No. 3. S

1848.

REPORT ON JOINT RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLINTON AND KALAMAZOO CANAL.

The committee on federal relations, to whom was referred a joint resolution relative to the construction of the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, respectfully report:

That the resolution proposes to request and instruct our delegation in Congress, to endeavor to obtain for this State, to aid in the construction of said canal, a grant of lands from the general government, upon the basis of a bill which has heretofore passed the Senate of the United States. That bill provided for a grant of alternate sections, four miles wide, on the line of our principal works of internal improvement. That such an appropriation, at this time, would be of vast benefit to the State, and sound policy on the part of the federal government, your committee cannot doubt.

The practice of donating lands by Congress to the new States, for purposes of internal improvement, has been frequent and settled for near half a century. Such grants are a powerful means of promoting the sale of the unceded lands. In this country thousands are desirous of farms, and capable of improving them, who cannot command money to make the purchase. By prosecuting public works, under appropriations of land, issuing a scrip payable in land, much of which passes to the hands of the laborer, he is enabled to exchange his capital, which is industry, for a farm which becomes his home; locations and improvements are made, immigration is drawn in that direction, contiguous lots are called for, and settlements press and spread forward with a compound progression. If the work in progress happens to be in the vicinity of the unsold lands, it tends to enhance their value and insure their sale.

These views are peculiarly applicable to the proposed grant. The United States own in the lower peninsula of Michigan, twelve or fifteen millions of acres. These lie mainly in that section where the works now owned by the State, or in contemplation, are located. The completion of these improvements would open that immense and unsettled, but rich and fertile region, almost solely owned by the general government, to the navigable waters of the lakes and the markets of the east. Indeed, the great obstacle to the settlement of this country is its difficulty of access and its distance from market. As a great landholder, the United States would consult its true interest by encouraging these works, by aiding liberally in their construction, by appropriating a small portion of this immense property to render the residue valuable and vendible. An individual of ordinary sagacity, in like circumstances would adopt this policy and thereby promote his private interest.

This State has peculiarly strong and equitable claims upon Congress, for additional and liberal grants of the public domain. When our system of internal improvements was projected, about twelve years ago, the United States owned the soil of three-fourths of the entire peninsula. The system, which was on a large scale, embra. cing the various sections of the State, caused a rapid sale of the public lands within our borders. The expenditure of several millions by the State was in fact for the joint benefit of this untaxed landlord and our own inhabitants-chiefly for the former. The advantages to our people were prospective, and have never been fully realized-the benefit to the general government was positive, immediate and important. The burden is entirely upon this State. Unable to complete the system and secure the anticipated returns, we have still to meet the exigency by heavy taxation.

Over $500,000 have already been expended upon the works still owned by the State, which, without the proposed aid, will be a total loss. With such assistance it is confidently hoped they can be finished and made available. Experience proves that lands can be used profitably in this way.

Our nearest neighbors, Ohio and Indiana, have shared largely the liberality of the general government. The former, with an area hardly equal to the lower peninsula alone, and a third less

than the entire State, has received from Congress for internal improvement, considerable over a million of acres. Indiana, also less in extent than Michigan, has received from the same source for the same purpose, more than a million and a half of acresupwards of three fold the quantity granted to this State for that object.

Under these circumstances, your committee believe that Congress cannot, with a proper regard to equity and consistency, withhold the grant contemplated by the resolution. On every principle of justice and policy, we are authorized to ask and to receive.

The resolution is reported back with an amendment and its passage recommended.

H. STONE, Chairman.

E. L. CLARK,

R. B. DIMOND,

J. P. KING.

Joint Resolution relative to the Public Works of the State of Michigan.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and they are hereby requested, to endeavor to obtain from the general government a grant of alternate sections of land on the line of our unsold public works, to aid in their construction, upon the basis of a bill that has heretofore passed the Senate of the United States.

Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor of this state, be and he hereby is requested to transmit a copy of said resolution to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress, from this state.

REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RELATIVE TO THE TITLE TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND GROUNDS IN THE CITY OF DETROIT..

To the Legislature of the State of Michigan:

In obedience to a joint resolution approved March 17, 1847, by which the Attorney General was requested to examine into the title of the State to the building then occupied by the Legislature, and to the lot on which the same is situated, and report the facts and his opinion thereon to the next legislature, the undersigned respectfully reports:

That in 1805 the Territory of Michigan was organized, and the seat of government established at Detroit. In June, 1805, after the organization of the Territory, the old town of Detroit was consumed by fire, and in 1806 the Congress of the United States passed an act, authorizing the Governor and Judges of the Territory to lay out a town, including the whole of the old town of Detroit and ten thousand acres adjacent, except such parts as the President of the United States should direct to be reserved for the use of the military department; authorizing them to examine and finally adjust all claims to lots therein, and give deeds for the same, to grant to every person or his legal representatives, who, not owing allegiance to any foreign power, and being above the age of seventeen years, did, on the 11th day of June, 1805, when the fire occurred, own or inhabit a house in the same, a lot in said town.This act provided that the land remaining of the said ten thousand acres, after satisfying the aforesaid claims should be sold by the Governor and Judges, and the proceeds thereof applied by them towards building a court house and jail in the town of Detroit. Under this act the Governor and Judges in 1807, laid out the city of Detroit, and a plan thereof was, on the 18th day of April in that year, by them adopted and made a public record. This plat exhibits