DEPARTMENT BULLETIN NO. 1 CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN 1850 ANNOTATED FOR THE USE OF THE CONSTI LANSING, MICHIGAN The bills of rights in American constitutions have not been drafted for the introduction of new law, but to secure old principles against abrogation or violation. They are conservatory instruments rather than reformatory. Weimer v. Bunbury, 30/213. The present constitution was not the formation of a new government, but the continuation of one formed under the previous constitution, whose supposed or real defects it was intended to correct. Streeter v. Paton, 7/346. It is a fair presumption that the framers of the constitution, in adopting legal terms, had reference to their strict legal and technical import. Slaughter v. People, 2 Doug. 336. No constitutional provision will be held as merely directory. People v. Dettenthaler, 118/595.. OF THE ARTICLE II.-Seat of Government. ARTICLE III.-Division of the Powers of Government. ARTICLE IV.-Legislative Department. ARTICLE V.-Executive Department. NOTE. The references to the Michigan reports are indicated, a 1.5-19-3/7WN. CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DO ORDAIN THIS CONSTITUTION. Boundaries: ARTICLE I. (1) The state of Michigan consists of and has jurisdiction over the territory embraced within the following boundaries, 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 Maumee bay shall intersect the same-said point being the northwest corner of the state of Ohio, as established by act of congress, entitled "An act to establish the northern boundary line of the state of Ohio, and to provide for the admissign of the state of Michigan into the union upon the conditions therein expressed," approved June fifteenth, 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 Huron 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; 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 river Brule to the main channel of the Menominee river; thence down the center of the main channel of the same to the center of the most usual ship channel 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. F These boundaries are virtually the same as those prescribed in the act of congress of June 15, 1836, providing for the admission of Michigan into the union, and assented to by the second convention of assent, December 15, 1836. (See C. L. 1897, pp. 63, 67.) The constitution of 1835 contained no mention of boundaries. The acts of the territorial council, providing for the formation of a state govern |