I likewise enclose a Copy, of a report of a Committee of the legislative authority, appointed to consider what measures were necessary to be taken, on certain resolutions, laid on the table of the legislature, by Judge Woodward, the moment, he was about to leave the Territory.

As these resolutions have been published by the Judge, and as they implicate the official conduct, of the Governor of the Territory, and consiquently of the executive of the United States, as he holds his commis sion during the pleasure of the President, it is necessary it should be known, whether the resolutions were well founded or not This report will show, how they are considered by this Government, and it is presumed, the explanations, will be satisfactory to the government, from which we emanate-It is, Sir, unfortunate, that any personalities, should be mingled with public proceedings: Those contained in this report, have necessarily resulted from the resolutions themselves; and however it is to be regretted, it will easily be perceived, where the fault rests—

As it is a duty incumbent on me, to make all communications of consiquence, relating to the civil government of the Territory to the Secretary of State, I presume this will be considered, as strictly warranted by Official propriety—And I further have the satisfaction to inform you, that every thing is now tranquill, in the Territory, and the proceedings of the goverment appear to give general satisfaction

I am very respectfully your
Most obedt. Servt.

William Hull.

James Madison

Secretary of State.

[Endorsed.]

James Madison

Secretary of State.

CENSUS OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY, 1811.

Aggregate amount of each description of persons within the Territory of Michigan.

The number of persons within my division, consisting of the Territory of Michigan appears in a schedule hereto annexed, Subscribed by me this eighteenth day of February A. D. 1811.

(Signed) Reuben Atwater

Secretary

Attest the annexed to be a true copy of the original transmitted by me to the Secretary of State of the United States March the 1st 1811

(Signed) Reuben Atwater Secretary

LETTER OF JOSEPH WATSON.

[From Vol. 1 of the Executive Correspondence from the Department of Secretary of State, Lansing.]

To the Honourable The Legislature of the Territory of Michigan
City of Detroit the 11th May 1809

I conceive it necessary to inform the Legislature that there is a probability of my being absent from the Territory between this and its next session, in order that some provision for the safe keeping of its papers in such case may be made.

I also submit my account for services rendered as Secretary to the Legislature, and pray that the Legislature may direct the Treasurer of the Territory to issue certificates for the payment thereof

Respectfully

The Legislatures

C. h. S.

Jos Watson

PROTEST AGAINST SALE OF DETROIT COMMONS, 1811.

[From Executive Correspondence on file in Governor's Office, Lansing, Mich.]

#1

To The Honorable Governor & Judges of the Territory of Michigan. The Memorial of the Subscribers, in behalf of their

Fellow Citizens of the Town of Detroit;

Humbly Sheweth;

That your Honors were authorised by an Act of Congress of 21st April 1806 to lay out a Town, including the whole of the old Town of Detroit, and Ten Thousand acres adjacent, excepting certain Military reserves —

That your Memorialists were proprietors in the old Town of Detroit on the 11th of June 1805, and were found by your Honors, in full possession of the Detroit commons, extending two miles back from the Detroit River, under a Law of the United States late Government of the North West Territory, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Town of Detroit" passed by the House of Representatives and Council of said Territory, and aproved by His Excellency Arthur St. Clair Govenor of the same on *The Governor and three judges constituted the legislative body of Michigan Territory from 1805-1824.-C. M. B.

the 18th January 1802, enacted when your Memorialists were a component part thereof, under the second grade of Government authorized by the Ordinance of Congress of the 13th July 1787*2- Consequently the Old Town of Detroit at the time Congress passed the aforesaid Act of 1806 comprehended the said Commons, and made a part and parcel thereof— Your Memorialists under this idea, set on foot a petition to your Honorable Body last year, which was lately read in open Session, but was not referred to a Committee to make a report on its merits, as is the usual practice of all Legislative Bodies, nor has the question as yet, been taken on the subject; which consequently is still open for investigation.

Your Memorialists further beg leave to remark that their rights to the Detroit Commons has been strengthened by the 5th Section of the Act of Congress of the 3a March 1805, which recognizes the principle of possession and occupancy, prior to, and since the 1st July 1796, and that an entry in Conformity to said act was made with the Commissioners of the Land Office for the District of Detroit, on the 31st October 1805 in behalf of your Memorialists by a person duly authorized thereof at a public meeting of the Inhabitants of the District of Detroit

Your Memorialists beg leave to suggest that they are informed and have been assured that the sales of the Detroit Commons on the 6th February 1809 have been made in violation of an Act "Concerning the Town of Detroit" made and published the 13th September 1806, and that untill the said Act is repealed, or so much thereof as regards the Detroit Commons beyond the Court House Circus, the said sale is absolutely invalid in point of Law; If so, your Honorable Body is still at full liberty to retrace your steps, and grant to the Inhabitants residing in the Town of Detroit, their Commons, which they have time out of mind enjoyed, untill partially dispossessed of by Military Authority, as hath been emphatically expressed by the said Legislature of the North West Territory, in their written instructions to Paul Fearing Esq. their Delegate in Congress on Friday the 11th December 1801

Your Memorialists claim the constitutional privilege to assemble and petition Government for a redress of grievances considering their rights invaded, We enter our Solemn protest against your proceedings, in violating through us, the constitution of the United States, by Selling the Public Commons aforesaid, and by the repeal last Fall of all Laws enacted by the Legislature of the North West Teritory aforesaid under its second grade, by which we had acquired rights greater than any you **For act of incorporation of the old town see Vol. VIII., p. 507.

could confer, and particularly the Act aforesaid incorprating the Town of Detroit which passed while we the people of this Territory were legally represented in said Legislature- The Act of Congress of the 8th May 1792 Section 2d only having authorized the Governor & Judges of the Territory North West of the River Ohio, and consequently your Honors as their Successors "to repeal their Laws by them made, whensoever the same may be found to be improper"

Your Memorialists with humility request leave to express their opin ions, that there could not possibly be any impropriety in said Incorporation act, Authorizing Trustees to make Laws and Ordinances for the health, safety, cleanliness, convenience, and good government of the said Town of Detroit, and the Inhabitants thereof, but on the contrary, a very palpable one in leaving them exposed as they now are, without any lawful regulations whatever on that subject—

Your Memorialists therefore Humbly request that your Honors will refer the aforesaid Petition respecting the Detroit Commons to a select Committee with powers to investigate the merits and rights therein of your Memorialists, and to grant them the same as a Public Commonsand that so much of the sweeping repealing Law adopted last Fall as anulls all Laws enacted and made by the Representatives, Council and Governor of the late North West Territory and repeals the said act to incorporate the Town of Detroit may be vacated, and declared nul and void, inasmuch as it may be the means of restoring your Memorialists to their just rights, constitutionally acquired, and of preventing a similar calamity befalling your Memorialists as happened on the 11th June 1805. And your Memorialists as in duty bound will ever pray

Conrad Seek

Jean Bte. Beaubien

Rich'd Smyth

Wm. Brown

Archibald Horner

James Dodemead*

Jean Durette

St Louis Lognon

Daniel Mack Neilt

Detroit 8th June 1811

J. Bt. Piquette

I or J Dodemead.

*The House of James Dodemead (or of Ann Dodemead, his mother, was on the south side of St. Anne St., near the southeast corner of the modern Jefferson Ave. and Shelby St. It was near this spot that the fire started that destroyed the town.— C. M. B.

Daniel McNeil.