Page:Journal of the Sixth Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan.djvu/153

5.] subject be brought in this form before Congress, we may safely rely for our security upon the very obvious considerations, both political and geographical, which will present themselves.

Mr. Martin, from the committee on the judiciary, to whom was referred the resolution of the 11th instant, instructing that committee to inquire what powers are vested in the Council relative to the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, submitted a report from the attorney general on the subject, which, on motion of Mr. Britain, was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Martin, from the select committee, to whom was referred the bill to extend the charter of the Farmers and Mechanics' bank of Michigan, made the following report:

The select committee, to whom was committed the bill to extend the charter of the Farmers and Mechanics' bank of Michigan, for the term of twenty-five years from the present time, report:

That the charter of the Bank was first granted in 1829, and for the period of twenty years. The charter therefore has fifteen years to run before its expiration; and the extension would give it an additional ten years. The committee cannot perceive the difference between the present application, and the grant of an original charter for the term of thirty years; a period, in the opinion of the committee, which is unexampled in similar grants.

The committee express at the same time their decided disapprobation of the recharter of any moneyed institution, until the greater part of the original charter has been complied with. The power and utility of this institution are scarcely yet developed, it having been in operation but five years, and but one fifth of its capital stock paid in. The committee, therefore, recommend that all after the enacting clause of this bill be stricken out.

The bill, with the amendment proposed by the committee, striking out all after the enacting clause, was referred to a committee of the whole.

Mr. Millington, from the committee on enrolment, reported, as correctly enrolled,

An act concerning the bank of River Raisin;

An act to incorporate the village of St. Joseph.

Mr. Bacon, from the committee on territorial affairs, to whom was referred the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Hillsdale, praying for the organization of the said county made the following report, which was concurred in:

The committee on territorial affairs, to whom was referred, the petition of inhabitants of the county of Hillsdale, praying that said county may be organized, and may be divided into townships report:

That from the petition, and from information by persons having a knowledge of the settlements and inhabitants of said county, your