pense necessary for the safe keeping and maintenance of the priso ners. The recent numerous disasters upon the lakes, involving the loss both of property and life, affords, perhaps, a sufficient reason for calling your attention to the situation of our harbors. Michigan, being almost entirely an agricultural state, pays more than a due proportion of the revenue of the government, and yet, with a greater extent of navigable coast than any other state in the Union, the amount. expended within her limits for the improvement of harbors, has been comparatively small. The value of property lost upon our shores within the last few years, for the want of sufficient harbors, probably exceeds the amount necessary for their entire construction. A proper representation of the facts to Congress, may perhaps induce that body to take the subject into favorable consideration. January 2, 1843. JOHN S. BARRY, After which, it was on motion of Mr. Wakefield, Resolved, That the message and accompanying documents be laid on the table and 600 copies printed for the use of the Senate. On motion of Mr. Bell, the Senate adjourned until to morrow mor ning at 10 o'clock, TUESDAY, January 3, 1843, The Senate met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the President. The Journal of yesterday was read by the Secretary, and after slight correction was approved. Mr. Redfield presented the petition of 65 inhabitants of Cass county, praying for an alteration of the Constitution in regard to elections, which, on motion, was referred to the committee on privileges and elections. The president announced the following as the standing committees of the Senate: On Claims-Senators Wilson, Warner, Bell. On Finance-Senators Bell, Gray, Green. On Judiciary-Senators Greenly, Green, Bradley, On Militia-Senators Howell, Burch, Redfield. On Internal Improvement-Senators Wakefield, Moody, Greenly, On Public Instruction-Senators Gray, Wakefield, Warner. On Incorporations-Senators Starkey, Greenly, Wakefield. On Agriculture-Senators Redfield, Shearer, Burch. On Manufactures-Senators Warner, Granger, Starkey. On State Library-Senators Green, Howell, Bradley. On Expiring Laws-Senators Compton, Shearer, Starkey, The President announced the annual report of the State Treasurer, which on motion of Mr. Greenly, was laid upon the table, The President announced the annual report of the Board of Internal Improvement, which on motion of Mr. Greenly, was referred to the committee on internal improvement. The President announced the following message from the House of Representatives : House of Representatives, To the President of the Senate ; SIR--I am instructed by the House of Representatives to transmit to the Senate, a joint resolution in relation to joint rules, which they have passed and respectfully ask the concurrence of the Senate therein, E. J. ROBERTS, Clerk of H. of Reps. On motion of Mr. Greenly, The rule requiring said resolution to lie on the table one day previously to being acted upon, was suspended, and the resolution was thereupon adopted. Mr. Moody offered the following resolution, which was, on his motion, referred to the committee on the judiciary: Resolved, That the judiciary committee be authorised to inquire into the justice and expediency of providing by law for defraying the expenses by the state of those prosecutions in Jackson county, growing out of the escape of prisoners from the state prison at Jackson, and other offences committed by the prisoners therein confined; and to report by bill or otherwise without unnecessary delay. Mr. Shearer offered the following preamble and resolution, which was laid on the table: Whereas, the existing law, regulating the assessment and collection of taxes, being imperfect, requiring amendment, and some new provisions; therefore, Resolved, That the following amendments and provision be submitted to the consideration of the House, viz : The exemption of taxation on mortages given for purchase money, and instead of assessing farms lying in two or more townships as the present law directs, that the farms thus situated be assessed in the township where the mansion house shall be, and the amount of tax raised annually for township purposes be limited not to exceed a certain sum to be estimated according to the number of legal voters contained therein, or otherwise so as to equalize taxation. And the law requiring particular days in December for receiving taxes, and a sum or fee for the collection of the same, not to exceed a certain amount, and instead of the returns of non-resident lands remaining in the offices of the several county treasurers until sold, that the several county treasurers make the said returns to the office of the auditor general; and designate the property exempt from exe ecution and taxation, be referred to the committee on the judiciary to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Howell offered the following resolution which, on motion, was laid on the table: Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That a sufficient number of copies of the Legislative Manual, be ordered printed for the use of the Legislature, embracing the same information as those in use during the last session of the Legislature, together with a list of the several counties and their population according to the census of 1840. Mr. Wakefield offered the following resolution which was adopted: Resolved, That so much of the Governor's annual message as relates to education be referred to the committee on education. Mr. Wakefield offered the following resolution which was adopted: Resolved. That so much of the Governor's annual message as relates to banks and incorporations, be referred to the committee on banks and incorporations. Mr. Wilson offered the following resolution which was adopted.: Resolved, That that part of the Governor's annual message relating to internal improvement, be referred to the committee on internal improvement. Mr. Cust offered the following resolution which was adopted: Resolved, That the committee on supplies be directed to furnish to each Senator a copy of the revised statutes and session laws for their use during the present session of the Legislature, and to each of the new members a copy of the Senate and House journals and documents. Mr. Howell offered the following resolution which was adopted: Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to districting the State into Congressional districts, be referred to a select committee of three. The President announced as said committee Senators Howell, Starkey and Wakefield. Mr. Wakefield offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That so much of the Governor's annual message as relates to saline lands, be referred to the committee on state affairs. Mr. Wilson offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That all that part of the Governor's annual message relating to the organization of the militia, be referred to the committee on the militia. Mr. Bradley offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That so much of the Governor's annual message as relates to the lands of the state, together with the university and school lands, be referred to a select committee. The President thereupon announced as said committee, Senators Bradley, Green and Bell. Mr. Wilson offered the following resolution, which was adopted : Resolved, That all that part of the Governor's annual message relating to the present judiciary system, be referred to the committee on the judiciary. On motion of Mr. Howell, the Senate adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, January 4, 1843. The Senate was called to order by the President. The Journal of yesterday was read and approved. Mr. Granger presented a petition to legalise the township meeting of the township of Lexington, which was referred to committee on privileges and elections. Mr. Starkey presented the petition of S. H. Bryan and 166 others to make penal the cutting of trees in which bees are found, by any except the owner and finder thereof, which was referred to committee on judiciary. |