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The memorials sent from the Council on yesterday, requiring the concurrence of the House, were taken up and severally considered.

Memorial for the improvement of the Des Moines and Rock river rapids in the Mississippi river, was read the first and second time.

Mr. Teas moved to strike out the word "fifty," where it occurs, and insert " one hundred."

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Engle moved to strike out the word "seven," where it occurs, and insert the word "thirty," which was agreed to. The memorial was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Memorial for the construction of a harbour at the mouth of Milwaukee river, was read a first and second time, and

On motion of Mr. Engle, was referred to a select committee consisting of Messrs. Durkee, Childs, M'Williams, Sholes, and Engle.

Memorial for the construction of a road from the mouth of Milwaukee river to Madison, Mineral Point, by way of the town of Mississippi to Dubuque, was then a first and second time read, and

On motion of Mr. Cox, was referred to the following committee, viz: Messrs. Durkee, Childs, M'Williams, Sholes, and Engle.

Mr. Childs, chairman of the committee on finance, instructed by a resolution of Tuesday last, to inquire into the expediency of abolishing imprisonment for debt, respectfully reports, that they do not think the subject properly cognizable by them, and therefore ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

The report was agreed to, and the committee discharged therefrom.

On motion of Mr. Sheldon,

The subject of imprisonment for debt was referred to the committee on the judiciary.

Mr. Quigley, chairman of the committee on schools, made the following report:

The committee on schools, to whom were referred the petition of inhabitants of the counties of Cook and Dubuque, praying for an act to authorize the sale of the sixteenth section in township 79, of range 2 east, report: That your committee know of no law of Congress which authorizes the legislature of this territory to sell or otherwise dispose of the sixteenth section, or any other portion of the public domain west of the Mississippi 、 river.

Your committee ask, therefore, the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on schools be discharged from the further consideration of the said petition:

The said report and resolution were agreed to.

The Governor's message on the subject of the resolves passed by the legislature of the state of Massachusetts, concerning the franking privilege, was taken up, the message and resolves were read, and

On motion of Mr. Sholes, were referred to a select committee of three for the purpose of memorializing Congress on the subject.

Messrs. Sheldon, Sholes, and Engle, were appointed said committee.

On motion of Mr. Engle, the resolution sent from the Council for the concurrence of the House on the subject of the publication of the laws, was then read a second time, and

On motion of Mr. Teas, was laid on the table until to-morrow. Mr. Quigley gave notice that at a future day he should ask leave to introduce a bill concerning constables.

Mr. Teas gave notice that at a future day he should ask leave to introduce a bill to provide for the collection and disbursement of county revenue.

Mr. McGregor gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, by leave, introduce a bill to prevent forcible entry and detainer.

Mr. Childs gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, move to amend the 6th of the joint rules and orders of the two Houses. And then the House adjourned.

Friday, November 17, 1837.

Mr. M.Gregor presented the petition of inhabitants of the county of Dubuque, praying for the location of a state road, to commence at the place on the north-east side of Cedar river, where the boundary line between the land owned by the United States and the Indians crosses the river; thence down Cedar river on the best route to Rochester, at the mouth of Rock Creek; thence the best route to Moscow; and from thence' to Bloomington, on the Mississippi.

Referred to the following select committee, viz: Messrs. M'Gregor, Reynolds, Blair, Box, and Wheeler.

Mr. M'Gregor presented the petition of inhabitants of Dubuque and Louisa counties, praying for the location of a territorial road from Black Hawk to John Gilbert's on the Iowa.

Referred to same select committee.

On motion of Mr. Shanley,

Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to memorialize Congress on the subject of a military road commencing at Prairie du Chien, running on the nearest and best route to Lancaster, the county seat of Grant county, Wisconsin Territory, from thence on the nearest and best route to Paris, on Big Platte river, and from thence on the nearest and best route to Galena.

On motion of Mr. Teas,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to memorialize the Congress of the United States, asking for the establishment of all the mail routes and post offices that are necessary to accommodate the inhabitants on the west of the Mississippi, in said territory.

Messrs. Teas, Cox, and Wheeler, were appointed the committee.

Mr. Parkinson, from the select committee to which was referred the petition of A. W. Floyd, for divorce, by leave, introduced the following bill, [No. 6,] entitled, "A bill to divorce A W. Floyd, from his wife, Eleanor Floyd.

The following message was received from the Council, by the Secretary, and laid on the table.

"Mr. Speaker-I am directed to present a resolution respecting the franking privilege, which has passed the Council, and to request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

"I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Council have appointed Messrs. Dickinson and Sweet the committee on their part, on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses, in relation to the joint rules for the government of the territorial library.

"I am further directed to present, 'A memorial to Congress for an appropriation for the construction of a harbour at the mouth of Root river, on lake Michigan,' which has been adopted by the Council."

And then he withdrew.

Mr. Chance from the committee appointed to draft a memorial for the division of the territory and for the organization of a separate territorial government west of the Mississippi river, submitted the following:

The memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the territory of Wisconsin, respectfully represents-That owing to the great extent of country embraced in the limits of Wisconsin territory, and that vast extent of territory being separated by a natural division, the Mississippi river, rendering the application of the same laws oppressive or unequal to one section or the other. The true policy of the two sections of the territory being as widely different as their location, and the impracticability of the officers of the general government to administer the laws, render it highly important in the opinion of your memorialists that that portion of the territory lying west of the Mississippi river, be formed into a separate territorial government.

The territory of Wisconsin now contains fifty thousand inhabitants, one half of which, at least, reside on the west side of the Mississippi river.

Without any intention of censuring the official conduct of the officers in whose hands the administration of our infant territory has been intrusted, but having the fullest confidence in the patriotism, wisdom, and desire to render that service for which

their talents and experience so eminently qualify them, your memorialists would respectfully represent, that the western portion of Wisconsin, with the population of twenty-five thousand souls, reaps but a small portion of the benefits and advantages of the fostering care and protection of the mother govern

ment.

Your memorialists would further represent, that the population of Wisconsin is increasing with a rapidity unparalleled in the history of the settlement of our country. That by a division of the territory and the formation of a separate territorial government west of the Mississippi river, your honourable body would greatly advance the political and individual interests of her citizens.

Deeply impressed with the correctness of these views, your memorialists would respectfully call your attention to a few facts.

The territory of Indiana was formed into a territory in the year 1800, with a population of only five or six thousand. The territory of Illinois in 1809, with a population of about ten thousand, The territory of Michigan in 1805, with a population of only about two or three thousand. The territory of Arkansas had a population of about fourteen thousand when she was formed into a separate territory. That portion of Wisconsin Territory lying west of the Mississippi, and which your memorialists pray may be formed into a separate territorial government, contains nearly double the population of Arkansas, nearly three times the population of Illinois, five times the population of Indiana, and more than ten times the population of Michigan, when they were formed into separate territorial governments.

Your memorialists repose entire confidence in the wisdom and patriotism of the Congress of the United States. Therefore your memorialists pray your honourable body to organize that portion of Wisconsin, lying west of the Mississippi into a separate Territorial Government.

The said memorial was then read the first, second, and third times, and passed.

Ordered to be sent to the council for concurrence.

Mr. Teas, from the select committee, to which was referred

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