by Craig Ruff
January 16, 2008

What times! What customs!

Constitutionally, Michigan governors must deliver a message to the legislature at the beginning of each session. We now call them State of the State messages. They speak volumes, literally in some cases, about what bugged the people at that time. For most of the state’s history, governors also felt compelled to give a report card on everything on which state government spent money.

Here excerpted are some of my favorites from the late nineteenth century (with a couple of exceptions). They lend wonderful perspective on the past; some retain relevance. All are direct quotations. My comments are in italics.

On Crime
During the past year, thirty-seven convicts have been received into the state penitentiary; thirty-five have been discharged; four escaped, and one deceased. The whole number of prisoners at present is one hundred and nineteen. There has been drawn from the treasury during the year the sum of thirteen thousand, one hundred and thirty-three dollars, and twenty-one cents. That was out of a total general fund budget of $227,697.36! — Alpheus Felch, 1846

I submit for your serious consideration whether in some cases the law does not permit the punishment of the State Prison for offenses too trivial in the nature, and whether some of the distinctions on which important differences in punishment are made in turn are not altogether too finely drawn for such serious consequences. — Charles M. Croswell, 1877

We are reminded by an almost every day occurrence that the habit now so prevalent of carrying concealed weapons brings to our attention the news of murder, manslaughter, and accident. — Cyrus G. Luce, 1887

On Education
It is doubtful, at least, whether the University [of Michigan] can continue to maintain its present high position among the best institutions of learning in the land, without some additional provision for the improvement of its buildings, the steady increase of its library, and for an increase in the number and salary of its Professors. — Henry P. Baldwin, 1869

All desire to see it [University of Michigan] prosper, but there is no denying the fact that its constantly increasing demands are somewhat disturbing to our people. …Indeed, the original plan of our University did not contemplate supporting it so largely through this means [state tax funds]. Proposals offered were: charging non-residents tuition; encouraging wealthy men to remember it in their will; and “Cannot [alumni] be induced to do as others have, by contributing to their Alma Mater.” — Cyrus G. Luce, 1889

There is an education that our schools, University, or Agricultural Colleges do not yet offer, which we need and should have; and that is a practical technical education, that will fit men and women to grapple with life as they find it—earnest, laborious, and real. No State in the Union needs, more than ours, educated farmers, mechanics, manufacturers, architects, engineers, chemists, etc. — John J. Bagley, 1873

Your first aim is the best education to the children of the State, and secondary to this is the greatest economy in the accomplishment of such end. — Cyrus G. Luce, 1887

A large number of the people seem to suppose that when they have paid their taxes to support a free school, then their entire duty is done; they give the school itself no attention, but leave it to take care of itself. This is the one great evil of the free school system. — Austin Blair, 1865

On Taxes and Spending
There is perhaps no word in the language that so grates upon the American ear as the word “tax.” — John J. Bagley, 1873

A graded income tax is advocated by some who seek to relieve property from the burdens of taxation. The suggestion is worthy of consideration. — Cyrus G. Luce, 1891

Public expenditures have increased much more rapidly than the ability of the people to pay, and our civilization is becoming very expensive. — Edwin B. Winans, 1891

The condition of all wagon roads last winter was sufficient proof that our present system of road making is a waste of time and labor. — Edwin B. Winans, 1891

On Sin and Corruption
If there is an evil that threatens our life, above and beyond all else, it is intemperance. It reaches its bony hand into almost every family. — John J. Bagley, 1875

The acceptance of free passes on the railroads by members of the Legislature is of doubtful propriety. — Josiah W. Begole, 1883

With or without gloves, [prize fighting] is another debasing and degrading practice that is alarmingly on the increase. — Cyrus G. Luce, 1887

Defying Modern Political Correctness
There is no State provision for the care of idiots and imbeciles. — Josiah W. Begole, 1885

On Lawmaking
Less than one-fifth the members of the House and one-fourth the Senators were members of the last House and Senate. This I regard as a misfortune. Experience is worth much in the work of legislation, and valuable time might be saved if a larger proportion of old members were returned. I think it would be better if members of the Legislature were elected for four years, one half each two years. — Josiah W. Begole, 1885

The truth is, our [legislative] sessions are too long, and I think the work will be better and more thoroughly done by a short session than by a protracted one. — Russell A. Alger, 1887

As a rule there is greater danger of our having too much rather than too little legislation. — Cyrus G. Luce, 1889

On People Who Don’t Conform
Governor Alger was on a tear in 1887.
There is, as you well know, on the western shores of this great country a horde of Chinese Pagans. Their immigration to this country should be for ever stopped. They are not fit subjects to become citizens, they have no interest in this government, they send all their earnings back to their native land, and when they have accumulated a small sum they return there only to send out, to take their places, hordes of similar people. They disgrace labor; they will work for wages that will not support a white man. They are a “upas tree” to the growth of this country. Native to southeast Asia, the tree has a latex sap that is highly poisonous and used as an arrow poison.

The Mormon question ought to be settled at once. Polygamy should be strangled now.

Bad people of all classes and conditions, criminals, paupers, partially insane, cripples, aged and infirm, are dumped upon our shores, having been sent from foreign counties here ….. …this land of ours should not be a dumping ground for these paupers, nor should disturbers of the peace such as Nihilists and Anarchists, from other counties be tolerated here. — Russell A. Alger, 1887

Notwithstanding Governor Alger’s xenophobia, for decades Michigan was so desperate to boost its population that state government had a “Commissioner of Emigration.” Moses Wisner, governor in 1859–60, urged the legislature to fund a state employee, housed in Europe, to recruit immigrants. Governor Crapo in 1867 wrote: for the very best capital which any new country can possibly have is a hardy and intelligent class of pioneers, men and women inured to habits of industry and labor, seeking homes for themselves and families—the primary elements of wealth.

On Political Reform
Let the distribution or using of ballots outside the booths be prohibited….Let the ballots be printed by the county clerks…. — John T. Rich, 1895

One of the outstanding things that must be done is the curtailment of the activities of lobbyists. In this connection permit me to mention for consideration the New York law, licensing lobbyists. Before adopting, legislators mulled this over for just under 50 years. — Fred W. Green, 1927

The High-Minded
… you have only to be true to yourselves to serve well the interests of your people. — Edwin B. Winans, 1891

Craig Ruff is, among many things, a senior policy fellow and former president of Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants.