might be easily secured, were they permitted to emigrate to a country of a more northern latitude than the one heretofore designated by the government as their future abode. With the object of their emigration in view, the district of country north of the Falls of St. Anthony has attracted the attention of the Indians, and it is believed that if the United States would permit this change in their destination, no obstacle would remain to ob. taining their speedy removal. That northern region possesses many recommendations over the south, to the Indian of our latitude. The climate is more congenial to his habits and approaches in character more nearly to that which he is compelled to abandon. It is likewise no small consideration with him, that he will be placed as it were in the midst of kindred tribes, when compared with those who occupy the southern country. With the federal government itself, there are also considerations connected with this subject which should not be overlooked. The concentration at one point of the numerous Indian tribes that will undoubtedly be sooner or later removed from their present locations, is placing the frontiers of Arkansas and Missouri within the very grasp of a power where hostility to the whites must be constantly breaking forth. Their contiguity to each other, will enable them at any time and with a short notice to strike a fatal blow at the southwest, before the federal government can be prepared to resist it. With these views of the subject, I cannot hesitate to recommend that you memorialize the Congress of the United States at their present session, placing before them all the considerations which should induce an acquiescence in the prejudices and feelings of the northwestern Indians, by setting apart a district of country north of the Falls of St. Anthony, to which they may be readily removed. I deem it my duty to call your attention to the necessity of a more efficient organization of the militia of the state. Our militia system, as it is now permitted to remain, is worse than valueless, and indeed is but a mockery upon the design of the framers of the law. Too little importance is generally attached to this branch of our state polity. The genius of our institutions will not permit a reliance upon the permanent existence of a large standing army. In the event of war, our government must look for the armor of her defence in the ready action of a brave and disciplined militia. We cannot expect to be forever exempt from the perils and calamities of war. Our country has met them heretofore, and may experience them again, and the lessons of the early campaigns of our last struggle with Great Britain, teach us what sacrifices of blood and treasure the want of discipline in an army must cost us when brought into the active field. The first essential feature in the improvement of your system must be to secure perfect discipline, and complete drills amongst officers. If your officers understand their duties, they can soon exert a favorable influence over their men. You must then' by law require your commissioned and non-commissioned company officers to be frequently and thoroughly drilled; and for the purpose of securing their attention to this duty, pay them a fair compensation for the time thus withdrawn from their private pursuits. With this attention to the character and qualifications of the officers, you cannot fail soon to possess a well disciplined militia; without it, the attempt to an organization might as well be abandoned. In conclusion, fellow citizens, permit me to invoke union and harmony in your councils. Let me entreat you to banish from your deliberations all party spirit and sectional feelings; and to exert your whole efforts for the honor and welfare of your constituents. Sensible as I am of the importance of despatch in the discharge of the multifarious duties committed to your charge, and satisfied of the inconveniences resulting from a prolonged session of the legislature, it only remains for me to assure you of the fidelity and alacrity with which I shall co-operate with you. in the accomplishment of every measure conducive to the happiness and prosperity of the people of Michigan. Detroit, January 2, 1837. On motion of Mr Hough, STEVENS T. MASON. Ordered, That the message of the Governor just received, be committed to a committee of the whole, and that one thousand copies thereof be printed for the use of the Senate. And the Senate, on motion of Mr. McDonell, then adjourned to 11 o'clock, A. M., to-morrow. Tuesday, January 3, 1837. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. On motion of Mr. McDonell, Resolved, That the rules and orders of the Senate of last year, be continued as the rules and orders of the present Senate, until otherwise directed. On motion of Mr. Hough, Resolved, (if the House of Representatives concur herein,) That the joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives for the year 1836, be adopted as the joint rules of both houses for 1837. The general orders of the day being in order, the committee of the whole, on motion of Mr. McDonell, was discharged from the further consideration of the Governor's message. A message was received from the Executive, by his private secretary, Calvin C. Jackson, as follows: To the Senate: I herewith transmit for your consideration, the following docu ments: A communication from the president of the Detroit and St. Joseph railroad company. A communication from the St. Clair and Romeo railroad company. A communication from the Chief Justice of the state. The annual report of the Auditor General. The annual report of the Treasurer of the state. Detroit, January 2, 1837. STEVENS T. MASON. The communication from the president of the Detroit and St. Joseph railroad company, having been read, was, on motion of Mr. McDonell, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. (See Senate Document No. 1.) The communication from the St. Clair and Romeo railroad company having been read, was also laid upon the table and ordered to be printed. (See Senate Document No. 2.) The communication from the Chief Justice of the state, having been read, was thereupon, also, laid upon the table and ordered to be printed. (See Senate Document No. 3.) The annual report of the Auditor General and Treasurer, were, on motion of Mr. McDonell, laid on the table, without being read, and ordered to be printed. (See Senate Documents Nos. 4, 5.) The resolution yesterday offered by Mr. Comstock, together with the amendment proposed by Mr. Barry, and which had been laid on the table, having been taken up, Mr. Ellis moved to amend the amendment by striking out "one enrolling and engrossing clerk, and one recording clerk," and inserting "two assistant secretaries," which was agreed to. Mr. Davis moved further to amend, by adding "one messenger," which being lost, the resolution as amended, was adopted in the words following: Resolved, That the Senate do now proceed to the election of a secretary, two assistant secretaries, one sergeant-at-arms, and one door-keeper. The Senate, on motion of Mr. Hough, then took a recess of fifteen minutes. When the Senate again convened, Mr. Hough nominated John J. Adam, of the second senatorial district, for the office of secretary of the Senate, which was unanimously concurred in by the Senate. Mr. Barry nominated Digby V. Bell, and Charles A. Morton, from the third district, as assistant secretaries of the Senate, which nominations were also unanimously concurred in by the Senate. Mr. Rumsey nominated Benjamin Hobert, from the fourth district, as door-keeper, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Manning nominated William Terry, from the fifth district, as sergeant-at-arms, which nomination was also unanimously agreed to by the Senate. And the Senate, on motion of Mr. Barry, then adjourned to 10 o'clock, A. M., to-morrow. Wednesday, January 4, 1837. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Hough submitted a resolution relative to referring certain parts of the Governor's message to different standing and select committees, and moved that the same be committed to committee of the whole, together with the Governor's message, which was lost; whereupon, Mr. Clark moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was lost; and Mr. McDonell moved a reconsideration of the vote on committing the resolution, together with the Governor's message, to committee of the whole, which was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: And the said resolution, together with the Governor's message, was thereupon committed to committee of the whole. The President announced the following standing committees of the Senate: Judiciary-Messrs. Barry, Manning and Comstock. Finance-Messrs. McDonell, Britain and Hough. Internal Improvements-Messrs. Britain, Rumsey and Raynale. Literature-Messrs. Comstock, Manning and Cooper. Towns and Counties-Messrs. McKey, Moore and McDonell. |