denial of justice. During six months of the year, the lakes are frozen. There is no post route in the district. All communication with the western portion of the present circuit, where the judge resides, is broken off. With Detroit, it is kept up, in an irregular and precarious manner, by winter expresses. But the jurisdiction of the Green Bay Circuit, being, in part, exclusive, and the interruption to the intercourse continuing one half of the year, appeals in both civil and criminal cases, cannot be had during that interval. The distance from Detroit to Michilimackinac, by water, is estimated to be 300 miles; and to the Sault Ste Marie, the seat of Justice of Chippewa county 390 to 400 miles.-From the latter place to Green Bay is 270 miles; from the former place 180 miles. These are the nearest points of approach. The most remote points are at distances which may, from the best information, be stated respectively at 610, 890, and 1290. The organization of the district court called for, would embrace within the scope of its operation, all that portion of Michigan, exclusive of the Peninsula, which would justly fall to Michigan, on its admission as a state government.— And as the reasons which have been urged for making it a separate judicial district, will remain in as much force at that period, as they now are, the district itself, will remain a permanent one. A reference to the map is appealed to, to sustain the positions, which have been brought forward. These are the prominent reasons urged by the inhabitants of the counties of Michilimackinac and Chippewa, for the benefits of a separate court. The Legislative Council accede to justness and propriety of the statements, and admit the claims of that portion of the Territory to a separate district court. But the provisions for such a court, are altogether beyond any means, at the disposition of the legislative authority: And the Council are therefore induced to present the subject to your consideration; and to ask, that a court may be established in that district to be called the North-Western Circuit Court of the Territory of Michigan, with exclusive jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, and the right of appeal to the Supreme Court of the Territory, at Detroit. That the judge to be appointed for said court, shall reside within the district after the date of his appointment, and shall receive the same salary as is provided for. the Judges of the Supreme court, and be subject to the performance of like duties. Resolved, That the Governor of the Territory be request ed to transmit copies of the foregoing memorial to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Delegate in Congress from Michigan. Mr. Kingsley from the committee on Territorial Affairs, reported A bill in addition to the several acts concerning the publication of the laws. The bill was read the first time. On motion the bill was read a second time and considered as in committee of the whole. Mr. Stockton moved to amend, by adding a section to stand as section 2. On motion of Mr. Stockton, the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Le Roy, from the Judiciary committee to whom was recommitted the bill establishing courts of Common Pleas in certain counties, and defining their powers and duties, reported the same with amendments. On motion of Mr. Lawrence, the further consideration of the bill was postponed to the next session of the Council. Mr. M'Donell from the committee on Territorial Affairs, reported A bill for the relief of Benjamin Woodworth and for other purposes. The bill was read the first time. On motion the bill was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. Mr. Fletcher from the committee on the Judiciary reported A bill to authorise the election of certain officers in the city of Detroit. The bill was read the first time. On motion the bill was read the second time, and order-` ed to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. Mr. M'Donell from the committee on Territorial Affairs to whom was recommitted the bill to amend an act entitled an act amendatory to the several acts now in force relative to costs and fees, approved November, 1829, reported the same with amendments. The amendments being concurred in, on motion the bill was read a second time considered as in committee of the whole, and reported. Mr. M'Donell moved, that the bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. On motion of Mr. Lawrence, the further consideration of the bill was postponed to the next session of the Council. On motion of Mr. Schoolcraft, Ordered, That the bill to provide for the payment of the contingent expenses of the Legislative Council, be recommitted. Mr. Lawrence from the Judiciary Committee, reported A bill to amend an act for establishing Courts of Probate. The bill was read the first time, on motion, the bill was read a second time. Ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. The bill to amend an act entitled, an act for defraying the public and necessary charges in the respective counties of this Territory, and for other purposes, was taken up. On motion of Mr. Stockton, the bill was amended by inserting a section to stand as section 4. Mr. Stockton moved that the bill pass. The question being taken, it was decided that the bill pass, and that the title thereof, be An act to amend an act entitled an act for defraying the public and necessary charges in the respective counties of this Territory, and for other purposes. The bill to provide for laying out and establishing certain roads, was read the third time. On motion of Mr. Drake, The blank in the 8th section was filled with the names of "John Williams, Cornelius Osterhout, Elkanah Pratt." On motion of Mr. Stockton, The blanks in the 4th and 6th sections were respectively filled with the names of Daniel Le Roy, Horace H. Cady, Nathaniel Squires; and of Roswell R. Green, Horace Foot, Thomas Palmer. Mr. Lawrence moved to strike out the first and second sections of the bill. The motion was negatived. Mr. Stockton moved that the bill pass. Mr. Lawrence moved to strike out the seventh section of the bill. Mr. Stockton demanded the previous question. The question, shall the main question be now put,' being taken, was decided in the affirmative. 6 The question, shall the bill pass,' being taken it was decided that the bill pass, and that the title thereof, be An act to provide for laying out and establishing certain roads. Mr. Fletcher, from the select committee, to whom the subject was referred, reported A bill relative to the township line, between the townships of Hamtramck and Springwells. The bill was read the first time. On motion the bill was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. The Council took a recess until 3 o'clock P. M. 3 o'clock P. M. Mr. Fletcher from the Judiciary committee reported A bill relative to the county courts of the counties of Cass, St. Joseph, Berrien and Kalamazoo. The bill was read the first time. On motion the bill was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. The bill in addition to the several acts concerning the publication of the laws, was taken up and considered as in committee of the whole. On motion of Mr. Kingsley, all after the enacting clause was stricken out and three sections inserted, to stand as section one, two, and three. The bill being reported as amended, the amendments concurred in Mr. Drake moved to strike out the third section of the bill. The motion was negatived. On motion of Mr. Schoolcraft, The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. Mr. Fletcher from the committee on Enrolment, reported as correctly enrolled, bills with the following titles. An act to attach a part of Cass county to the county of St. Joseph for judicial purposes. An act for the relief of Lucy Fish. An act for the relief of Louis Saleron. An act to authorise the sale of the estate of Elish W. Rumsey, deceased. An act to preserve the decisions of certain courts therein named. An act to provide for the recording of the Plat of the town of Pontiac. An act to amend the acts regulating and defining the powers and duties of Justices of the Peace in civil cases, and other purposes. An act relative to proceedings in criminal cases. An act to provide for the improvement of certain roads. Mr. Schoolcraft from the committee on Expenditures, to whom was recommitted the bill to provide for the payment of the contingent expenses of the Legislative Council, reported the same with amendments. The amendments being concurred in, On motion, the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. The bill in addition to, and amendment of the act concerning judgments and executions, was taken up. Mr. M'Donell moved to postpone the further consideration thereof until the next session of the Council. Mr. Le Roy, moved that the bill be read a second time. The motion was negatived. Ordered, That the bill lie on the table. The bill to authorise the Auditor of the Territory to ef fect an insurance on the public building called the Capitol' against fire, was read a third time. Mr. Drake moved, that the further consideration of the bill be postponed, to the next session of the Council. The motion was negatived. Mr. Lawrence moved that the bill pass. Mr. Stockton moved to strike out the first and second sections of the bill excepting the enacting clause. The motion was negatived. Mr. Schoolcraft moved to strike out the second section. The motion was negatived. The question on the motion to pass the bill being taken, it was determined in the negative. So the bill was rejec ted. The following message returning without his signature, the bill relative to proceedings in criminal cases, was received from the Governor. To the Legislative Council. I return without my signature, the bill relative to proceedings in criminal cases. My objection is to the third section. It provides, that "all fines imposed on a person or persons, by Justices of the Peace, may be discharged by the offender, in working the same out, on the highway, under the direction of the overseers of the highway of the district where the trial shall be had, at the rate of seventy-five cents a day." The object intended to be attained, appears to me to be salutary. Until a penitentiary can be erected, |