A bill directing the mode of proceedings in Chancery. A bill regulating references, and determining controversies by, arbitration. A bill regulating general proceedings in criminal cases. A bill concerning amendments and jeofails. A bill concerning the Supreme, Circuit, and County Courts of the Territory of Michigan, defining their jurisdiction and powers, and directing the pleadings and practice therein in certain cases. A bill to restrain unincorporated banking associations. A message on Executive business was received by the hands of Mr. Ch. C. Trowbridge. The "bill directing the mode of proceeding in Chancery," was considered in committee of the whole; and was ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Friday next. Mr. Lawrence, from the committee on the Judiciary, to whom the subject had been referred, made the following report: REPORT. The committee to whom was referred the resolution directing them to inquire into the expediency of employing more than three Clerks during the present session of the Legislative Council, have had the subject under consideration, and beg leave to report: That it has been customary to employ but three Clerks in the Council, whose duty it is to keep the daily proceedings of the Council, to transcribe them upon the Journal of the Council, and to engross bills, and enrol such laws as were passed by the Council. Your committee further report, that the writing required by the present Council, is nearly or quite twice as much as has been usual heretofore. It is necessary that the Journal should be copied for the press during the session; and the large number of bills on their passage require, at least, the constant employment of two additional Clerks. Your committee therefore recommend to the Council to adopt the following resolution : Resolved, That the Council authorise the President to retain, in the employment of the Council, Daniel Le Roy and Ch. Noble. Mr. Dole moved that the Council do now accept the report, and adopt the resolution recommended thereby; and the motion was decided in the affirmative. Mr. McDonell called for the ayes and nays, and they were taken as follows: Ayes-Messrs. Burt, Bunce, Dole, Durocher, Edwards, Forsyth, Irwin, Lawrence, Lacroix, Moseley, Stockton-11. Nays-Messrs. Connor, McDonell-2. The bills with the following titles were severally taken up, considered in committee of the whole, and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Friday next, viz: A bill regulating references and determining controversies by arbitration. A bill to restrain unincorporated banking associations. The "bill regulating general proceedings in criminal cases," was taken up and considered in committee of the whole; and, on motion, said bill was laid on the table for further consideration. Mr. Lawrence, from the committee on the Judiciary, to whom had been recommitted " a bill authorising aliens to purchase and hold real estate in this Territory," and an amendment thereto, reported said bill without the amendment. The bill was then laid on the table for further consideration. Mr. McDonell gave notice that he should, on Monday next, ask leave to bring in "a bill concerning habitual drunkards, and to protect their estates." Mr. Lawrence, from the committee on the Judiciary, reported, without amendment, bills with the following titles: A bill to prescribe the tenure of certain offices. A bill for the support and maintenance of illegitimate children. A bill fixing the rate of toll for grinding. A bill concerning Notaries Public. A bill concerning divorces. The "bill concerning seals," was then taken up, and the question "shall the bill pass ?" was put thereon; and was decided in the affirmative. On motion of Mr. Lawrence, the Council then went into the consideration of Executive business; and having disposed thereof, On motion of Mr. Burt, the Council then adjourned. THURSDAY, March 1, 1827. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Coston. Mr. Forsyth presented the claim of John Fay, for fees for arresting and committing to the jail of Oakland county, Sa-ka-se-ka, an Indian, charged with murder. Referred Referred to the committee on claims. Mr. Moseley presented the claim of Orange Risdon, for certain maps of the surveyed parts of the Territory of Michigan. Referred to the committee on claims. Mr. Lawrence, from the committee on the Judiciary, reported, without amendment, bills with the following titles, viz: A bill empowering the Judges of Probate to appoint guardians to minors and others. A bill for the distribution of insolvent estates. The "bill to prescribe the tenure of certain offices," was taken up and considered in committee of the whole. Mr. Irwin moved that the blank in the 4th line of the 1st section, be filled with the word "three," and the motion was agreed to. The bill was then laid on the table. The "bill fixing the rate of toll for grinding," was considered in committee of the whole, and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Saturday next. The "bill concerning Notaries Public," was considered in committee of the whole. Mr. Lawrence moved that said bill be amended by striking out, after the word "that," the whole of the 1st line of the 2d section, and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz: "whenever the office of any Notary Public shall become vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise;" and the motion was agreed to. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Tuesday next. The following entitled bills were taken up and considered in committee of the whole; and, on motion, laid on the table for further consideration, viz: A bill empowering the Judge of Probate to appoint guardians to minors and others. A bill for the distribution of insolvent estates. The "bill authorising aliens to purchase and hold real estate in this Territory," reported yesterday from the committee on the Judiciary, was taken up; and, on motion, the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next. On motion of Mr. Stockton, "a bill concerning the Supreme, Circuit, and County Courts of the Territory of Michigan, defining their jurisdiction and powers, and directing the pleadings and prac tice therein in certain cases," was taken up, and recommitted to the committee on the Judiciary. The "bill concerning apprentices and servants," with the amendments submitted thereto, were taken up. On motion, the bill was amended, by adding the following, heretofore submitted by Mr. McDonell, at the close of the 5th section, viz: "And if the servant or apprentice shall be found to be delinquent, he or she shall be sentenced by the said Court to serve, at its discretion, so much longer time as the Court shall deem proper." Mr. McDonell moved that the amendment, heretofore submitted by him, as the sixth section to the bill, be accepted. The motion was decided in the negative. Mr. Lawrence then moved that the bill be further amended by inserting, in the 13th line of the 3d section, after the words "to be," the words, "prima facia evidence of," and the motion was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Moseley, the bill was further amended by striking out the words, "without any further proof thereof," at the close of the 3d section. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Tuesday next. On motion of Mr. Stockton, the Council proceeded to the consideration of Executive business; after which, On motion of Mr. Burt, the Council adjourned. FRIDAY, March 2, 1827. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Coston. Mr. Irwin presented the petition of James Abbott, P. Lecuyer, and H. S. Cole, as a committee on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, praying that a law may be passed incorporating said Grand Lodge.. Read and referred to a select committee, composed of Messrs. Irwin and Connor. Mr. Burt presented two petitions from sundry inhabitants of the counties of Oakland and Macomb, praying for a system of town government, similar to that of the State of New-York. Mr. Dole also presented a petition from sundry inhabitants of the county of Oakland and Macomb upon the same subject. Said petitions were referred to the committee on Territorial affairs. Mr. Irwin, from the select committee to whom was referred the petition of Nathaniel Champ, made the following report: REPORT. The committee to whom was referred the petition of Nathaniel Champ, praying to be released from a certain tax, have had the subject under consideration, and would beg leave to report as follows: It appears that the said Champ received a small assortment of foreign and domestic goods from Messrs. Parker & Hurd, on commission, on or about the first of December last, and opened a store in the city of Detroit; that about the first of January following, he signified to said Parker & Hurd his desire to surrender said goods, and discontinue business, mainly from the circumstance that he could not profitably continue the same, and pay the taxes he would be subject to in the prosecution thereof-but that it was not convenient for said Parker & Hurd to receive the goods until the latter part of January. In the mean time, he was assessed by the Sheriff of the county of Wayne twelve dollars, in pursuance of the act entitled an act to regulate the assessment and collection of Territorial taxes," and has paid the same, and now holds the Sheriff's receipt therefor. From an attentive consideration of the premises, your committee are satisfied that the petitioner did not surrender the goods with a view of evading the payment of said tax, or unjustly to withhold any portion of the public revenue, and are of opinion that the said tax ought to be remitted to him; but inasmuch as your committee were not authorised to report by bill, they are unable to propose the proper remedy. The report having been read, Mr. Moseley moved that the Council accept the same, and that the select committee to whom the subject was referred, be instructed to bring in a bill for the relief of Nathaniel Champ; and the motion was agreed to. Mr. McDonell, from the committee to whom was recommitted 2: a bill securing to mechanics and others, payment for their labor and materials in erecting any house or other building, within the county of Wayne," reported the same without amendment; and said bill was laid on the table. Mr. Forsyth presented the account of Peter Desnoyers, for map cases. Referred to the committee on claims. The petition from sundry inhabitants of the county of Oakland, relative to "an act to authorise the County Commissioners of the county of Oakland to levy a tax of one per centum within the said county," was taken up, and referred to the committee on Territo rial affairs. The bills with the following titles were taken up, and severally read the third time, and passed, viz: A bill to restrain unincorporated banking associations. A bill regulating references, and determining controversies by arbitration. A bill concerning amendments and jeofails. The "bill to prevent gaming," was taken up, and again laid on the table for further consideration. Mr. Irwin gave notice that he should, to-morrow, ask leave to bring in "a bill to protect Missionary Establishments in the Territory of Michigan, and for other purposes.' The bill relative to Medical Societies, and the bill for the incorporation of the Stockholders of the Bank of Monroe, was taken up, and ordered to be printed. The resolution relative to holding two sessions daily by the Council was taken up, and, on motion, was again laid on the table for further consideration. Mr. Moseley, from the committee on the Judiciary, reported without amendment, "A bill for the support and maintenance of illegitimate children," which was considered in committee of the whole, and was ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Friday next. Mr. Moseley moved, that the Council do now on Monday next, at two o'clock in the afternoon. quired that the ayes and nays be taken on the were as follows: adjourn, to meet Mr. Forsyth remotion, and they Ayes-Messrs. Burt, Bunce, Durocher, Dole, Moseley, McDo nell-6. Nays-Messrs. Connor, Edwards, Forsyth, Irwin-4. The Council then adjourned. MONDAY, March 5, 1827. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Richard. The President presented a statement of the concerns of the University of Michigan, made by the Secretary to the Board of Trus E 1 |