Mr. Hawley moved that the joint resolutions be committed to the committee on the judiciary with instructions to report the following as a substitute :

Whereas, It is an indisputed principle of international laws, that the municiple laws of a conquered country, existing at the time of its conquest, remain in force until changed by the conqueror;

And whereas, at the time of the late conquest of New Mexico and California slavery was, by the laws of those countries, prohibited and did not exist;

And whereas, the Congress of the United States, under the constitution thereof, cannot establish slavery anywhere when, by the laws of the place, it is prohibited; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That for the purpose of prohibiting slavery in those countries, it is unnecessary for Congress to legislate upon the subject.

Mr. Ingersoll moved to amend the instructions, by striking out the proposed substitute, and insert the following: "insert after California," in the second line of the resolution, the words, "a war first declared and waged by the overt acts of Mexico, against the government of the United States;"

Pending which,

Mr. H. H. Comstock moved the previous question, which was demanded by a majority, and the main question was now ordered to be put.

The question then being on the amendment to the instructions moved by Mr. Ingersoll, it did not prevail.

The question then recurring on Mr. Hawley's motion to commit with instructions, it was decided in the negative, by the following

vote:

Mr. Hawley moved an adjournment, which was lost, by yeas and nays, as follows:

The joint resolutions were then read the third time, and passed, by

Mr. Ingersoll moved to, amend the title by striking out all after "resolutions," and inserting "instructing our present Senators and Representatives in Congress to vote as they have ever heretofore done, in favor of free territory, and against the institution of slavery;" pending which,

Mr. Chittenden moved that the House adjourn, which motion was decided in the negative, by the following vote:

Mr. Hawley moved to lay the bill on the table, which motion was lost, and

The question recurring on the motion of Mr. Ingersoll, to amend the title,

Mr. J. W. Turner moved to amend the amendment by striking out therefrom the words "as they have heretofore done," which motion did not prevail.

The question then being on the amendment to the title, it was rejected, by the following vote:

Mr. Parkhurst, from the committee on engrossment and enrollment, reported that the following entitled bills were correctly enrolled, and were this day presented to the Governor for his approval, viz:

A bill to extend the time for the collection of certain taxes in the township of Plainfield, in the county of Kent; and

A bill to provide for the payment of officers and members of the legislature.

On motion of Mr. Buck,

The House adjourned.

Friday, January 12, 1849.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the Speaker.

Prayer by the Chaplain.

The roll was called, and Mr. Moffatt was absent on leave, and Messrs. Earl and Flower were absent without leave.

Mr. Curtis asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Flower for an indefinite time.

Mr. Lovell for Mr. Earl as above.

On motion of Mr. Hawley,

The rule requiring the journal to be read, was suspended.

PETITIONS PRESENTED.

By Mr. Buck, of J. G. Waite and ninety-two others, citizens of St. Joseph county, for the extension of the Southern railroad, and

Of J. R. Williams and one hundred and seven others, of St. Joseph county, for the same; which petitions were referred to the committee on ways and means.

By Mr. M. S. Gillett, of John S. Heath and others, for the organization of Huron county, into a township, and to attach the same to Saginaw county for judicial purposes; referred to the committee on the organization of townships and counties.

By Mr. Allen, of Oliver Doty and thirty-seven others, of the township of Eagle, in Clinton county, for the abolition of county courts, which was referred to the committee on the judiciary.

By Mr. Chittenden, of H. S. Roberts and others, late officers of the first regiment of Michigan volunteers, for compensation while recruit