Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1850.34

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Crary, Mr. Bates referred to Tom Corwin's speech in congress in
which he took occasion to scathe Gen. Crary in language peculiar to
Tom Corwin only, stating that the only battle Crary ever was engaged
in was the one known in Michigan as " the battle of the watermelon patch."
Mr. Bates remarked that the life and public services of Gen. Crary
would remain a monument to his memory when all that Corwin had
done or said to benefit the world was buried in oblivion. As will be
seen by the debates the principal discussions were. had upon the
judiciary, legislative, educational, exemption and married women's rights
articles. The main difference on the judiciary article was in relation
to the establishment of an independent supreme court. A compromise
was reached by which the Legislature was empowered with authority to
establish an independent supreme court which they in their wisdom
have done. McClelland, chairman of the legislative department, carried
his report through with very few important changes althouggh considerable discussion took place on some of its provisions. The committee
on education reported in favor of free schools, but the method of raising the tax for the support of the schools, whether by district, tow-nship,
county or State, had its advocates, but free schools were provided for.
The committee on exemptions and married women's rights, reported
through their chairman adversely to a homestead exemption but the chairman (Rev. J. D. Pierce) subsequently presented a minority report,
which report was presented to the convention and substituted for the
majority report after a lengthy and interesting discussion on the principles of exemption, and it now forms Art 16 of the constitution of
this State.
It is probably well known to most of the pioneers of the State that
"Father Pierce" was styled while living the "father of exemptions;"
he having introduced and got passed in the Legislature in Detroit a
bill to exempt a team from execution; but in order to do this the value
of the team was limited to eighty dollars. This caused the eccentric
McLeod to call the bill "Pierce's Pony Bill." A slight opposition
arose in the convention against locating the capital permanently in
Lansing. The, principal objection (as will be seen by the debates) to
its remaining in Lansing was " that the mosquitos were too large and
presented their bills too often." It is proper to say that this beautiful
city then contained but a few hundred inhabitants and difficult of access,
the nearest railroad station being Jackson. These sidewalks were
then covered with brush and log heaps; churches were like angels'
visits "few and far between" and cow bells were more numerous far
than church bells. The "Benton House" kept by Win. Hinmnan (now