State Legislature

Mr. McLeod present ed a petition of Ross Wilkins and S15 inhabilants of Wayne Co. for an amendunent of the constitution of the Slate by expunging the word " White" from the first Article relatmg to qualification of voters. Referí ed ío the Judiciary committee. RKPORTS OF COMMITTEBS. Mr. Joslin from the Committee on Internal Improvement, reported that they had had under consideraron the propriety of reducing the rate of tol! tbr wheat and flour, on the Central and Southern Railroad, and that no legislation was necessary, the whole matter beitig properly under the supervisión of the Board of I:iternal Improvement. Mr. Rambdell from the Committee of Judiciary, reported bacl; Mr. Rovvland's fornication billf and recommended that it be not pnssed. Mr. Dunham ofFered a resolution of inquiry into the expediency of authorizing the inhabitants of each school district to levy opon the faxable property of the district a 6m 6ufficient, with the amount received from the comtnon school fund to support a school during four months of the year, or for a longer period as the directora of the district ehall determine. Adopted. A bilí appropriating $15,000 for the payment of members and oih'cers of the last Iegielature, was received from the Houee, read a first, second and third time and passed. - Mr. Gray moved to strike out $3, and in6ert $2 a day. Mr. Green oppored the motion, and colled for a división. Mr. Howell called upon the Senators from the first and eecondiistricts, t eay whcther they had any petitions on this qneBtion, and whether they wcre themselvesj n favor of the amendment. Mr. Cust refused to gratify an idle curiosiy- Mr. Hart proposed furtlier to amend by tnaking the pay $3 for the first 45 days, and B2 a day after, which was lost. Mr. Patterson opposed a reduction. The people at this time did not cali for it. The ast Legislature had dispatched ibe public business, and given general satiafactiou. The people at the late election liad expressed their ïpprobation of the State admihistration, and ndircctly of the last Legislature Thereüpon, Mr. Gray withdrew his amendment, and the bijl passed nem. con. Mr. Pratt, in pursuance of previous notice, arought in a bilí to provide for the nbolition f capital punushment. By Mr. Richmond, notice ofabilltoauhorize the Governor to commute the senence of Ebenezer M. Miller, now undet sen - ence of deathat Grand Rupids. The Senate resolution authorizing the Governor to take means to induce emigraLion to Michigan, and to defray the exenses out of the contingent fundr was tacen up, discussed somewhat at length, and all after the word resolved stricken out by a vote 31 to 20. Petitions. - By Mr. Dünham, from S. Siichols and 22 others, asking the expungng of the word "white" from the constiution. Referred to Committee on Judisiary. Also, from 27 others praying for the snactment of some law for the further proection of personal liberty, (relating to fugitive slaves.) Referred to Committee Dn Federal Relations. Also, of 42 inhabitants of Monroe, )ray ing some law for the punishmentof brnication and adultery. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. By Mr. Pratt, from M. Drake and others, praying the passage of a law for the further protection of personal liberty. - Referred to Committee on Federal Relations. By Mr. Murphy, from J. Todd and 39 others, praying the passage of a law for the greater protection of personal liberty, (relative to fugitive slaves.) By Mr. Murphy, from and 72 other inhabitants of Hillsdale, praying the word "white" to be expunged from section 1, and 2, of the constitution. Referred to Judiciary Committee. By Mr. Howell - of inhabitants of Hillsdale Co. praying for a law to prevent the imprisonment of fugitive slaves; which, on his motion, was referred to the committee on Judiciary. By Mi. Berry, of 62 inhabitants oi Lenawee Co., praying that capital punishment may be abolished. By Mr. McLeod, of 250 colored inhabitants of Wayne co., for striking out the word "white" from the first section ol the second article of the constitution ol the State of Michigan. By Mr. Vickery, of 61 legal voters of Kalamazoo for the enactment of laws foi the further extensión of personal liberty. Report was made by Mr. Ranisdel from the Judiciary Committee, adverse, to petition of 62 inhabitants of Lenawee Co. praying that capital punishment may be abolished.Mr. R. said he hoped no such abstract question might occupy the time of this session. Mr. Ramsdell from Judiciary commit tee reported back the Senate bilí, to de fine the crimes of adultery and fornica tion, and provide for the punishment there of. to committee of the whole. Mr. Ramsdell, presented four peti tions from the inhabitants of Washtenaw two of them for the enactment of a law prohibiting under proper penalties, mag strates from taking cognizance of claim for fugitive slaves, and for the expunging of the word "white," from the Constitu tion. The first two to the Judiciary, the last to Federal Relations. By Mr. Wilson, of 24 citizens o Washtenaw, for further protection to per sonal liberty. Also, a similar one fron 75 others. Referred to Judiciary Com mittee. Mr. Wilson proposed an amendmen to the Constitution extending the right o: suffrage to all white persons, who have resided in the State one year, providec they take an oath of allegiance. Referr ed to Judiciary Committee. Mr. Pratt, from the select Cemmittee appointed for that purpose, reported a bil to abolish capital punishment. Referrec to a select Committee. Third Rkading op Bills and Res olutions. - The House substitute for the Senate bilí to. define and punish fornica tion and adultery was passed by the fol lowing vote: yeas 44. Nats - Messrs. Barnard, Berry, Delamater Livermore, McLeod, R. D. Power, Schoolcraft, H. N. Walker- 3. Mr, Mürphv moved a consideraron which was lost. The joint resolution instructing our Sena tors and requesting our Representatives to Congress to use their influence to procur the fine imposed upon Gen. Jackson, b; Judge Hall, to be refunded, swas pasEed by yeas 49,naya 4.