or drawn by the board during the fiscal year, but of that sum, about $300, were absolutely a part of the expenses of last year which were audited during the present year.

[4] The amount of the $286 42, except the sums mentioned under the appropriate heads in the report, and except also the sum of $58 75 paid the two remaining paupers, was expended in fitting out A. K. Smith to the insane hospital at Utica, N. Y., and in suppor ting him while there. The superintendents are aware that there exists no provision of law authorizing them to send said Smith to another state, but in doing so, they acted under the recommendation and advice of the board of supervisors of the county. Smith became a county charge in consequence of insanity, and we are happy to state that he has been, as we hope, permanently cured.— He is no longer a county charge.

[m] The county have purchased a farm with stock, for which they are to pay $1000, $125 of which has been paid. No paupers have yet been removed, but the farm is now ready for their recep

tion.

[n.] The superintendents have the satisfaction of informing the Hon. Secretary of State that they have succeeded the present year in getting up suitable buildings on the farm owned by the county, and hope for the future to get along somewhat better; but the population constantly increasing, the temporary relief system will naturally increase, as has been the case the present year.

*This amount was expended for temporary relief in the city of Detroit, and nearly all for the relief of foreigners who were shipped from Canada. It is respectfully suggested whether the present laws regulating the poor ought not, in justice to the county of Wayne, and other counties which may be similarly situated, to be changed so as to throw the burthen of this increasing expenditure upon the state at large. Instead of town and county poor, it should be state and county.

No. 20.

1848.

To the House of Representatives:

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
Michigan, March 9, 1848.

Transmitted herewith is a communication, this day received by me, from the Hon. Wm. L. Greenly, late acting Governor of the state, being a report of the disbursements made by him under the appropriation of the legislature of 1847, by virtue of a joint resolution entitled "joint resolutions on the existing war with Mexico," approved February 13th, 1847.

EPAPHRO. RANSOM.

To His Excellency, E. Ransom, Governor of Michigan:

In compliance with your request, I transmit to you a report of the disbursements made by me under the appropriation of the Legislature of 1847, by virtue of a joint resolution entitled "joint resolutions on the existing war with Mexico," approved February 13th, 1847. In doing so, I beg leave to suggest some of the adverse circumstances under which the Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, (for the defraying of the expenses of raising which the appropriation above mentioned, was made,) was raised.

Upon the reception of the requsition upon this state from the war department of the United States, it was deemed proper to issue one general order calling upon the patriotic citizens of this state to volunteer for the war, and at the same time promising commissions to those who were most active and efficient in raising companies, provided they were competent, and another order promising the prompt payment of all sums that might be by them necessarily expended in raising and boarding such companies whenever they should be mustered into the service of the United States.

It was soon found that the operation of the first order was to induce the opening of too many rendezvous in all parts of the state creating so many divisions that it would be impossible for them to

fill, and there could be but little hope that any of them could succeed. Under the second order, I could find no one who was willing to act, all declining upon the ground, that the regiment might be filled before their company was ready, and thus they subjected to much expense, for which they could have no reasonable hope of repayment. Under these circumstances, it was resolved that the officers should be at once appointed and commissioned, and accordingly, the following appointments were made: