The following persons have been appointed Agents for the improvement of certain roads, under the act of March 3. 1831. John W. Hunter,357 for the improvement of the Saganaw road. John Anderson, for the improvement of the road from Detroit to the Ohio line. Samuel Stackhouse, for the improvement of the Chicago road. Israel Center for the improvement of the road from Detroit to Fort Gratiot. The following extract from the instructions to these persons will guide you in the settlement and payment of the accounts. "The money will be paid from the Treasury upon the warrants of the Auditor, who will issue them upon accounts, duly made out and certified by you, stating specifically the work done or materials furnished." Robert Abbott Esq Very Lew Cass Auditor of the Territory L. Cass [Indorsement] E D March 12. 1831 To the Auditor, concerning the disbursement of monies for certain roads 356 Draft. 357 Captain John W. Hunter came from New York to Detroit soon after the close of the War of 1812. He was one of the first settlers of Oakland County and before going there is said to have cast the first iron plow made at Detroit. In 1829 he established a foundry at Birmingham, Mich., formerly Hamilton. He was active in public duties and earnest in forwarding all means of self-improvement, being an early member of the Young Men's Society of Detroit. Mich. Pion. and Hist. Colls. III, 573-576; XII, 362, 401. (J. S. F.) L. CASS TO MAJ. GEN. WILLIAMS." [Library of Congress-Schoolcraft Papers-1831.] Detroit March 14. 1831 Sir, I have the honour to inform you, that John E Schwarz has been appointed Adjutant General of the Militia of the Territory. You will please to announce this appointment in orders. Maj. Gen. Williams [Indorsement] E. D. March 14. 1831 Very To Gen. Williams announcing the appointment of J. E. Schwarz as Adjutant General. L. CASS TO JOHN H. FARNHAM.358 [Library of Congress-Schoolcraft Papers-1831.] Detroit March 31. 1831 Sir. I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 22d ulto, announ cing my election as an honorary member of the Indiana Historical Society. For this manifes [ta]tion of their regard, I will thank you to tender my acknowledgments to the Society. I shall be happy to furnish any aid in my power towards the attainment of the objects, which you have in view. And should my other duties 358 Draft. 359 Draft. The Indiana Hist. Soc. was organized Dec. 11, 1830, two years subsequent to the organization of the Michigan Hist. Society. John H. Farnham was its moving spirit, and was chosen first Corresponding Secretary. The Indiana Historical Society, like its predecessor in Michigan, became inactive after a very promising start, exhibiting few signs of life for many years after 1835. Ind. Hist. Soc. Publs. Vol I, No. 1, pp. 5-16. (J. S. F.) leave me any leisure to devote to the subject, within a reasonable time, I will endeavour to comply with your request. John H. Farnham Esq Very etc At the last session of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, a new brigade of Militia numbered the third brigade was created.360 Allow me to present for the consideration of the President the name of Joseph W. Brown, as a proper person to be appointed to the office of Brigadier General of the Militia. He is the eldest Colonel, of the line. living within the Brigade, and has now the command of it.. He is besides a most valuable officer, and respectable citizen. J. H. Eaton Secy of War. [Indorsement] E. D. April 21. 1831 Very etc To the Secy of War recommending J. W. Brown for the appointment of Brigadier General in the Militia. Draft. The brigade district had for its limits the county of Lenawee, and all that part of Michigan lying west of Lenawee and Washtenaw counties as they then were. Terr. Laws III, 870. (J. S. F.) L. CASS TO POSTMASTER GENERAL.361 [Library of Congress-Schoolcraft Papers-1831.] Sir, Washington April 22. 1831 Having ascertained, that James Abbott Esq, Postmaster at Detroit,362 has been removed, and knowing him to be a faithful officer and respectable citizen, and having besides a strong personal regard for him, I take the liberty of inquiring, whether he was removed for any cause, affecting his character as a man or an officer. Hon. W. T. Barry Postmaster General, Very respectfully [Indorsement] ED April 22. 1831 To the Post Mas. Genl. concerning the removal of Mr Abbott. 361 Draft. W. T. Barry of Virginia succeeded John McLean of Ohio as Postmaster General, Mar. 1829. McLean had been without doubt the most efficient head the post office department had up to that time. Col. Thos. L. McKenney gives the following account of his removal, which may explain Abbott's removal. "A time came, at last when Mr. M'Lean was considered a stumbling block in the way of party. The 'reward' and punishment system was to take the place of qualification, patriotism and experience. Personal rewards, and not the public good, had now become the practice of the government. The friends of General Jackson were now to be 'rewarded' and those who were not 'of his party' were to be 'punished.' But how, it may be asked, could this system affect Mr. M'Lean? Was he not favorable to the elevation of General Jackson? The general impression was, that he favored the result. Then why was he moved upon. Because, I answer, he declined to make the General Post Office an instrument of party; and to become an executioner, and chop off heads as he might be commanded. To the question asked of a member of the Hickory Club in Washington, What are you going to do with Mr. M'Lean? the answer was 'Damn him, we'll bench him.'" Accordingly he was appointed justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. McKenney, Memoirs and Travels, pp. 53, 54. (J. S. F.) 362Had been postmaster since 1806. John Norvell, his successor, came to Detroit from Philadelphia, where he had for sixteen years edited a democratic paper. James Abbott held office till the arrival of his successor in May, 1832. See Life and Times of John Norvell in Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls. III, 141. (J. S. F.) L. CASS TO O. B. BROWN $63 [Library of Congress-Schoolcraft Papers-1831.] Sir Washington May 3. 1831 In the conveyance of the mail from Cleaveland to Detroit, a day might easily be gained. The mail is four days between those places, and one day it is carried but thirty two miles, and seven of these are added in consequence of the circuitousness of the route. I beg leave to urge, that arrangements may be made, as speedily as the convenience of the department will permit, for conveying the mail in three days from Cleaveland to Detroit. The route should be changed from Milan, through Bloomingville to Lower Sandusky the proper direction, and not by Norwalk and Monroe. These places are off the line and should be accomodated by a special mail From long experience I am satisfied that all packages destined from the Lake Country should be sent to Pittsburg for distribution. We should gain two days by this arrangement. From here to Baltimore and from there to Chambersburg would be the proper direction. I found along the whole route from Detroit to Pittsburg, with but few exceptions a total inattention to the provisions of the contract, respecting the mode of transportation. As it is not my wish to injure any one, but to provide a future remedy for the evil, I shall not report facts or manes [sic] to you. But I would suggest the expediency of the different Post Masters being called upon, from time to time to report all failures of this description. This is the only security for the public interest. And in future, I trust, that there will be no cessation of the stages in the winter. Their [sic] is no necessity for such an indulgence. In the hands of effici[e]nt men, they could be kept running all the time 383 Draft, endorsed,-"Respecting the state of the mail routes." Rev. Obadiah B. Brown was for many years connected with the post office department. At this time he was chief clerk of the Third Division, having in charge the regulating and adjusting of mail routes and their connections; the times of arrival and departure of mails; the frequency of their trips and conduct of contractors and carriers; arranging, preparing and advertising mail routes and in general, having charge of matters connected with transportation and distribution of mail. A. S. P. Post Office, 315. (J. S. F.) |