USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1909-1910 > Part 5
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British possession of Michigan .- On taking possession of Detroit, General Brock placed Colonel Proctor, with a small force, in command of the fort and territory. Proc- tor soon proceeded to organize the civil government. He assumed the title of governor, and appointed Judge Woodward secretary. In this position the former chief justice had some influence with the cruel Briton, and won the gratitude of the people whose interests he tried to protect.
During the fall and winter following Hull's surrender, General Harrison collected an army and started northward for the recovery of the frontier posts. While at San- dusky, he sent General Winchester in advance to the Maumee. A few days later General Winchester moved forward and encamped on the River Raisin. On the 22d of Jan- uary (1813) the camp was attacked by the British and Indians, under Proctor. The Americans were surprised and obliged to surrender, and during the following night the savages butchered the wounded soldiers and defenseless inhabitants of French- town without mercy.
Recapture of Michigan .- Commodore Perry's victory at Put-in-Bay, Sept. 10, 1813, by which the entire naval force of Commodore Barclay was surrendered to the Ameri-
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MICHIGAN MANUAL.
cans, was a fortunate and decisive stroke. "The engagement began a quarter before noon. At three o'clock the British fleet surrendered, after one of the closest engage- ments known in naval history. No entire British fleet had ever been captured before. The utmost bravery was shown on both sides. The American loss was 27 killed and 96 wounded; the British, 41 killed and 94 wounded."*
This victory prepared the way for the recapture of Michigan and the entire north- west. General Harrison used the captured vessels to transport his army across Lake Erie, and prepared to clinch the advantage gained by a vigorous campaign in Canada. Malden and Detroit were evacuated by the British and Proctor made a speedy retreat, much to the disgust of Tecumseh, but was overtaken and defeated at Moravian town. Tecumseh was killed in the engagement, and Proctor fled.
On the 29th of September (1813) the Americans again took possession of Detroit, and Colonel Lewis Cass was placed in command.
On the 9th of October, 1813, Colonel Cass was made governor of Michigan Territory, by appointment of the president.
Fort Mackinac .- In the mid-summer of 1814 an attempt was made to recover Mack- inac island, still held by the British. Lieutenant Croghan was sent to effect the re- capture, but delayed the attack so long that the English commander had an oppor- tunity to strengthen his position and increase his force, and the expedition ended in failure. The island remained in possession of the British until after the close of the war. The post was evacuated in the spring of 1815, and the fort was again occupied by American soldiers.
Condition of affairs .- At the beginning of his term of office, Governor Cass found a small population, confined to a few settlements on the eastern border, while the great interior was not only uninhabited, but an unknown wilderness.
Worse yet, it was often regarded as an impenetrable swamp, and people in the eastern states had no desire to gain a closer acquaintance with the country. Some of the civil engineers sent out by the United States government to survey lands for the bounty claims of soldiers, soon after the war of 1812, were responsible for false reports of this kind, which helped to injure the territory. Governor Cass took pains to correct these wrong impressions, made treaties with the Indians, and secured the cession of their lands to the United States government-always treating the natives fairly and honor- ably. After the necessary treaties had been made, the lands were surveyed and opened for settlement.
Survey and sale of public lands .- The survey of public lands was begun in 1816, and two years later, had progressed sufficiently to permit the authorities to begin the sale. Farmers would not come in large numbers until there was a chance to procure lands, and little growth or prosperity could be expected without the tillers of the soil. But with the settlement of the interior, which practically began in 1818, came sub- stantial growth and prosperity.
The steamboat .- The first steamboat on the great lakes-the Walk-in-the-Water- reached Detroit in the summer of 1818. From that time forth, westward-bound set- tlers found fewer difficulties in coming to Michigan. For although the Walk-in-the- Water was wrecked in 1821, the Superior and other steamers soon took her place, and steam navigation contributed not a little to the commercial prosperity of the grow- ing territory.
Public roads .- " Another matter of immediate and pressing importance was that of roads. Immigrants could not come into the terriory in any considerable numbers so long as they must find their way through the woods by trails, or by roads cut out but never worked, and which in a little while by use became nearly impassible."+ Roads around the west end of Lake Erie to Detroit, and from the latter place to Chicago, and other highways of importance were built as soon as possible, through the ener- getic and wise management of Governor Cass and his efficient assistant, Secretary Woodbridge.
The Erie canal .- The opening of the Erie canal, in 1825, was an event of great importance to Michigan.
* Judge Campbell's "Outlines of the Political History of Michigan."
t Judge Cooley's " Michigan."
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AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Steamers and sailing craft became abundant on the lakes, and it was estimated that not less than 300 passengers a week were landed at Detroit during the fall of 1825.
Close of territorial period .- Geo. B. Porter of Pennsylvania was then appointed gover- nor of Michigan territory and Stevens T. Mason, secretary. As governor Porter was absent a considerable portion of the time, the secretary was acting governor; and after the death of the chief executive in 1834, no change was made, and Mr. Mason con- tinued to manage the duties of the office until the close of the territorial period.
Meanwhile the population of Michigan territory had reached and passed the number fixed by the ordinance of 1787-60,000-as necessary to admission as a state, and the people desired to be admitted into the Union.
The Toledo war .- About this time a dispute arose concerning the boundary between Michigan and Ohio. Careless management had admitted Ohio, in 1802, with an in- definite northern boundary. The act of 1805, organizing Michigan territory, fixed the boundary at a line running due east from the southern bend of Lake Michigan. This included Toledo and a considerable strip of land which Ohio tried to claim. In 1835 Governor Lucas of Ohio issued a proclamation assuming control, and the state legislature passed an act to organize the county of Lucas. Acting Governor Mason of Michigan territory called out the militia and proceeded to Toledo to prevent the Ohio officers from exercising control of the disputed land. Several shots were ex- changed, but no blood was shed.
Anxious to settle the dispute without giving offense to Ohio and Indiana, congress endeavored to satisfy both parties by giving to Michigan the extensive territory known as the upper peninsula. Michigan reluctantly accepted the terms, permitting Ohio to fix the boundary as it is shown on our maps, and herself acquired the title to the rich and valuable mineral districts of the Lake Superior region.
State conventions .- The first state convention for the adoption of a constitution was held at Detroit, May, 1835. An election for the adoption of the constitution, and for the election of state officers was held on the first Monday of the following Octo- ber. The constitution was adopted by vote of the people, and Stevens T. Mason was elected governor, Edward Mundy, lieutenant governor, and Isaac E. Crary, represen- tative in congress. The legislature met in November (1835), and elected John Norvell and Lucius Lyon, United States senators for Michigan. Everything was ready for admission into the Union, but the unfortunate boundary dispute with Ohio prevented the favorable action of congress at that time.
Finally, by an act approved January 26, 1837, Michigan became the twenty-sixth state of the Union.
MICHIGAN AS A STATE.
First constitution .- The state constitution under which Michigan was admitted into the federal Union contained peculiar features which deserve brief mention. The secretary of state, auditor general and attorney general were appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the state senate. The superintendent of public in- struction was appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the legislature, in joint vote. The governor and lieutenant governor were elected, and all state officers above mentioned were chosen for a term of two years, as at present. Judges of the supreme court were appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for a term of seven years.
The constitution contained the following provision, which had a considerable in- fluence on the early history of the state: "Internal improvements shall be encouraged by the government of this state; and it shall be the duty of the legislature, as soon as may be, to make provision by law for ascertaining the proper objects of improvement in relation to roads, canals and navigable waters," etc.
Internal improvement scheme .- It so happened that the Hon. Stevens T. Mason, "the boy governor of Michigan," who was the first chief executive of the young state, was in hearty sympathy with the plan of internal improvements for which provision was made in the constitution: With his approval, the legislature speedily passed the necessary laws, and the scheme was put into execution. Arrangements were made
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MICHIGAN MANUAL.
to borrow five millions of dollars on bonds issued by the state, and Governor Mason was authorized to negotiate the loan.
Among the various internal improvements which were begun and carried on for several years by the state, two of the most important were the Michigan Central and Southern railroads .* The first named road was to begin at Detroit and extend to the mouth of the St. Joseph river on Lake Michigan. The second was to extend from Monroe to New Buffalo. After an experience of four or five years in prosecuting these enterprises, and others of lesser note, it became evident that it would be better for the state to dispose of the railroads to private corporations; and accordingly the Mich- igan Central and Southern railroads, which were only partially completed, were sold, in 1846, for the sum of two and a half millions of dollars. This was less than they had cost the state, but nevertheless the sale was considered a good bargain. Under the management of their new owners the roads were speedily pushed forward to completion, with some changes in the western portions of their routes.
"Wild-cat" banking .- When Michigan was admitted into the Union, there were fifteen banks doing business within her borders. But among other theories of that time was the notion that banking, like farming and store-keeping, should be free to all. Accordingly, in the spring of 1837, a general banking law was passed by the legis- lature. Under this act "any ten or more freeholders" might engage in banking with a capital of not less than fifty thousand nor more than three hundred thousand dollars. The provisions for the security of the public were loosely framed, and proved utterly worthless in practice. Among other things it was provided that thirty per cent of the entire capital should be paid in, in specie, before commencing business; that debts and bills issued should be secured by mortgages on real estate, etc. The banks were sub- ject to examination and supervision by commissioners. But all provisions of safety were successfully evaded. Banks were started by persons who were mere adventurers, alike destitute of capital and credit. When the bank commissioners started upon their rounds of inspection, bags of coin were secretly and swiftly carried by messengers from one bank to another, so that they were constantly deceived. The requisite amount of coin would be found in the vaults, the commissioners could discover nothing wrong, and the inspection was over. During the following night the coin would be spirited away to the next bank, and counted again as before. Meanwhile these fraudulent banks were issuing bills and getting them into circulation as fast as possible.
The year 1837 is memorable as the time of a great financial panic in the United States. In June of that year, the legislature of Michigan, in the hope of relieving the financial difficulties for the time being, passed a law authorizing the suspension of specie payment until May 16, 1838. But the general banking law remained in force, banks were organ- ized, and bills were issued as fast as possible during the period of suspension.
Banks were located anywhere and everywhere. One was found flourishing in an old saw-mill; and it was humorously asserted that a "hollow stump, to serve as a vault," was all that was needed for a bank in those days.
The greater number of the "wild-cat" banks had, however, suspended operations by the end of the year 1839. But more than a million dollars of worthless bills had been put in circulation. In 1844 the general banking law was declared unconstitu- tional, and "wild-cat" banks caused no further trouble.
Education .- By the ordinance of 1787-creating the northwest territory-and sub- sequent legislation, congress made provision for the support of public schools in this part of the Union. The sixteenth section of every organized township was set apart for the creation of a permanent school fund, of which the interest only is used from year to year. Since 1858, the "primary school fund," as it is called, has been increased by the addition of one-half of the yearly cash receipts from the sale of swamp lands belonging to the state.
After the state was admitted into the Union, one of the first steps of interest in this connection was the appointment of a superintendent of public instruction. Gov- ernor Mason selected for this important office the Rev. John D. Pierce, a congrega- tional clergyman, who was engaged in missionary work among the pioneers of central Michigan.
* In 1835-6.
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AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Father Pierce-as the founder of the Michigan school system is reverently called- wished to place the primary school within the reach of every child in the state; and to establish a state university for the higher culture of advanced students.
The plan which was drawn up by Superintendent Pierce, and passed by act of the legislature in 1837, contained most of the essential features of the present school system. And when it is remembered that Father Pierce was the first state superintendent of public instruction in the United States, we are the better prepared to appreciate the wisdom and foresight of the founder of the Michigan schools.
Pioneers .- Most of the early settlers of interior Michigan came from New England, New York and Ohio. Some of them came from the birth-place of the "town-meet- ing," and they took an active interest in the wise and honest government of their adopted state. Intelligent and public spirited, but prudent as well, they were good and safe citizens.
The style of living was necessarily plain. For clothing, "cheap, coarse cloth an- swered the purpose, and the wives and daughters made it up for use. The pioneers could not be particular about other qualities of their cloth than those of wear and comfort, and nobody would criticise the style or the fit. Silk for the woman and broadcloth for the man were rare extravagances."*
The first houses were log cabins, and the food of the pioneers, like the clothing, was plain and substantial. Hard work was the order of the day.
Hospitality and genuine friendship are usual characteristics of pioneers, and the "pathfinders" of the Michigan wilderness were bright examples of the general rule. "If one had a barrel of flour it was divided with the others. No one was allowed to want for what another had."t
Mormons in Michigan .- In 1847, a colony of Mormons, under the leadership of James J. Strang, located on Beaver island. At first the Mormon colony consisted of only five families, but a system of vigorous proselyting increased their numbers to nearly two thousand persons within the few years of their stay on the island. But internal dissensions arose, and Strang was assassinated in 1856. Soon after the death of the leader, the colony was dispersed by an armed band of fishermen from the neigh- boring shores, and the Mormons were given only twenty-four hours to leave the place.
Removal of capital .- From the time of Cadillac's occupancy of Fort Pontchartrain (1701) until 1847, the seat of government was at Detroit, but in the latter year the legislature decided to locate the permanent capital of Michigan at Lansing-then covered by a dense forest, and forty miles distant from a railroad. The project was greeted with both ridicule and severe denunciation at first, but the decision was made and the location proved to be generally satisfactory.
Second constitution .- After the experience of more than a dozen years with the state constitution under which Michigan came into the Union, the people wished to make some changes in the supreme law of the commonwealth, and a convention for that purpose met at Lansing in June, 1850. After careful preparation, a new con- stitution was submitted to the people, by whom it was adopted.
Among other changes, the second constitution provided for the election, by the people, of all heads of state departments and judges of the supreme court.
Politics .- When Michigan was admitted into the Union, the democratic party was in power and the governor of the state was a member of that party. Dissatisfaction with the financial mismanagement of 1837 and 1838 caused a change in the political control of the state, which was secured by the whig party-headed by William Wood- bridge-for a single term. From 1841 to 1854 the democrats were again in power. In the latter year the newly organized republican party elected its candidates, and with the exception of two terms-1883-85, and 1891-93-has continued in political control of the state to the present time.
Michigan in the civil war .- During the four years of the civil war, Michigan was fortunate in having Austin Blair as her chief executive. Every effort was made to lend all possible support to the United States government in its struggle for existence. Few states were more prompt, and none sent braver soldiers to the front. All told, Michigan furnished 93,700 men, of whom 14,855 died in the service of the nation.
* Judge Cooley's " Michigan."
+ Hon. Charles D. Little in " Michigan Pioneer Collections."
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MICHIGAN MANUAL.
Spanish-American war .- On April 23, 1898, President Mckinley issued his procla- mation calling for 125,000 volunteers to engage in the war with Spain. Michigan's quota of this number was 4,104 to consist of four regiments of infantry of 1,026 officers and men each.
May 25, 1898, the president issued his second call for troops, of which Michigan's quota was one regiment of infantry of a maximum strength of 1,272 men and 47 officers.
The 33d and 34th Michigan formed part of the expedition under command of General Shafter against Santiago.
The Michigan naval reserves, consisting of eleven officers and two hundred and seventy men, were detailed on the auxiliary cruiser Yosemite and saw service at Havana, Santiago, Guantanamo and San Juan de Puerto Rico.
The 31st regiment served at garrison duty two months and twelve days on Cuban soil.
The 32d and 35th Michigan regiments were quartered in southern camps, anxiously waiting orders to go to the front, but the sudden termination of the war prevented them from seeing service on foreign soil.
CONCLUSION.
The first half century of state history witnessed many wonderful changes. In 1837 the interior was sparsely settled, and the forests and prairies showed few signs of human industry. Wagon roads were scarce and poor, and there was no completed railroad. Postal arrangements were exceedingly inconvenient, and correspondence was an expensive luxury. The population of the state was 174,467. Cities there were none. Schools, churches and newspapers were few, and the privations of pioneer life were many and severe.
Seventy years have changed the wilderness into more than two hundred thousand cultivated farms. Over eight thousand seven hundred miles of railroads and nine hundred miles of interurban electric roads afford good market and traveling facilities to the people of almost every county in the state. The census reports show a popula- tion of over two and one-half million people. Over eight thousand schools afford in- struction to about seven hundred and fifty thousand pupils. Postal facilities have improved a hundred fold.
ADMISSION OF MICHIGAN TO THE UNION.
[5 U. S. Statute at Large, 144.]
AN ACT to admit the State of Michigan into the Union, upon an equal footing with the original states.
WHEREAS, In pursuance of the act of congress of June the fifteenth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled, "An act to establish the northern boundary of the state of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the state of Michigan into the Union, upon the conditions therein expressed," a convention of delegates, elected by the people of the said state of Michigan, for the sole purpose of giving their assent to the boundaries of the said state of Michigan, as described, declared and established in and by the said act, did, on the fifteenth of December, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, assent to the provisions of said act, therefore:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress Assembled, That the State of Michigan shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into . the Union on an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatever.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the secretary of the treasury, in carrying into effect the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of the act of the twenty-third of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled, "An act to regulate the deposits of the public money," shall consider the said state of Michigan as being one of the United States.
Approved Jan. 26, 1837.
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FORMER OFFICIALS OF MICHIGAN.
FORMER OFFICIALS OF MICHIGAN.
FRENCH-CANADIAN GOVERNORS.
No.
Name.
Title.
Year.
1
M. Chauvin, Commander de Chastes and M. de Monts ..
1603-12
2
Samuel de Champlain with Prince de Condé as acting governor ... Admiral Montmorency, acting governor .... Samuel de Champlain (a).
Lieut. Gen. and Viceroy
1635
5
Marc Antoine de Bras-de-Fer de Chateau- fort. .
Lieut. Gen. and Viceroy Gov. and Lieut. Gen ... Governor.
1636
6 7
Louis D'Aillebout de Coulonges. Jean de Lauson.
Governor.
1651-55
Charles de Lauson-Charny (b)
Governor.
1656-57
Governor.
1657-58
Governor
1658-61
Pierre du Bois, Baron D'Avaugour.
Governor.
1661-63
Chevalier-Augustin de Saffrey-Mesy.
Governor.
1663-65
Alexandre de Prouville, Marquis de Tracy. Chevalier Daniel de Remi de Courcelles. Louis de Buade, Count de Frontenac et du Paluau.
Viceroy.
1663
Gov. and Lieut. Gen. .
1665-72
Governor.
1672-82
Governor.
1682-85
Jacques René de Brisay, Marquis de De- nonville.
Governor.
1685-89
Louis de Buade, Count de Frontenac et du Paluau (d).
Governor.
1689-98
Chevalier Louis Hector de Calliéres Bon- nevue. .
Governor.
1 1702
Governor.
1703
Governor.
1725
Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beau- harnois. .
Governor.
1726-47
Rolland Michael Barrin, Count de la Gallis- sonniére .
Governor
1747-49
Jacques Pierre de Tafanell, Marquis de la Jonquiere Charles LeMoyne, Baron de Longueuil (e) ... Marquis Duquesne de Menneville.
Governor.
1749-52
Governor
1752
Governor
1752-55
Pierre Francois, Marquis Vaudreuil Cavagnal.
Governor.
1755-60
(a) The English held possession of Canada from 1629 to 1632.
(b) Son of No. 8. (c) Same as No. 7. (d) Same as No. 16. (e) Same as No. 22.
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
3
1619-29
1633
4
Charles Huault de Montmagny
1636-47
1648-51
8
Chevalier Louis D'Aillebout de Coulonges (c) . . Pierre de Voyer, Viscount D' Argenson.
Antoine Joseph Le Febore de la Barre.
1698
Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil. . Charles LeMoyne, Baron de Longueuil ..
1612-19
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MICHIGAN MANUAL.
BRITISH-CANADIAN GOVERNORS.
No.
Name.
Title.
Year.
1
Sir Jeffery Amherst.
Maj. Gen. and Com-
mander-in-chief .....
1760-63 1763-66
2
Sir James Murray.
3
Palinus Emelius Irvine.
Governor of Quebec .. President of Elective Council for 3 months Lieut. Gov. and Com- mander-in-chief.
1766
4
Brigadier General Guy Carleton.
1766-70
5
Hector Theophilus Cramahe.
Acting Governor.
1770-74
6
Major General Guy Carleton (a)
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