to amend an act, entitled 'An act to establish the boundaries of the counties herein named,' and for other purposes."

The bill was read the first time, and objection being made, the question was taken: "Shall the bill be rejected?" and the yeas and nays being called for, were as follow:

Yeas:-Messrs. Blair, Cornwall, Chance, Engle, M‘Gregor, M'Williams, Quigley, Sheldon, Smith, Sholes, and Wheeler-11. Nays:-Messrs. Box, Boyls, Brunson, Cox, Jenkins, M'Knight, Nowlin, Parkinson, Reynolds, Shanley, Teas, and Leffler, speaker-12.

So the question was decided in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Quigley, the bill was referred to a select committee, consisting of the Dubuque delegation.

On motion of Mr. Quigley,

Ordered, that the sergeant-at-arms do arrest Mr. Clarke, now present in the lobby, and bring him forthwith to the bar of the house, to answer for a contempt.

Mr. Clarke was brought to the bar in custody of the sergeant

at-arms.

On motion of Mr. Childs,

Ordered, that the prisoner at the bar be permitted to make his defence either by counsel or otherwise.

Thereupon Mr. Clarke was heard in his defence, and it appearing that no contempt was intended,

On motion of Mr. Quigley,

Ordered, that Mr. Clarke be discharged.

The secretary of the Council was introduced, and delivered the following message:

"Mr. Speaker, The Governor notified the Council yesterday that he had approved the several acts and a resolution, entitled as follow:

"An act to incorporate the Milwaukee and Racine Mutual Fire Insurance Companies.'

"An act to incorporate the Beloit Seminary, in Rock county.' "A resolution rescinding part of a joint resolution, in relation to the publication of the laws in the several papers of this territory, and extending the authority to publish in other papers therein mentioned.'

"An act to locate the seat of justice of Rock county, in this territory.'

"The Council have passed bill No. 18, entitled 'A bill for opening and repairing, or vacating public roads and highways;' "In which bill I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house.

"The Council have concurred in a bill from this house, No. 60, entitled 'A bill to provide for laying out and opening territorial roads,' with an amendment.

"The Council have likewise concurred in the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing vote of the two houses, in relation to the amendments made by this house to bill No 31, Council file, entitled 'A bill to establish the several towns in the counties of Milwaukee, Brown, and Racine, and the counties attached for judicial purposes;'

And then he withdrew.

On motion of Mr. Parkinson,

The house went into a committee of the whole on bill No. 87, entitled" A bill to locate the seat of justice of the county of Green, and for other purposes;" Mr. Quigley in the chair.

After some time the committee rose, and, by their chairman, reported the progress made therein, and asked leave to sit again.

Leave was granted.

On motion of Mr. Childs,

The house adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.

3 O'CLOCK, P. M.

Mr. Brunson asked leave of absence for Mr. Brunet until Monday next.

Leave was granted.

On motion of Mr. Parkinson,

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on

bill No. 87; Mr. Chance in the chair.

After some time the committee rose, and, by their chairman, reported said bill with amendments.

The amendments were agreed to by the house.

On the question to engross the bill for a third reading, the yeas and nays being called for, were as follow:

Yeas:-Messrs. Blair, Box, Boyls, Cornwall, Chance, Cox, Jenkins, M'Gregor, M'Knight; M'Williams, Parkinson, Reynolds, Shanley, Sholes, Teas, Wheeler, and Leffler, speaker -17.

Nays:-Messrs. Childs, Quigley, Sheldon, and Smith-4. So the bill was ordered to be engrossed for the third reading.

The following communication was received from the Council by their secretary:

"Mr. Speaker,-The Council have concurred in the amendment made by the House of Representatives to the amendment of Council to bill No. 16, entitled 'A bill providing for the taking the second census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the territory of Wisconsin.'

"I have been directed to return the substitutes of this house to bills

"Nos. 30, entitled A bill to divorce Abraham Jones and Lucinda Jones from the bonds of matrimony, and for other purposes,' and

"No. 32, entitled

A bill to divorce Martha Newton from

her husband, John C, Newton,'

"And to request the action of this house on the original bills herewith sent;"

And then he withdrew.

On motion of Mr. Teas,

The house went into a committee of the whole on bill No. 78, entitled "A bill concerning costs and fees;" Mr. Sholes in the chair.

After some time the committee rose, and, by their chairman, reported said bill with amendments.

The bill was then laid on the table.

Mr. Cox gave notice that he would, at some future day, bring in a bill to regulate the publication and distribution of the laws, and for other purposes.

Mr. Jenkins gave notice that he would, at some future day, introduce a bill for an act prescribing certain duties of the county commissioners of Henry county, in reference to the quarter section of land upon which Mount Pleasant, in said

county, is located under the provisions of an act of Congress, May 26, 1824.

Mr. Box gave notice that he would, at some future day, bring in a bill to incorporate the town of Fort Madison, in Lee county.

The house adjourned.

Friday, December 29, 1837.

Mr. Chance moved that so much of the proceedings of yes terday, as relates to Mr. Clarke, be expunged from the Journal; Which motion was disagreed to.

On motion of Mr. Jenkins,

The following preamble and resolution were adopted:

Whereas there is much dissatisfaction with the people of this territory in relation to that part of the organic law, which prescribes and makes the term of service of members of the Council to be four years, and that of the House of Representatives two years; and whereas it is vitally important that the power vested in them of selecting their own representation should revert again to them, with the privilege of changing, if need be, their representation in the House every year, and in the Council every two years; therefore,

Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be required to memorialize Congress upon the expediency and necessity of so altering the said act as to reduce the term of service for each branch of the legislative assembly one half.

Mr. Teas offered the following resolution:

Resolved, by the Council and House of Representatives of the territory of Wisconsin, that our delegate in Congress, the Hon. G. W. Jones, is hereby requested to ask for an appropri

ation of Congress to construct a bridge across Skunk river, at the town of Augusta.

On motion of Mr. Jenkins,

The said resolution was laid on the table,

On motion of Mr. Parkinson, the following preamble and resolution were adopted:

Whereas a resolution was passed by this house, requiring the sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, assistant doorkeeeper, the messenger, and assistant messenger, to remain in this house till 9 o'clock, P. M., each and every day; and whereas, by the rules of the house, the officers are under the direction of the speaker; therefore,

Resolved, that the said resolution be, and hereby is, rescinded. Mr. Brunson, from the committee on engrossments, reported bill No. 12, entitled, "A bill for the partition of the half breed lands, and for other purposes," to be correctly engrossed.

Mr. M'Williams, from the committee on enrolments, reported the following acts to be correctly enrolled, viz:

"An act providing for the taking the second census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the territory of Wisconsin."

"An act- to lay out a territorial road from the White Oak Springs, and for other purposes."

"An act to lay out a territorial road, east of the Mississippi, and for other purposes."

They were then presented to, signed by the speaker, and ordered to be sent to the President of the Council for his signature.

Mr. Box, from the committee of the entire delegation of Des Moines to which was referred the bill "establishing the boundaries of the counties of Lee, Van Buren, Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Wayne, and Slaughter, to locate the seats of justice of said counties, and for other purposes," together with the message of the executive in relation thereto, made the following report:

"Your committee are of opinion that, taking every thing into consideration, nothing better can be done, under existing circumstances, than to concede to, and make such amendments to said bill as suggested by the executive, and also add one half of the northern tier of townships now belonging to Des Moines