port of the majority of the committee on public buildings, is true to the best of his knowledge and belief. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 7th day of Jan. A. D. 1840. WM. N. SEYMOUR, Sup. Court Commissioner. A. A. BIRD, Document 0. COMMUNICATION OF WILLIAM B. SLAUGHTER, IN AN. SWER TO A RESOLUTION, ACCOUNTING FOR MONEYS DISBURSED BY HIM AS FISCAL AGENT. SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Jan. 11th, 1840. To the Hon. the Council and House of Representatives: GENTLEMEN-Your resolution in relation to the manner in which I have recorded and preserved the laws and the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and the Executive Journal, and their transmission to the President of the United States, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was this moment received. In reply, I have the honor to state that I have on file in my office the originals of the laws of the several sessions, in la belled packages, distinguishing the laws of one session from those of another; also, printed copies of the same, together with the Journals; which I believe is the uniform mode of recording and preserving the laws in the several states of the Union. I have the honor to state further, that I have transmitted the laws and journal as required by the organic law, within a few days of the time, except the last year; the laws, however, were transmitted before the time appointed. In relation to the Journal, the following are the facts: I applied last fail to the private Secretary of the Governor for the Executive Acts, and informed him that Mr. John Catlin was my clerk to record them. He replied that it would be more convenient to him to have the Executive Journal, and that he would cither record the Executive Acts, or have it done. It was accordingly forwarded to him and a part of it only executed. It has, however, been completed and a copy will be forwarded immediately to the President of the United States. It is due to the Executive to state that I did not apply to him for the Executive Acts. I believe the other duties of the Secretary have been duly performed. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your ob't serv't, W. B. SLAUGHTER, Sec. Wis. Ter. Document P. REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE TO WHICH THE MEMO RIAL OF MESSRS. COLLIER & PETTUS WAS REFERRED. › AND THE COMMUNICATION OF M. M. STRONG. Mr. Street, from the select committee to which the subject was referred, made the following report: The select committee to whom was referred the memorial of Messrs. Collier & Pettus, of St. Louis, with the accompanying. documents, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to submit the following report: That from vouchers and papers exhibited to them by M. M. Strong, it appears that on the 27th December, 1839, he borrowed of Collier & Pettus, for the use of the Territory, the sum of $15,000. That about the last of May, 1839, he received from the Treasurer of the United States the sum of $15,000, in drafts on the land offices at Milwaukee and Mineral Point, for the repayment of said loan. On the 1st of April, 1839, he paid to Messrs. Collier & Pettus $300 towards interest for which he took a receipt; on the 27th of July he paid to them $12,973 03, leaving a balance due at that time, as admitted by their unconditional receipts, of principal and interest, the sum of $2,339 47. Mr. Strong claims, for excess in weight of lead, the further sum of $124 43, which, from a bill of lading exhibited by him, it appears should be allowed; and if so, the whole sum disbursed by Mr. Strong to Collier & Pettus would be $13,397 46; add to this the sum of $200 00 paid to Wm. B. Slaughter, Secretary of the Territory, as per his receipt dated September, 21st, 1839, and it makes the whole sum paid by him. on account of the Territory, $13,597 46. This amount deducted from the sum received by Mr. Strong, from the Treasurer of the United States, leaves a balance of $1,402 54, in the hands of said Strong, exclusive of interest. The amount of principal and interest due Messrs. Collier & Pettus up to the 27th of January, 1840, would be $2,421 35, without allowing the claim of $124 43, above alluded to. If this sum be deducted, the balance due Messrs. Collier & Pettus, on the 27th of January, 1840, will be $2,292 56. The sum of $200 00 above mentioned is embraced in the report of the committee on claims, to whom was referred the vouchers of Mr. Strong's dis bursements of the monies received of Messrs. Collier & Pet. tus. The claim of Mr. Strong of four hundred dollars for his services in the payment made to Collier & Pettus, would seem to be just and equitable. Had he incurred the expense of going to St. Louis, and paid the debt immediately, none would have objected to giving him the compensation. Whatever excess of interest the Territory will have to pay by reason of the delay, should be de. ducted from any allowance made Mr. Strong, which excess amounts, as near as your committee can ascertain, to about $133 50. J. H. D. STREET, Chairman. H. N. WELLS. No. 1. MEMORIAL Of the Legislative Assembly, in behalf of the settlers on the even sections reserved by the United States by the law granting a quantity of land to aid in the construction of the Milwaukee and Rock river canal. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: The memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin respectfully represents, that by the third section of an act of Congress granting a quantity of land to aid in the construction of the Milwaukee and Rock river canal, it is provided that tho alternate sections reserved to the United States shall not be sold at a less price than two dollars and fifty cents per acre and shall not be subject to pre-emption. Your memorialists believe that injustice has been done by this enactment, to those who had settled on the alternate sections referred to, previously to the passage of the law in implicit reliance on the accustomed liberality of the General Government, for a That from vouchers and papers exhibited to them by M. M. Strong, it appears that on the 27th December, 1839, he borrowed of Collier & Pettus, for the use of the Territory, the sum of $15,000. That about the last of May, 1839, he received from the Treasurer of the United States the sum of $15,000, in drafts on the land offices at Milwaukee and Mineral Point, for the repayment of said loan. On the 1st of April, 1839, he paid to Messrs. Collier & Pettus $300 towards interest for which he took a receipt; on the 27th of July he paid to them $12,973 03, leaving a balance due at that time, as admitted by their unconditional receipts, of principal and interest, the sum of $2,339 47. Mr. Strong claims, for excess in weight of lead, the further sum of $124 43, which, from a bill of lading exhibited by him, it appears should be allowed; and if so, the whole sum disbursed by Mr. Strong to Collier & Pettus would be $13,397 46; add to this the sum of $200 00 paid to Wm. B. Slaughter, Secretary of the Territory, as per his receipt dated September, 21st, 1839, and it makes the whole sum paid by him on account of the Territory, $13,597 46. This amount deducted from the sum received by Mr. Strong, from the Treasurer of the United States, leaves a balance of $1,402 54, in the hands of said Strong, exclusive of interest. The amount of principal and interest due Messrs. Collier & Pettus up to the 27th of January, 1840, would be $2,421 35, without allowing the claim of $124 43, above alluded to. If this sum be deducted, the balance due Messrs. Collier & Pettus, on the 27th of January, 1840, will be $2,292 56. The sum of $200 00 above mentioned is embraced in the report of the committee on claims, to whom was referred the vouchers of Mr. Strong's dis bursements of the monies received of Messrs. Collier & Pet. tus. The claim of Mr. Strong of four hundred dollars for his services in the payment made to Collier & Pettus, would seem to be just and equitable. Had he incurred the expense of going to S Louis, and paid the debt immediately, none would have obi to giving him the compensation. Whatever excess of Territory will ducted from amounts, as $133 50. Of the L even sectio quantity o Rock rive To the H United The m Wisconsin act of Con tion of the alternat |