On motion, ordered that the petition be referred to a select committee.

Messrs. Fletcher, Drake, and Schoolcraft, were appointed that committee.

Mr. Drake, from the committee on schools reported

A bill to establish an academy in the county of Oakland. The bill was read the first time and laid on the table. The General Message, received this day from the Governor was read, and is as follows:

To the Legislative Council.

I have received applications from the county of Crawford, requesting that I would submit to the Legislative Council, the views of the citizens of that county, concerning the sale of ardent spirits to the soldiers.

The practice is said to prevail to a considerable extent, and to be very injurious to the peace and good order of the community. That it is detrimental to the public interest, and ruinous to the health and morals of the soldiers, there can be no doubt.

It is the wish of the inhabitants there, that the law formerly in force, prohibiting this trafic, should be revived.They state that a similar law exists in Missouri and Louisiana. And I am satisfied that beneficial results would follow from its re-enactment in this Territory. The discipline of the army is materially affected in the vicinity of many of our military posts, and scenes of profligacy exhibited, not less offensive to morals and religion than incompatible with the peace of society.

I recommend the subject to your consideration.
LEW. CASS.

February 9, 1831.

On motion ordered, that the message be referred to the Judiciary committee.

Mr. Drake in pursuance of leave heretofore granted, reported, from the committee appointed for that purpose,

A bill to lay out and establish a Territorial Road.

The bill was read the first time and laid on the table. The bill to authorise the board of Supervisors of Lenawe county to raise a sum of money to build a jail was taken up, and

On motion of Mr. M'Donell, recommitted to the committee on Territorial Affairs.

On motion of Mr. Drake,

The Council went into the consideration of Executive business, and having disposed of the same,

Adjourned.

THURSDAY, February 10, 1831.

Mr. Durocher presented a petition from sundry inhabitants of Port Lawrence, praying an alteration of so much of the Territorial Road as leads from Port Lawrence to the Chicago Road.

Ordered. That the petition lie on the table.

Mr. Le Roy presented a copy of certain resolutions adopted at a meeting of the citizens of Rochester, upon the subject of the existing poor laws.

Mr. Le Roy moved to refer the resolutions to the committee on Territorial Affairs.

Mr. Drake moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The motion was lost.

The question recurring on the motion for reference, was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Stockton from the select committee appointed for that purpose, reported

A bill to provide for laying out certain Territorial Roads.
The bill was read the first time and laid on the table.

Mr. Schoolcraft, from the committee on Internal Improvement, reported a memorial to Congress and resolutions relative to a canal to connect Lakes Huron and Michigan.

The memorial being read,

On motion of Mr. Kingsley, it was adopted, which memorial and resolutions are as follows:

To the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States, in Congress assembled. The memorial of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, respectfully solicits, that you will cause a topographical survey to be made of the country lying between the waters of Sagana and Grand rivers of the peninsula of Michigan, to determine the practicability and expediency of connecting lakes Huron and Michigan, through these streams, by means of a canal.

Nature appears to have pointed out this connexion by the deep indentation of Sagana bay, and its recipient, Sagana river; and by the copious waters of Grand river, which take their rise in the secondary table lands in that vicinity, and running west, discharge themselves into lake Michigan.In speaking of the natural facilities presented for the execution of this work, no scientific accuracy of observation can be referred to. But from the reports of Land Surveyors, and from all that is known in relation to the subject. very

favorable conclusions have been drawn. The number of cubic feet of water discharged by the Sagana river, is probably greater, in a decided ratio, than that of any of the rivers of Michigan, and vessels may enter it and find a harbor within its waters, at all seasons when the lakes themselves are navigated, and during the prevalence of the most dangerous north-western storms.

Grand river of lake Michigan is thought to discharge a greater volume of water, than is collected in any single stream on the western side of the peninsula, although the mouth is encumbered with drifts of sand, and requires some artificial structures to render it accessible at all times to vessels. The district of country between these two streams, is a fertile agricultural district, containing, it is represented, more than the average supply of water, and being interspersed with numerous small lakes, having their outlets, either into the Sagana or Grand river. The altitude of the summit level is not known, but it is ascertained that there are no formidable obstacles to be overcome, and it is believed the supply of water, will be found adequate. But nine townships of land intervene between the principal forks of the Sagana, and the upper forks of Grand river, and it is believed that the excavations will be, essentially, through strata of an unconsolidated character. The rock, which may be struck on this part of the route, may be anticipated to consist of flat series of limestones and sandstones, easily excavated. And it is to this portion of the country that we look for the occurrence of beds of mineral coal and gypsum, and of valuable springs of saline waters. These facts may be geologically inferred. They are sanctioned so far as discovery has proceeded. And they add to other reasons, for laying open that section of the peninsula, to canal navigation.

Whoever examines the peninsula, as laid down upon the maps, with lake Michigan upon its west, and the arable farming and mining country, extending from Green Bay to the Mississippi, must be led to perceive, that whenever that area of country settles, and is filled up, as it is now in the process of doing, its products must seek a market, through the lakes. And the question how this market can be attained without passing through the straits of Michilimackinac, closed with ice six months in the year, will assume a character of deeper interest. Already this interruption to the navigation is severely felt, and it is an object of enlightened forecast to provide for obviating it, at the earliest practicable period. The route pointed out in this memorial, appears

to unite many advantages, and your memorialists therefore beg leave to present it for your consideration. Legislative Council Chamber,

Detroit, February 10, 1831.

Resolved, That the Governor of the Territory be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing memorial to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Delegate in Congress from Michigan.

A. EDWARDS, President of the Legislative Council. Mr. Drake from the select committee appointed for that purpose, reported

A bill for the relief of Barnabas Campau.

The bill was read the first time.

On motion of Mr. Drake, the 19th rule was suspended and the bill was read a second time, considered as in committee of the whole, and reported without amendment.

On motion, ordered that the bill lie on the table.

Mr. Schoolcraft from the committee on Enrolment, reported as correctly enrolled,

A bill for the relief of David Ward.

The bill to authorise the Supervisors of St. Clair county, to erect certain bridges and for other purposes, was read the second time, considered as in committee of the whole, and reported without amendment.

On motion of Mr. Stockton,

Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

The bill to establish the Penitentiary of Michigan, was taken up and read a second time by its title.

On motion of Mr. M'Donell,

Ordered, That the bill be recommitted to the committee on Territorial Affairs.

The bill to repeal the act therein named and for other purposes, was read a third time.

Mr. Schoolcraft 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 repeal the act therein named, and for other

Messrs. Durocher, Kingsley, Lawrence, Le Roy, Schoolcraft, Edwards,—6.

Those in the negative, are

Messrs. Bartow, Drake, M'Donell, Stockton,--4.

On motion of Mr. M'Donell, the account of the Auditor of the Territory, presented with his report and referred to the committee on Territorial Affairs, was referred to the committee on Claims.

The bill to open and extend Jefferson Avenue, from the city of Detroit to the old French Church, or Church Farm, in the township of Hamtramck, and for other purposes, was taken up.

Mr. Stockton moved to amend the bill by striking out after the enacting clause, the first section thereof, and substituting the following:

That the commissioners of Highways in the township of Hamtramck, be, and they are hereby required to proceed forthwith to open the Territorial road from the city of Detroit to the Clinton river, so far as the old French Church, or Church Farm (so called) in said township.

The question being divided, and first put on striking out, was decided in the affirmative.

The question being taken on receiving the amendment, it was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Stockton 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 open in part the Territorial Road from the City of Detroit to the Clinton River.

Ayes-S.
Nays-3.

Mr. Kingsley requiring the ayes and nays,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are

Messrs. Bartow, Durocher, Fletcher, Lawrence, M'Donell, Schoolcraft, Stockton, Edwards-8.

Those in the negative, are,

Messrs. Drake, Kingsley, Le Roy-3.
The Council adjourned.

FRIDAY, February 11, 1831.

The President presented a petition from inhabitants of the counties of Cass and Berrien, praying measures to be taken to effect sales of school land. Referred to the committee to whom the resolution of the 25th ult. relating to this subject was referred.