object-provides for its government by a board of regents-the manner and term of their appointment, duties, powers and other details necessarily connected therewith. An act amendatory to the last named act, was passed June 21st, 1837. An act to locate the University of Michigan in or near the village of Ann Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw, was approved March 20th,

1837.

These several enactments form the basis of the proceedings of the board of regents, a summary of which is now given.

On the fifth day of June, 1837, in pursuance of a notice given by the Governor of the state, a quorum of the board of regents, who had previously appointed by him by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, met at Ann Arbor and organized under provisions of the twenty-second section of the act approved March 18th, 1837. A secretary, treasurer and librarian were then ap

pointed.

Under the second section of the act approved March 20th, 1837, the regents selected a site for the University buildings, and obtained a satisfactory title to forty acres of land, with right to the water of springs adjacent, and the right of way for the con veyance of the same to the buildings of the University. At that meeting the regents resolved that the following branches of the University be established as soon as can conveniently be done, with a due regard to the public interests, viz:

First, one in the first senatorial district.

Second, one in the second senatorial district.

Fourth, one in the fourth senatorial district.

Fifth, three in the fifth senatorial district; making eight branches in all, and appropriated $8,000, to aid in the payment of teachers to be employed in the branches when organized.

In pursuance of the foregoing resolution, five branches have been organized and are now in operation, viz:

At Pontiac, in the county of Oakland, to which a principal instructor was appointed September 15th, 1837; at Monroe, in the county of Monroe, to which a principal instructor was appointed February 19th, 1838, and a tutor May 10th, 1838; at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo, to which a principal instructor was appointed May 1st, 1838; at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, to which a principal instructor was appointed May 20th, 1838, and a tutor June 20th, 1838; at Niles, in the county of Berrien, to which a principal instructor was appointed September 15th, 1838. The number of pupils at the several branches, per last report of the principal instructor, is as follows:

At Pontiac,

At Monroe,
At Kalamazoo,

27

63

22

At Detroit,

At Niles,

40

9

161

Total number of students now reported,

Of the above number of students, ten will be qualified in 1839, as teachers for common schools, and six for the University. In 1840, say September first, thirty students will be ready to enter the freshman or perhaps sophomore classes in the university. In 1841, say September first, thirty-five students will be prepared in like manner. In 1842, say September first, forty students will be prepared. Total students, whose parents design for a li beral education, one hundred and one, with ten reported as destined for teachers. The balance of the students, now in the branches, are such as have not been reported by themselves or parents, as having definitely determined upon their future course of studies, amounting to fifty in number. The regents however feel assured, that great accessions will be made to those enumerated, of such as will be prepared to enter the University in 1841 and '42, if not sooner. And they cannot forbear the remark, as mat ter of congratulation to the state at large, that wherever a branch has been established, it has not only received the decided approbation and support of the inhabitants in its immediate vicinity, but has continued regularly to increase in the number of students from term to term. A code of by laws for the government of the branches has been adopted, a copy of which is herewith submitted.

A uniform system of studies for the branches, has thus been adopted, subject however to such alterations as experience may suggest.

The system of branches, their organization, board of visiters, support of instructors, in a word, every thing connected therewith, being a new and heretofore untried experiment in our country, the regents sensibly feel that they have much to learn, and that experience is the best, if not the only teacher. They therefore feel the necessity and importance of proceeding with caution and deliberation. They are not insensible to the importance of the trust confided to them, that of establishing a permanent foundation for the moral and intellectual culture of our rising state.

The branches thus far established, have been only for boys. No female branches have been organized.

Under the provisions of the act of the legislature, entitled "An act to authorize the loan of a certain sum of money to the University of Michigan," approved April 6th, 1838, the loan of $100,000, has been negotiated.

A valuable cabinet of minerals, from European and other localities of the old world, has been purchased and is now in possession of the regents. For this object $4,000 have been appro

priated, $1,000 of which have been paid and the residue is to be paid in annual instalments.

A professor of Botany and Zoology, (the only professor yet chosen,) was appointed on the 17th day of July, 1838.

As Doctor Asa Gray, the professor above mentioned, was about to visit Europe, in part on his own private account, and partly in discharge of his professional duties to the University, the sum of $5,000 has been placed at his disposal, for the purchase of books, as the commencement of a University library. Arrangements have also been made, through this gentleman, for obtaining such information as may be desirable in procuring the most modern and approved apparatus for the departments of natural science.

The regents, with the approbation of the Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction, in pursuance of the act of the legislature, approved March 18th, 1837, section twenty-three, have adopted a plan for the University buildings, determined upon the materials to be used in their construction, and taken such other measures as were thought advisable for their construction. Preparatory to this object a superintendent of the buildings has been appointed, and some materials purchased.

The expenditures on branches, during the past year, amount to $7,800.

The estimate for the current year, as salaries to professors, principals and tutors of branches, is

For University buildings,

Total estimate of expenditures in 1839,

$10,000 00

35,000 00

$45,000 00

The Superintendent of Public Instruction reports the sum of $9,171 42-100, subject to the warrant of the auditor general, in favor of the treasurer of the University, and that the further sum of $2,000 or $3,000 may yet be received, being interest on the University fund.

In conclusion, the regents would congratulate the legislature, and through them, the citizens of Michigan, whose representatives they are, upon the flattering auspices under which this great moral and intellectual institution has commenced. Recognizing the fact, that "righteousness exalteth a nation," and that "sin is a reproach to any people," the regents have been studiously careful, in all their appointments, not only to select instructors of high intellectual attainment, but also such as are of well established character for their reverence and confidence in the attributes of the Ruler of the universe, and disposer of all events, as he has revealed himself in his word, who recognize his law as always binding and forming the rule of our actions.

Under such instructors only, the board feel convinced they can confidently look to the Giver of all good for the usefulness and

permanency of that institution, the care of which has been in. trusted to them. And on him alone would they rely for that wis dom which shall enable them so to educate and "train up the youth of our state in the way they should go, that when they are old they may not depart from it."

Respectfully submitted.

J. KEARSLEY,

Z. PITCHER,
ROSS WILKINS,

Committee.

Adopted by the board, January 5th, 1839,

Detroit, Jan. 5th, 1839.

(No. 10.)

Report of the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred a bill to repeal the act creating the office of state printer.

The committee on printing, to whom was referred a bill to repeal the act entitled "An act to provide for the appointment of state printer, and to prescribe his powers and duties," respectfully report:

That they have had the matter under consideration, and on examination, find that the act proposed to be repealed, not only provides for the appointment of state printer, but also imposes many duties on that officer, which he is required by the act to perform.

By the second section of the act referred to, the state printer is required to "print at the seat of government a weekly newspaper, which shall be deemed the state paper," and throughout our whole code of existing laws, the state paper is made the organ for the publication of official documents, public notices, legal advertisements, &c.

To repeal the act, therefore, and abolish the office, would produce general confusion throughout our whole system of laws. Your committee regard the office of state printer as an important and necessary office, and believe his powers and duties to be well defined in the act creating the office, and which is now proposed to be repealed.

The third and fourth sections of the act provide that the state printer shall publish forthwith in the state paper, certified copies of all laws passed by the legislature, and that every law so published may be read in all courts of justice in the state for six months after the adjournment of the session of the legislature passing the same.

This is a very important and valuable provision. Many of the acts of the legislature are made to take effect from the time of their passage; and every act which does not expressly prescribe the time when the same shall go into operation, is, by provision of law, made to take effect on the thirteenth day next after its approval by the Governor. It is impossible to print and bindinto volumes the acts of the session, and have them distributed among the people, for several months after their passage. It is important, therefore, that some means should be provided by which the acts of the session can be sooner promulgated among the people, authenticated in such a manner as to entitle them to be read in evidence in courts of justice. Without such a provision, the people would remain ignorant of the laws for months af ter they take effect, and would not be able to use them as legal evidence in judicial proceedings, until the bound volumes were distributed, without being at the trouble and expense of obtaining certified copies from the office of the Secretary of State. To authorize all the public journals of the state indiscriminately to publish the laws, and permit the laws so published to be read in evidence in courts of justice, would not only be dangerous to the interest of the people, but would also greatly enhance the expense attending their publication.

The remaining sections of the act, from five to eleven inclusive, define the duties which the state printer is required to perform for the legislature and public officers.

Those duties are clear and specific, and must necessarily be performed by some printer under the regulations of law. Should the act under consideration be repealed, it would be necessary to provide immediately by legislative enactment for the public printing, and until it is shown that the public interest requires it, your committee cannot see the propriety or expediency of the legisla ture laying aside the necessary and more important business of the session, to repeal the present law providing for the public printing, when it is so obvious that another act similar in all respects to the one proposed to be repealed, would immediately be necessary for that purpose.

But, if the object of the repeal is to remove the state printer, it is the opinion of your committee, that such repeal would not effect its object.

The first section of the act creating the office of state printer provides "that there shall be an officer of this state to be called the state printer, who shall be appointed by a concurrent vote of the Senate and House of Representatives, and hold his office until removed by a like vote."

By reference to the journals of the legislature of the session of eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, it appears that John S. Bagg was appointed state printer, by the concurrent vote of the Senate