encouragement of domestic industry, or as laying the foundation for the production of a rich commodity for national commerce, it is equallly entitled to public and private pat ronage. "In whatever country, the culture and manufacture of silk has been successfully carried on, the general government has lent its fosteringaid to the business, both in its commencement, and in its further progress. And there is full evidence of the fact, that no nation has ever directed its industry to an object, which has so amply paid the laborer for his toil, and the nation for its patronage, as that of the production and manufacture of silk. "It is ascertained by actual experiment, that the United States, throughout nearly their whole territory, are admirably well adapted to the silk culture. A species of the mulberry tree is one of the natural productions of the American forests; and the white mulberry tree has been found to flourish in whatever part of the country it has been planted. "The insects instrumental in producing silk, do not, in this climate, require a certain temperature of the atmosphere to be kept up in the houses where they are, by artificial aid, as they do in European countries. In the United States they are produced, and finish their work, in two-thirds of the time required to accomplish the same in other countries. And what is still more remarkable, though in other countries they have had the experience of centuries to perfect their art, yet the production of the silk-insect is much finer and more valuable, and one-third more in quantity, in this country than in any other. "These facts, and others, regarding the subject of this memorial, equally important, are known to your honorable bodies. They have been adverted to merely that they may be remembered. "The measures lately taken by Congress, to encourage the cultivation of the mulberry tree, and the production of silk, has drawn the attention of your memorialists to the expediency of introducing that branch of industry into this Territory. The Peninsula of Michigan, on account of its locality, requires that its inhabitants should be engaged in some branch of industry, the products of which will warrant an inland transportation to a very distant market. So distant from this Territory are the great marts of commerce, that the common productions of the agriculturist, poorly pay for the labor which they cost, after deducting the costs of trans portation. "The soil and climate of this Territory are undoubtedly adapted to the culture of silk. The red mulberry tree is indigenous to the soil; and the climate is more mild than that of any of the New England states, or than many parts of the eastern continent, where the silk culture flourishes. "The Peninsula of Michigan is yet mostly uncultivated. It is now rapidly filling up with an industrious and hardy people-a people mostly, who have for years been serving as pioneers to the army of emigrants, which has been moving west. No enterprise of industry is too difficult for this people to accomplish; nor need it be feared, that any art will retrograde under their superintendence. But they have not capital to vest in an undertaking, which does not promise an immediate return of profit. The many wants incident to the first settlement of a new country, tax heavily the small incomes of the inhabitants. "Your memorialists, therefore, are induced to ask of your honorable bodies, a grant to this Territory of four townships of land, within the limits of the Peninsula of Michigan; which land shall be under the care of the Governor and Council of this Territory, and appropriated alone to the purposes necessary to promote the cultivation of the mulberry tree, and the production of silk. "Lands have been granted in the states of Indiana and Alabama, by Congress, for the encouragement of particular branches of agriculture. But precedents need not be named to authorize the required grant of land. Were the grant asked for to form itself a precedent for a like grant to all the new States and Territories, your memorialists think it would not be dangerous. The object of the donations would promise full returns to the nation for her liberality. Like donations, for like purposes, to the different new communities, would more closely connect their interests with the interests of the Atlantic States, and bind, as with silken cords, the extremities of the Union to the main body." Resolved, That the Governor of the Territory be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing memorial to the President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Delegate in Congress from this Territory. A. EDWARDS, The memorial being read, Mr. Kingsley submitted the following resolution, which was read and laid on the table: Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Territory be authorised to pay out of the Territorial treasury the sum of dollars, to any person in the Territory, who shall rear the greatest number of white mulberry trees, exceeding two thousand, the trees to be raised within four years, and to be two years old, and of thrifty growth. On motion of Mr. Schoolcraft, The blank in the above memorial, was filled with the word "four." On motion of Mr. Le Roy, The memorial was adopted. Mr. Lawrence, from the Judiciary committee, to whom the subject of inquiry whether any legal provision exists, to prevent the sale or gift of spirituous liquors to Indians, made the following report: "The committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred a resolution instructing the committee to inquire, whether any legal provision exists on the subject of the sale or gift. of ardent spirits to the Indian tribes within this Territory, whether, if no such provision exists, it is not expedient to render it the subject of legislative enactment, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report : "That by an act of the Legislative Council, entitled "an act to prevent the selling of spirituous liquors to the Indians," approved, February 4th, 1825, the object of the resolution is fully answered, and the committee recommend the adop tion of the following resolution, "Resolved, That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject." The report was read and laid on the table. Mr. Lawrence from the Judiciary committee, reported A bill for the relief of Clarissa Remington. The bill was read the first time and laid on the table. Mr. M'Donell, from the committee on Territorial Affairs, reported, A bill to amend an act entitled "an act to prescribe the tenure of office of Auctioneers, and to levy a duty upon sales at auction in certain cases." The bill was read the first time and laid on the table. The bill to enable the proprietors of social libraries to manage the same, was read the third time. f Mr. Bartow moved that the bill pass. The question being taken, it was decided that the bill do now pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to establish and regulate Social Libraries." A message was received from the Governor of the Territory on Executive business, by the hands of Mr. Rowland. On motion of Mr. Drake, Resolved, That a select committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law, a free and unrestrained commerce with the Indians, in all articles not prohibited by acts of Congress. And also, the expediency of authorizing the Indians to receive the bounty offered for wolf scalps, (or the killing of wolves) to the same extent, and with the same facilities which the bounty may be obtained by whites. Also, the expediency of directing, by law, the assessors of the several townships in the Peninsular counties, especially, to assess a tax upon all specific Indian reservations, within their respective townships. On motion of Mr. Lawrence, Resolved, That the committee on Territorial Affairs, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the poor laws, so as to require but one or three overseers or inspectors of the poor, in each township, and also to provide a reasonable compensation for such persons as are appointed overseers of the poor. On motion of Mr. Kingsley. Resolved, That the committee on Schools be instructed to inquire, if any further measures are necessary to be taken to secure the school lands in this Territory from trespasses, and to enable those interested in them so dispose of the same, that they may promote the object for which they were appropriated. Mr. Le Roy, in pursuance of the notice given by him yesterday, asked leave to introduce a bill to amend an act entitled "an act to regulate and define the powers of Justices of the Peace and constables in civil cases;" Leave being granted, Messrs. Le Roy, Kingsley, and Durocher were appointed a committee to bring in the bill. Mr. Drake, in pursuance to notice heretofore given, asked leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Delia Alvord; Leave being granted, Messrs. Drake, Bartow, and Durocher, were appointed a committee to bring in the bill. On motion of Mr. M'Donell, the Council went into the consideration of Executive business, and having disposed of the same, Adjourned. THURSDAY, January 27, 1831. The following petitions and papers were presented and severally referred; By Mr. Drake, The petition of Lucy Fish praying a divorce. Referred to the committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Stockton, An account of S. H. Giles, for services as inspector of militia. Referred to the committee on Claims. By Mr. Brown, A remonstrance from certain citizens of Ypsilanti and Panama, against legalizing the proceedings of a meeting on the subject of schools, in the township of Panama. Referred to the committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Lawrence, A petition from sundry inhabitants of Lenawe county, for authority to levy a tax for the erection of a jail. Referred to the committee on Territorial Affairs. By Mr. Kingsley, A remonstrance, from sundry inhabitants of Lenawe county, against granting the prayer of the above petition.Referred to the committee on Territorial Affairs. By Mr. Durocher, An account of John Winder, for services as inspector of militia. Referred to the committe on Claims. Mr. Schoolcraft, from the committee on Expenditures, to whom the subject was heretofore referred, reported, A bill to fix the compensation of the officers of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, and for other purposes. The bill was read the first time and laid on the table. Mr. Fletcher, from the committee on Unfinished business, made the following report: "The committee on Unfinished business beg leave to report the following bills, petitions, and reports, which excepting such matters as have been introduced before the present session, comprise all the unfinished business of the first session of the fourth Legislative Council, to wit: 97. A bill for the relief of John P. Sheldon. |