pear before the House, personally and by counsel, for the purpose of maintaining by argument, their respective claims to said seat as the member from Chippewa county. On motion of Mr. Mack, Resolved, That the committee on internal improvement inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the sale of the unappropriated lands granted to the state by Congress for internal improvement purposes, and of applying the proceeds thereof in payment of interest on the internal improvement debt, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Taylor offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Speaker of the House be authorized to employ a suitable person io act as assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, and assistant Enrolling Clerk of the House, when such services may be required. On motion of r. Lothrop, The resolution was amended by striking out the words "assistant Sergeant-at-Arms," and Mr. Littlejohn moved that the further consideration of the resolution be indefinitely postponed, which motion prevailed. Mr. Noyes, pursuant to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill relative to the costs of prosecution in criminal cases; Which was read twice and referred to the committee on the judiciary. Mr. Baldwin gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to amend section twenty-six of chapter one hundred and sixty-three of the revised statutes; A bill to amend section one hundred and sixty of chapter ninetythree of the revised statutes; and A bill to amend section forty-nine of chapter one hundred and fiftyfour of the revised statutes. Mr. Enos, pursuant to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend an act entitled an act appropriating certain highway taxes for the improvement of a road in the counties of Van Buren and Berrien, approved March 17, 1847; Which was read twice and referred to the committee on roads and bridges. Mr. Young gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to change the name of the township of Wayne in the county of Wayne. Mr. McKinney gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to amend chapter twenty of the revised statutes. On motion of Mr. Taylor, Resolved, That at the hour of eleven o'clock to-morrow, the House will take up the consideration of the special order of the day. Mr. Lawrence gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to repeal the revised statutes of 1846, and reinstate the former territorial laws, as far as they may now be appli cable. The bill to authorize Joel Rathbone to sell certain lands, was read the third time, and the question being on its passage, it was On motion of Mr. Littlejohn, Recommitted to the committee on the judiciary, with instructions to add the following proviso to section one : Provided, That the said guardian shall first obtain the approval of the judge of probate of the county or counties wherein said real estate is situated, as to the terms of sale and the form of conveyance, which said approval shall be endorsed upon the said deeds of conveyance, and signed by the judge of probate of the proper county. The bill to legalize the tax roll for the township of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair, for the year 1847, and to extend the time for the collection of taxes, was read the third time and passed, and the ques. tion being on the title, it was, On motion of Mr. Littlejohn, Amended so as to read a bill to provide for the collection of taxes in the township of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair for the year 1847, and to extend the time for the collection thereof. The Senate bill to change the name of the town of Michigan; and The Senate bill to change the name of the township of Pewonagawink, in the county of Genesee, were severally read the third time and passed. The House then resolved itself into committee of the whole on the general order, Mr. Kingsley in the chair. And after a short time spent thereon, the committee rose, and by their chairman reported back to the House without amendment, and asked to be discharged from its further consideration, A bill to provide for defraying the expenses of enlisting, mustering and subsisting the volunteer regiment called from this state to serve in the existing war with the Mexican Republic; Which report was accepted, the committee discharged and the bill ordered to be engrossed and read the third time. On motion of Mr. Littlejohn, The rules were suspended, to enable the bill to be read the third time to-day, and it was then read the third time and passed. Mr. Noyes, from the committee on engrossment and enrollment, reported that the bill concerning the assessment, collection and returns of the state tax for the year 1847, and for other purposes, was correctly enrolled, and was this day presented to the Governor for his approval. Mr. Lothrop, by unanimous consent, offered the following concurrent resolution, which, under the rule, lies on the table one day : Resolved, the Senate concurring, That the legislature will adjourn sine die, on the next day after the passage of an act entitled an act to repeal the revised statutes of 1846, and to restore the old territorial laws. On motion of Mr. Denton, The House adjourned. Thursday, January 13, 1848. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the Speaker. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Hill. On calling the roll, Messrs. Hazen and Strong were absent on leave, and Mr. Barlow was absent without leave. Mr. W. R. Martin asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Barlow for an indefinite period. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. The Speaker announced as the select committee to inquire relative to the printing of the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Messrs. Lothrop, Harris and Denton. Mr. Harris presented the petition of Warren Streeter and two hundred and fifteen others, for an appropriation of state lands to aid in the construction of a certain road in the county of Ottawa. Referred to the committee on internal improvement. Mr. Noyes presented the petition of Livonia monthly meeting of the society of friends, for a repeal of so much of the militia law of 1846 as imposes a direct tax of twenty-five cents on every citizen. Referred to the committee on the militia. Mr. Eldredge presented the petition of one hundred and five inhabitants of the town of Berlin, in the county of St. Clair, for the organization of a new county. Referred to the committee on the organiza tion of townships and counties. Mr. Voorhies, from the committee on roads and bridges, reported back without amendment, and recommended its passage, the bill to amend an act entitled an act appropriating certain highway taxes for the improvement of a road in the counties of Van Buren and Berrien, approved March 17, 1847. Which report was accepted and the committee discharged from the further consideration of the bill, and the bill referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. Mr. Denton, from the committee on printing, reported back the Senate joint resolution relative to the printing of the journals, without amendment, and recommended its passage. Which report was accepted, the committee discharged, and the joint resolution referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. Mr. Noyes, from the committee on engrossment and enrollment, reported that the joint resolution relative to postage, was correctly enrolled, and was this day presented to the Governor for his approval. Mr. Turner, from the committee on claims, reported back without amendment and recommended its passage, the Senate joint resolution relative to a settlement of the claim of Henry B. Lathrop. Which report was accepted, the committee discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and the joint resolution was ordered to be read the third time. On motion of Mr. Emmons, The rule was suspended, so as to enable the joint resolution to be put on its passage out of the regular order, and it was read the third time and passed. Mr. Kingsley, from the committee on the judiciary, reported back, amended in accordance with the instructions of the House, the bill to authorize Joel Rathbone to convey certain lands; and The question being on its passage, it was passed. The following messages were received from the Executive : To the House of Representatives: EXECUTIVE OFFICE, I have this day approved, signed and filed in the office of the Secretary of State, An act to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the legislature, and for other purposes. EPAPHRO. RANSOM. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Michigan, January 13th, 1848. To the House of Representatives: 1848.} I have this day approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, An act concerning the assessment, collection and return of the state tax for the year 1847, and for other purposes. On motion of Mr. Emmons, EPAPHRO. RANSOM. Resolved, That the Speaker appoint a committee of two to wait on the Senate, and invite them to take seats in this House during the arguments of counsel upon the contested seat between Henry M. Dodge and Andrew Harvie, and that the committee inform the Senate at what hour the House will be ready to receive them. The Speaker appointed as such committee Messrs. Emmons and Terry, who, after a short absence, returned and reported that they had discharged the duty assigned them. On motion of Mr. Smith, Resolved, That the committee on public lands be and they are hereby instructed to take into consideration the expediency of charging the money used by order of the commissioner of public lands, to lay out the town of Michigan, and to open the streets thereof, (as per report of said officer,) to the state building fund, and credit the same to the primary school interest fund, from where it was taken, and that said committee report to this House by bill or otherwise. |