigan and Huron, which were supposed to be one lake. The land which these lakes so nearly surrounded was called Michsawgyegan, meaning the Lake country; and from this word, Michigan derived its name.

The country constituting the present State of Michigan, was partially explored by some French explorers as early as the year 1610. In 1632, Father Sagard visited the country along the shores of Lake Huron. In 1634, a party of Indians belonging to the Huron tribe, visited Quebec, a walled city in Canada. On their return they were accompanied by the Jesuits, Brebœuf and Daniel, who located upon the shore of

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