[ No. 12. ] JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the construction of a Ship Canal around the Falls of Niagara. Whereas, The Congress of the United States has, by numerous grants of land, aided the construction of various works of internal improvements, and thus assisted in the development of the varied resources of our common country; And whereas, The appropriation wisely granted to this State for the construction of a Canal around the Falls of St. Mary, and within the territory of Michigan, is of that munificent character which will open to the commercial world a trade, far exceeding in mineral wealth that of any other nation, besides forming a link in the frontier defences of our country, which, in a true military point of view, and in the event of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, would allow the concentration of lake armaments, and give celerity to the movements of forces and munitions of war from lake to lake; And whereas, The Falls of Niagara now form the only remaining barrier to the uninterrupted navigation of the great chain of our inland seas and rivers, upon which borders nearly one-fourth of the States of our confederacy, and in which the trade and commerce of nearly one-half of the United States are directly or indirectly interested, and none more so than the State of Michigan, which has fifteen hundred miles of lake coast, and whose varied products now employ more vessel tonnage through the Welland Canal than any other State, thus paying tribute to a foreign power, besides subjecting our marine craft, by the want of capacity of that work, to ruinous detentions and delays already experienced, and which are increasing from year to year; And whereas, We conceive the immediate construction of a Ship Canal around the Falls of Niagara, in the State of New York, second to none in importance yet secured, and completing the only link wanting in connecting the navigation of our lakes with the ports of the eastern world, as well as perfecting a naval defence on the northern boundary of the nation; therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives be requested, to vote for the passage of a law granting lands to the State of New York, or assigns, for the construction of a Ship Canal around the Falls of Niagara, in said State of New York, and to use all honorable means to secure the passage of the same. Resolved, That the Governor of this State be requested to forward copies of the foregoing preamble and resolution to the Governors of the several States of the Union, to the President of the United States, President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved February 10, 1855. [ No. 13.] JOINT RESOLUTION relative to an exchange of lots with the First Baptist Church and Society of Lansing. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Governor of this State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to issue to the trustees of the First Baptist Church and Society of Lansing, a patent for the conveyance of lot number one, in block number ninety-five, in the village of Lansing, for the purpose of a church lot: Provided, That the said trustees do execute in the first place, a proper conveyance of lot number one, in block number one hundred and twenty-six, in the said village of Lansing, to the people of the State of Michigan, and deliver the same to the said Governor; and the said trustees are hereby authorized and empowered to execute said conveyance. This resolution shall take effect immediately. [ No. 14. ] JOINT RESOLUTION relative to an exchange of lots with the First Presbyterian Society of Lansing. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Governor be and he is hereby authorized and directed to issue a patent to the trustees of the First Presbyterian Society of Lansing, for lots number one and two, of block eighty-two, in the village of Lansing: Provided. That the said trustees do execute, in the first place, a proper conveyance of lot number one, in block number one hundred and twenty-seven, in the said village of Lansing, to the people of the State of Michigan, and deliver the same to the said Governor; and the said trustees are hereby authorized and empowered to execute said conveyance. This resolution ordered to take effect immediately. [No. 15.] JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the settlement of the claim of Morse K Taylor, growing out of the raising, subsisting and mustering into service the Michigan volunteer regiment for the war with Mexico. " ན ང ་ ཀ ག ་ པ Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Board of State Auditors be and they are hereby authorized and required to make a just and equitable settlement of the claim of Morse K. Taylor, growing out of the raising, subsisting and mustering into service of the Michigan volunteer regiment, called to serve in the late war with Mexico, and they may certify any amount due him to the Auditor General, who shall draw his warrant for the same upon the State Treasurer, who shall pay such warrant out of any money in the general fund, not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That the said claimant shall furnish to the State a good and sufficient bond, to be approved by the Board, conditioned that the settlement shall be final, and that he will at no time hereafter apply to the Legislature of Michigan for relief, predicated upon such claim. Approved February 12, 1855. 1 [No. 16.] JOINT RESOLUTION relative to a claim of the State of Michigan against Chippewa county for State tax. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State Michigan, That the Auditor General be and he is hereby refgured to credit on the proper books of his office, to the county of Chippewa, the sum of three thousand three hundred and seventy-sever dollars and thirty-five cents, being the amount of State tax Caimed by the State as due from that county, on the first day of July, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, and the said claim is hereby canceled. Approved February 12, 1855. e [ No. 17.] JOINT RESOLUTION for the relief of Oliver M. Hyde. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Commissioner of the State Land Office be and he is hereby authorized and directed to restore to Oliver M. Hyde all the rights which have become forfeited, in consequence of the nonpayment of interest on Primary School Lands described in certificate number two thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, as follows, to wit: the north-west quarter of the north-west quarter of section number sixteen, in township three south, of range number nine east: Provided, That said Hyde shall, on or before the first day of May next, pay or cause to be paid to the said Commissioner, all arrearages of principal and interest and penalties accruing on said land, in consequence of neglect to pay the interest as prescribed by law. This resolution shall take effect immediately. [ No. 18. ] JOINT RESOLUTION for the relief of George Matthews. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Board of State Auditors be and they are hereby required to examine into, and if found just, allow the claim of George Matthews, growing out of his being required to surrender a patent for the south half of the south-east quarter of section twenty-eight, in township nine north, of range seven west, erroneously sold to him on the fifth day of December, eighteen hundred and forty-eight. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Approved February 12, 1855. [No. 19. ] JOINT RESOLUTION for the relief of Robert Howlett. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Auditor General is hereby authorized and required to issue to Robert Howlett a land warrant, in place of that now held by him, dated and numbered as follows, to wit: dated Lansing, December second, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, and number five hundred and seventy-six, and for the sum of one hundred dollars; said warrant to be issued only on the surrender of that now in the possession of the said Robert Howlett, and described as aforesaid, the time for which said warrant was made receivable at the land office having expired. This joint resolution is ordered to take immediate effect. [ No. 20. ] JOINT RESOLUTION for the relief of Alexander R. Tiffany, of the county of Lenawee. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Commissioner of the State Land Office is hereby authorized and directed to issue to Alexander R. Tiffany, a certificate for the east half of the south half of the south-east quarter of section sixteen, in town seven south, of range four east, primary school lands; and to the assignee of Joel W. Ranger, his heirs or assigns, a certificate for the west half of the south half of the south-east quarter of the aforesaid section, being situate in the county of Lenawee, being primary school lands, and the same for which certificate numbered two hundred and forty-six, and bearing date the twenty-second day of August, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, was heretofore issued from the State Land Office, upon the surrender by the said Tiffany of the said original certificate, and proper evidence of the payment of all principal, interest and penalties, that may be due or have accrued on said parcels of land, to the said Commissioner. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Approved February 12, 1855. |