EDUCATION.

Not having seen the Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, I can only refer you to that document, which will undoubtedly give full information on this most important subject, and suggest such changes and revisions in the existing laws, as that officer may deem expedient.

It is not necessary that I should attempt to present arguments in favor of sustaining and encouraging a general system of popular education, to a legislative body chosen by the people of Michigan. The value of such a system is recognized by all her citizens. The facts, however, are well established that our schools and colleges are in a flourishing condition, and have been liberally sustained; and that in return, they are diffusing information and knowledge throughout all the departments of social life. The importance of educating all classes must be fully admitted, when it is remembered that the most emphatic lesson taught by history is, that in the ignorance of the people lies the strength of tyrants and despots; and that Republican Institutions can only be secured and maintained where true knowledge is universally disseminated among the

masses.

Although our system of education, like all other human systems, may not be free from serious defects, yet, I think we may justly pride ourselves upon the very liberal views adopted by us, as a people, on this subject, and upon the generous, publicspirited stand which we have taken from our infancy as a State; for, there are to-day, I believe, very few States in the Union, if any, where the cause of popular education receives more favor and support than in Michigan.

The educational funds of the State now amount to $2,780,292 73. These funds are all safely invested, and draw interest at the rate of 7 per cent., with the exception of a small amount at the rate of 5 and 6 per cent.

PARIS EXPOSITION.

Congress adopted a Joint Resolution, approved July 5th, 1866, by which the Governors of the several States were re

quested "to invite the patriotic people of their respective States to assist in the proper representation of the handiwork of our artisans, and the prolific sources of material wealth with which our land is blessed," at the Paris Universal Exhibition, to be held in 1867, in order "to secure to their respective States the advantages which it promises."

In accordance with this resolution, and in compliance with a request from the Secretary of State, at Washington, I did, on the 6th day of August last, by public notice, extend such invitation to the people of this State. No legislative provision was made at the last session, either for the appointment of a Commissioner, or for defraying the expenses of such Commission; yet, in view of the benefits which the people of the State might derive from participating in the advantages of this Exhibition, I deemed it advisable that a Commissioner should be appointed, if a competent person could be found, who would undertake this duty in the absence of such a provision. Accordingly I appointed Henry F. Q. d'Aligney, Commissioner from this State to said Exhibition, he having been recommended to me as a suitable person for such appointment. This appointment, however, was made with the express understanding that the State of Michigan should be at no expense whatever by reason of the same, and that the action of the Legislature, in making any appropriation for this object must be wholly voluntary.

Mr. d'Aligney has placed in my hands sundry petitions, requesting that I recommend an appropriation for suitably compensating him for his services and expenses, as such Commissioner He has, I have been informed, received a similar appointment from the President af the United States, with a salary of one thousand dollars. Without making any specific recommendations in this case, I submit the whole subject to your consideration, and for your action, upon the facts stated.

REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

The question of a general revision of the Constitution having been submitted to the electors at the recent general election,

in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and of a Joint Resolution adopted at the last session of the Legislature, this question was decided by a majority of 50,882 in favor of such revision. It therefore, becomes your duty, upon the official announcement of the result of such vote by the Secretary of State, to "provide by law for the election of delegates to a convention," for the purpose of making such revision, and to "prescribe the number of delegates, and the time, place and manner of holding such convention." I would recommend that such convention be held as soon after the adjournment of this body as may be found practicable.

MILITARY.

Permit me to call your attention to the militia system of this State. At the extra session of the Legislature in 1862, an act was passed for the re-organization of our State militia, which is now in force. This act provides for raising volunteer, uniformed, State troops, to be supplied, at the expense of the State, with arms, equipments, &c. But as such volunteers are required to furnish, at their own expense, the prescribed uniforms, no efficient organization of this class of troops has ever been made under this law. Besides this, the act only requires a loose system of enrollment, without any organization whatever. The provisions of this law, in some respects, are good; yet, as a whole, I am clearly of the opinion that it needs revision.

The Adjutant General has embodied his views upon this subject in a special report, dated December 31, 1866, which has been printed, and to which I would respectfully call your attention. The General has so very ably and fully discussed the matter, that it is quite unnecessary for me here to do more than refer you to his report

The subject is one of vital importance, and I trust, will receive at your hands that careful and candid investigation which it merits. The experience of the past few years shows us very clearly the great necessity of preparing for war in time of peace. A preparation for probable or possible danger is always the most effectual means of obviating or escaping that

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danger. The maintenance of our civil laws, and the support of our republican institutions, must depend upon a citizen soldiery, so efficiently organized and equipped as to be ready for service, if needed, at a day's notice. While despotic rulers look to a standing army to maintain their power, freemen must rely upon themselves to maintain their liberties. No consideration should induce them to neglect the means essential to this end. The exposed position which our State occupies on the borders of a government with which the United States are liable at any time to come into collision-our extended frontier along the boundary line of that government, from which we are only separated by lakes and narrow rivers, which oppose feeble barriers to the attacks of an invading foe-the defenseless condition of many of our large cities, towns and villages situated along the line of this frontier, exposed at all times to the inroads of marauding forces-all alike demand the adoption and maintenance of such a State military system as will enable us the most effectually, at all times and under all circumstances, "to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection, and to repel invasion."

LAND TITLES.

Prudence would seem to dictate, in view of recent developments, that some safeguards, besides those which now exist upon our Statute Book, should be thrown around the title to lands in our State. Public industry is injuriously affected, the happiness of families endangered, and the improvement of the country retarded, where the law leaves the tenure of the home. stead, and all other real estate, exposed to the fraudulent acts of the designing and heartless speculator.

The honest purchaser of land sometimes fails to record his deed, either from ignorance of its legal necessity or from accident. After a lapse of sufficient time to render the fraud practicable, by false personation, forgery or otherwise, a deed, purporting to convey the same land to some lynx-eyed adventurer, and purporting to have been executed by the proper grantor in whom the title of record is last found, and bearing

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upon its face all the formalities required by the Statute for the valid execution of deeds, is presented to the proper Register for record. It is recorded with official promptness, and at once taken possession of by him, who seeks to profit by the wrong; no opportunity being given to him who is most justly interested and best entitled to protection, to inspect the deed, decide upon its character and expose its falsity. The record evidence being legally regular, and the explanation, if required in subsequent litigation, why the original instrument is not produced, being so easily fabricated and made plausible, the record alone, in and of itself, becomes a powerful engine of wrong. Further elucidation becomes unnecessary to show the great importance of some enactment, which shall check, if it does not eradicate this, which I regret to say, is an adroitly systematized, fast growing and formidable public evil.

It is left to your judgment and sagacity to devise and block out the remedy; whether it shall be by an enactment that the original deed, or power of attorney, shall be kept on file, after recording, with the register permanently for public inspection, or two original instruments in duplicate be executed, one of them to be deposited, as intimated with the Register, and the other, after careful comparison by that officer, with the one on file, be certified to by him, as an exact duplicate, and delivered to the grantee or person entitled thereto.

It may be that a return to the salutary principle and rule of the Common Law making all conveyances of land by a grantor out of possession absolulely void, where such lands are at the time held adversly, would meet the exigency. This would at the least, diminish the number of such cases, and perhaps break up completely the facile and to often corrupt transfer of pretended titles for sheer speculating and litigous purposes.

LIBERTY AND THE UNION.

Although averse, in the administration of State affairs, to interfere with those matters which might be regarded as more appropriately belonging to the General Government, yet there are occasions when it is certainly proper, that questions of