Page:Journal of the Sixth Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan.djvu/14

4 Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Stockton were appointed the committee.

Mr. Farnsworth, from the committee appointed to wait upon the Governor of the Territory, and inform him that a quorum of the Council has assembled, and is ready to receive any communication he may think proper to make to it, reported that the committee had performed that duty, and were informed by the Governor that he would meet the Council tomorrow, at eleven o’clock, A. M.

On motion of Mr. Hascall,

The Council adjourned till tomorrow, at eleven o’clock, A. M.

WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1834.

The Council having convened,

At eleven o’clock the Governor of the Territory entered the Council Chamber, and was conducted to the chair by Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Stockton; and the credentials of the members present having been laid on the table of the secretary, the Governor administered to them the oath required by law.

After which he rose and addressed the Council as follows:

To the President and Members Of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan:

FELLOW CITIZENS: You have assembled under circumstances which should call forth our most grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of all Good. The people of this territory have been blessed in the enjoyment of health; the earth has yielded its fruits in abundance; industry in every branch of business has been crowned with success; the imigration during the past year, has equalled our most sanguine expectations; and we may look forward with exultation to the near approach of the period when we shall take rank as one of the states in the Union.

Among the first duties to which your attention is invited, is that of providing for taking a census of our inhabitants. The amount of our population should be ascertained. An application for admission into the Union may be resisted in Congress for want of definite information in this particular. You come immediately from the people—are familiar with their sentiments, and will doubtless adopt such measures as are calculated to advance their interests.

The last Legislative Council used much industry in the revision and amendment of our Laws: and made provision for their re-publication. Some delay has occurred in the printing and preparation for delivery of the revised code. Officers of justice in different sections of the territory have consequently complained. Delay in the printing and promulgation of the laws is certainly an evil; and should be provided against. Whether to any one, and if so, to whom blame is attributable in the present instance is unknown to me. The contract was made by the Council; nothing in relation to it was entrusted to the Executive. Your immediate attention, however, to the subject is requisite. It is worthy of consideration whether, in the present situation of the work, the binding of the volume as printed, should not be deferred until some necessary