submitted, at the places and in the manner provided by law for the election of members of the Legislature. Sec. 18. At the said general election, a ballot box shall be kept by the several boards of inspectors thereof, for receiving the votes cast for or against the adoption of this Constitution; and on the ballots shall be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, the words, "Adoption of the Constitution - Yes," or "Adoption of the Constitution - No." Sec. 19. The canvass of the votes cast for the adoption or rejection of this Constitution, and the provisions in relation to the elective franchise separately submitted, and the returns thereof, shall be made by the proper canvassing officers, in the same manner as now provided by law for the canvass and return of the votes cast at an election for Governor, as near as may be, and the return thereof shall be directed to the Secretary of State. On the sixteenth day of December next, or within five days thereafter, the Auditor-General, State Treasurer and Secre tary of State shall meet at the capitol, and proceed, in pres ence of the Governor, to examine and canvass the returns of the said votes, and proclamation shall forthwith be made by the Governor of the result thereof. If it shall appear that a major ity of the votes cast upon the question have thereon "Adoption of the Constitution Yes," this Constitution shall be the supreme law of the State from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, except as is herein otherwise provided; but if a majority of the votes cast upon the question have thereon "Adoption of the Constitution-No," the same shall be null and void. And in case of the adoption of this Constitu tion, said officers shall immediately, or as soon thereafter as practicable, proceed to open the statements of votes returned from the several counties for judges of the Supreme Court and State officers under the act entitled "An act to amend the Revised Statutes, and to provide for the election of certain officers by the people, in pursuance to an amendment of the Constitution," approved February sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, and shall ascertain, determine, and certify the results of the election for said officers under said acts, in the same manner, as near as may be, as is now provided by law in regard to the election of Representatives in Congress. And the several judges and officers so ascertained to have been elected, may be qualified and enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the first Monday of January next, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Sec. 20. The salaries or compensation of all persons holding office under the present Constitution shall continue to be the same as now provided by law, until superseded by their successors elected or appointed under this Constitution; and it shall not be lawful hereafter for the Legislature to increase or diminish the compensation of any officer during the term for which he is elected or appointed. Sec. 21. The Legislature at its first session shall provide for the payment of all expenditures of the convention to revise the Constitution and of the publication of the same, as is provided in this article. Sec. 22. Every county except Mackinaw and Chippewa, entitled to a Representative in the Legislature at the time of the adoption of this Constitution shall continue to be so entitled under this Constitution; and the county of Saginaw, with the territory that may be attached, shall be entitled to one Repre sentative; the county of Tuscola, and the territory that may be attached, one Representative; the county of Sanilac, and the ter ritory that may be attached, one Representative; the counties. of Midland and Arenac, with the territory that may be attached, one Representative; the county of Montcalm, with the territory that may be attached thereto, one Representative; and the coun ties of Newaygo and Oceana, with the territory that may be attached thereto, one Representative. Each county having a ratio of representation and a fraction over equal to a moiety of said ratio, shall be entitled to two Representatives, and so on above that number, giving one additional member for each addi tional ratio. Sec. 23. The cases pending and undisposed of in the late Court of Chancery at the time of the adoption of this Constitu tion, shall continue to be heard and determined by the judges of the Supreme Court. But the Legislature shall, at its session in one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, provide by law for the transfer of said causes that may remain undisposed of on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, to the Supreme or Circuit Court established by this Constitution, or require that the same may be heard and determined by the circuit judges. Sec. 24. The term of office of the Governor and LieutenantGovernor shall commence on the first day of January next after their election. Sec. 25. The territory described in the article entitled "Upper Peninsula," shall be attached to and constitute a part of the third circuit, for the election of a Regent of the University. Sec. 26. The Legislature shall have authority, after the expira tion of the term of office of the aistrict judge first elected for the "Upper Peninsula," to abolish said office of district judge and district attorney, or either of them. Sec. 27. The Legislature shall, at its session of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, apportion the Representatives among the several counties and districts, and divide the State into Senaté districts, pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution. Sec. 28. The terms of office of all State and county officers, of the circuit judges, members of the Board of Education, and members of the Legislature, shall begin on the first day of January next succeeding their election. Sec. 29. The State, exclusive of the Upper Peninsula, shall be divided into eight judicial circuits, and the counties of Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale shall constitute the first circuit; the counties of Branch, St. Joseph, Cass and Berrien shall constitute the second circuit; the county of Wayne shall constitute the third circuit; the counties of Washtenaw, Jackson and Ingham shall constitute the fourth circuit; the counties of Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Eaton and Van Buren shall constitute the fifth circuit; the counties of St. Clair, Macomb, Oakland and Sanilac shall constitute the sixth circuit; the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Livingston, Tuscola and Midland shall constitute the seventh circuit; and the counties of Barry, Kent, Ottawa, Ionia, Clinton and Montcalm shall constitute the eighth circuit. Done in convention at the capitol of the State, this fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, and of the independence of the United States the seventy-fifth. JOHN SWEGLES, JR., CHARLES HASCALL, Secretaries. D. GOODWIN, President. |