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State Legislature

State Legislature image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
February
Year
1844
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

i he act "to puiiish persons criminaUy who are guilty of seduction or adultery, and for other purpdses," has beCn signed by the Governor, and has be'come a law Considerable discussion has taken place on a bilí for the further pv'otection of public worship; designed to preserve good order at camp meetings. Objecííó'ns were made, not to the object df the bill, but to some of its provisions. Mr. Ramsdell, from the committee on the judïciary, made the following report which was accepted, and the committee -discharged: The committee to whom was referred the petition of Ebenezer Benham and others, have according to order had the same under consideratiöfy and have di'rected me to submit the following report: The petitionerg práy for the passage of a law compelling every person of colorto give a bond with two freehold securi ties, to entille them to a residencé in this state. In the opinión of your committee snch a law would be most unjustly oppressive to a race of men, whose ancestors were, by the accursed slave trade, forced into the country, and whose condition is always rendered sufficiently unhappy by the wrongs and oppressions which have been heaped upon them by the American people. The commitieo would therefore rather recommend to their fellovv-citizens the extensión of the justice and Christian sympathy to this class of persons, which their wrongs and rnisfortunes, as well as common humanity, demand. Reports. - Mr. Schoolcraftj from the Committee on Federal relations in obedience to aresolutionof the House,brought in a resolution requesling our Representatives in Congressto excrt their influcnce lo obtain a reduction of postage, and a restriction of the franking privilege. Mr. McLeod, from com. on education, on petition of sundry citizens of Livingston co.,praying for an amendment of the law relative to primary schools; that the object of the petitioners is to obtain such a modification of the law, as will enable them, after appropriating the public monies, to supply deficiencies in the payment of teachers, by a tax on the property of the residen ts of the districts. The reason urged by the petitioners are plausible, and in the main correct. The present law is an experiment, complex in its details, and requircs time to test its feasibility. The com. are of opinión that less injury will be done by sufFering the law ;o remain for the present, unamended,then )y the temporary and local inconveniencies which are incident to the first workïngs of every educational system.By Mr. Pattersont, from the select Committee, relative to the practice of medicine, accompanied by an elabórate report. The bill repeals the provisions of the Revised Statutes relative to medical societies, and legal i zes the use of subjects for dissection to facilítate tile study of anatomy. 500 copies of the report were ordered to be printed. Also, on the pelition of L. Starkweather and others. praying for the repeal of stop and stay laws: Adverse; - the com. having no evidence that others thanthose petitioners wish the laws above mentioned to be abolished. These laws are of long standing, the business transactions of the State have been made to conform to them; the com. believe that unless there is a general feeling and urgent cali for their repeal, they should be sufFered to remain. Considerable time was spent in the Senate on the bilí to regúlate State Prison labor. The first section provides thatany court n which a person is committed shall ascertain whether he has learned or practiced any mechanical trade, and shall cause the fact to be entcred in thejournals of the court. and the clerk shall send a certified copy to the keeper of the State 'rison. The second section provides that no person hereafter sentenced to the State 'rison shall be obliged to work at any other mechaical trade than the one to vhich he has been accustomed, except in certain cases mentioned. The third sccion prövides that convicts who have not earned any mechanical trade shall not be compelled to work at any trade except making wdollen cloths, flannel blankets T.nd carpetings, scylhes, cntlery, or manifacturing articles of which thcchief supily for home consumptión is imported rom without the United States. The fourth section prdvides for the fulfillment of existing cöntracts, and that all articles used wJihitt the prison may be manufacured and all labor or repairs on the prison. performed by the convicts, as far as nay be practicable. Also,that they may je employed in any business which will not conflict with the interest of persons employed in the mechanical trades in this tate. The bill passed the Senate after much liscussion: Mr. Mürphy, from the Committee on Banks and Incorporations, to whom had jeen referred' sundry petitionsonthat subect, reported a bill to incorpórate the Al)hidelphi association. The bill making appropriaüons for the continuance of the CenU'al Railroad was ndefinitely postponed - ayes 30-nays 22.Keports were made by Mr. Kix, trom com on militiá, a bilí for the more efficiënt organization and discipline of the militia of the state. By Mi Porterj from select com., a bilí o prevent the circiilation of srñall bilis. Petitions were presented by Mr. McjEo'd, of 70 citizens of the city of Deroit, praying the Legislature to takesuch actiori as' will tend to effect the alteration of the Constitution of the United States. elátive to slave represetatiori. Rèfèrred o special committee. By Mr. of citizens of St. Joseph, reïative to" personal liberty. By Mr. McLeod,of thirty-six c'hiefs and ïead men of the Ottawa Indians, praying hë legislature to' fake some action fo secure to them the rights of citizenship. - ieferrédto ihe committee on federal reations. There has been several attempts to fix a day of adjournment, but in vain. ir v

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News