The "Bill relative to oaths and affidavits" was read the second time and considered as in committee of the whole. The Bill being reported without amendment,

On motion of Mr. Drake,

Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time on Tuesday next.

On motion of Mr. Drake,

Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed, and instructed to inquire into the expediency of declaring, by law, what officers appointed by the Governor and Council, have successors in office, and what amendments should be made in the act prescribing the tenure of office. On motion of Mr. Drake,

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

Messrs. Drake, Stockton, and Brown, were appointed the committee contemplated by the foregoing resolution of Mr. Drake.

On motion of Mr. Kingsley,

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act entitled "An Act concerning bail."

On motion of Mr. Kingsley,

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act entitled "An Act to provide for and regulate common schools," so as to require collectors in school districts, to give a bond for the faithful discharge of their duties.

On motion of Mr. Stockton,

The Council adjourned to Monday next.

MONDAY, January 24, 1831.

At eleven o'clock this day, the hour to which the Council stood adjourned, having arrived and a quorum not appearing, a call of the Council was directed, whereupon the following members appeared and answered to their names.

Messrs. Brown, Drake, Fletcher, Kingsley, Le Roy, M'Donell, Schoolcraft, Edwards,-8.

And a quorum not appearing, the President adjourned the Council until to-morrow, at eleven o'clock A. M.

TUESDAY, January 25, 1831.

The President presented an account of Messrs. Carvill, for periodicals. Referred to the committee on Expendi

tures.

Mr. Brown presented a communication from the Auditor of the Territory, praying an increase of compensation. Referred to the committee on Territorial Affairs.

Mr. Stockton presented petitions from sundry inhabitants of the county of St. Clair, praying authority to erect, and aid to effect that object, bridges across Pine and Bell rivers in said county. Referred to the committee on Territorial Affairs.

A message was received from the Governor of the Territory on Executive business, by Mr. Rowland.

Mr. M'Donell presented a petition from sundry citizens of Detroit, praying to have Griswold street enlarged, and aid from the Territorial Treasury to pay such damages as should be assessed. Referred to a select committee.

Messrs. M'Donell, Schoolcraft, and Le Roy, were appointed that committee.

Mr. M'Donell presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the township of Pekin, praying a division of the township, and organisation of a township to be called Carmathen. Ordered, That the petition lie on the table.

Mr. M'Donell presented the accounts of L. Lattimer and H. Hudson, for attendance as witnesses, in the case of the United States, vs. Levi Willard, at the June term of the Circuit Court, 1828. Referred to the committee on Claims.

Mr. Schoolcraft presented a communication from the Auditor of the Territory, praying authority to loan from the Treasury, one hundred dollars, to defray the expenses incurred in repairs on the cupola of the Capitol. Referred to the committee on Expenditures.

Mr. Schoolcraft, from the select committee to whom the subject was referred, made the following report :

The select committee appointed to inquire whether the laws passed at the last session of the Council, have been published in full, have made the necessary inquiry, and beg leave to submit the following letter, as embracing the causes of the act therein referred to, being withheld from publication.

SIR

Secretary's Office, January 19, 1831.

Your note of yesterday, directed to the Secretary of the Territory, was duly received at this office. As the matter which is the subject of that note, occurred during the absence of Mr. Mason, and while I was acting as a clerk in this office, I deem it proper to give you the required information, so far as is in my power.

8

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[JAN. 25. Very soon after the end of the last session of the Legislative Council, Mr. Ward requested and obtained permission from Gov. Cass, to take copies of the acts of the last session, of a public nature, relating to the upper counties, for the purpose of publishing them and sending them up the Lakes, before the close of navigation. Mr. Ward assisted me in preparing and comparing the copies of those acts. Among other acts affecting the upper counties, there was one of a private nature entitled " An Act to authorise the Sheriff of Chippewa county to perform certain duties therein mentioned." Of this Mr. Ward did not take a copy, knowing it to be of a private character. After we had finished the copies, I placed those acts, of which copies had been taken, apart; and supposing from the title of the private act above mentioned, that it was of a public nature, it was placed with those of which copies had been taken. When I afterwards furnished copies to Mr. Simpson, I sent him without comparing, as I admit I should have done, the North-Western Journal, as containing all acts of a public nature, relating to the upper counties; and still laboring under the erroneous impression that the act entitled "An Act to authorise the Sheriff of Chippewa county &c. was of a public nature, and contained in the Journal, I furnished him with no separate copy.

I feel it my duty to add, that no censure can justly attach itself to Mr. Simpson. He made several applications for an act which he stated was missing, terming it an act for the relief of a female, upon which I examined all acts apparently of that character, and not finding the one called for, I informed him that no such act had ever been deposited in the office.

I hope Sir, that it will be apparent from this brief statement of the case, that the omission was purely accidental, and without any intention to suppress the acts of the Legislative Council.

HON. HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT,

In behalf of a committee of the

Legislative Council.

The committee do not deem it necessary to offer any opinions, or to fix any censure. They have been actuated by a single desire to elicit the truth, on a point interesting

not only to the Council, in their Legislative capacity, but, as involving an important principle, to the whole community. They recommend, therefore, the adoption of the following resolutions.

Resolved, That any act, or acts passed at the last session of the Council, and omitted to be published, be forthwith published in the several newspapers of the Territory, and appended to the published acts of the present session of the Legislative Council.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Council, be directed to inform the Secretary of the Territory of the adoption of the foregoing resolution.

The report being read, on motion of Mr. Schoolcraft, it was with the accompanying resolutions, adopted.

The "Bill relative to oaths and affidavits," was read a third time.

Mr. Drake 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 relative to oaths and affidavits."

On motion of Mr. Kingsley,

Resolved, That the committee on Territorial Affairs be instructed to inquire whether any vacancies have occurred in the board of Trustees of the University of Michigan, and report to the Council.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire whether any measures are necessary to be taken, to prevent wastes, on the lands belonging to the University, and also, whether it be expedient to take any measures with regard to said lands, so that some profit may be realized from them.

Messrs. Kingsley, Durocher and Brown, were appointed to the committee contemplated in the last resolution. On motion of Mr. Kingsley,

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Trustees of the University of Michigan, be requested to exhibit to the Legislative Council, a statement of the condition of the funds of said University, and of the amount of lands located by the Trustees of the University, for the use of the same, and the place where such land is located.

On motion of Mr. Schoolcraft,

Resolved, That the committee on Internal Improvements be instructed to inquire into the expediency of petitioning Congress for an appropriation to authorise a survey of the

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[JAN. 26.

country between Saginaw Bay and Grand River, with a view of determining the practicability of connecting their waters by a canal.

On motion of Mr. Drake,

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

Mr. Le Roy gave notice that he should to-morrow ask 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."

The Council adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, January 26, 1831. Mr. Stockton presented a petition of David Ward, praying a divorce.

On motion of Mr. Stockton,

Ordered, That the petition be referred to a select committee of three members.

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

Mr. M'Donell, presented a remonstrance from sundry citizens of Detroit, against uniting the offices of city and county Register.

On motion of Mr. M'Donell,

Ordered, That the remonstrance be referred to the select committee to whom was referred the petition heretofore presented, for an union of the those offices.

Mr. Kingsley presented a petition from officers and privates of the Militia of Michigan, praying certain alterations in the law organizing the Militia. Referred to the committee on the Militia.

Mr. Kingsley, from the select committee to whom the subject was referred, reported the following memorial to Congress, praying an appropriation of Land, in aid of the cultivation of silk, in this Territory.

"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 represents, that your memorialists regard the more general cultivation of silk, in the United States, as an object of great importance, and deserving the encouragement of the national government. Whether the object be regarded as opening a fair prospect for the