of the acts aforesaid, has generally been obtained with much difficulty and in many such cases has failed, for the want of the requisite testimony, the agent or officer who gave the order having since died, or is not known to the claimant. The claims included in the 2d and 3d classes, and also the 4th class, where the order of an officer or agent could not be proved, have been totally rejected. The inhuman conduct of the enemy at the surrender of Detroit, by the wanton waste and cruel destruction and plunder of private property, the conflagrations at Frenchtown and the River Raisin, before and after the surrender of those places, in part are recorded in the office of the war department. Could the scenes which transpired at the bloody massacre of Winchester's army, the war dance of the savages around the flaming cottages of our citizens be truly painted and duly represented to the view of your honorable body, the humble patriot, bowed down with penury and distress by the losses he then sustained, would need no other advocate for his claims, before the liberal government of his country. The question would not be asked of the claimant, if his house was occupied as a military post, or place of deposit, by order of an officer of the United States; no, the citizen complains that after capitulation, his cattle were shot and plundered, his clothes were pillaged from his house, his furniture made bonfires, and his house a conflagration, by a cruel and unrelenting enemy. That it is the duty of the government to protect the citizen and his property in time of war, is a sufficient argument for his relief. The broken faith and solemn pledges of the enemy, "that private property should be respected," in many cases, is the foundation of the claim of the citizen, and for which all the civilized governments ought to be responsible.

Having the fullest confidence in the government of our country, in the generosity and humanity of Congress, and at the same time full faith in the equity and justice of the claims of the citizens of this Territory, in whose behalf the legislative council have been solicited to call the attention of Congress, the legislative Congress have a lively hope that the government of their country will once more look with compassion upon the sufferings of their citizens on this late unfortunate and bloody frontier of Michigan; and that the wisdom of Congress will devise some means of relief, that will give an equitable compensation for the losses of the claimants aforesaid.

MEMORIAL

(Without date.)

To his Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable the Judges, composing the legislative authority of the Territory of Michigan:

The memorial of the undersigned, citizens of the United States and freehold inhabitants of the district of Detroit, in the Territory of Michigan. Respectfully showeth.

That however willing your memorialists have ever been of resorting to their well established right of petitioning your honorable body concerning the many injuries and public grievances that have subsisted since the commencement of the present government of Michigan; the extraordinary and important subject now about to be represented, has compelled them to abandon a stifled silence hitherto borne with a patient hope of experiencing happier times.

While your memorialists pass over the relation of many oppressive and perhaps unfortunate incidents that have attended the course of the administration of this government by your Honors, it is particularly unavoidable to pass over the Act of your honorable body, entitled, "An Act to regulate the internal government and police of the several districts in the Territory of Michigan," which authorizes the election of five councillors, selectmen or commissioners by the inhabitants of each district. The right of suffrage and the freedom of election, is no doubt, a peculiarly estimable blessing to a people, when it is secured to them, unfettered by the shackles of executive authority and uninfluenced by arbitrary and unjustifiable practice; but when we consider that the election had in October last, bore not the semblance of an election by free men, we are induced to remind your Honors respectfully, that, by a reference to the ordinance of Congress constituting the existence of Territorial governments, passed July 13, 1787, it is expressly ordained, that, "The Governor and Judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original states, criminal and civil, as may be necessary, and best suited to the circumstances of the district." Thus we consider it conclusive, that the sole power of adopting (not making) laws rests only with your honorable body, and that no provision can be found in the said ordinance, authorizing your honors to substitute any other legislative body—hence, your memorialists presume, that the laws passed by the council of the district of Detroit are void and of no effect, consequently, that your memorialists are, or, ought not to be bound, to abide by them. Your memorialists ever ready and zealous in the support of a just and equitable system of laws, would have been happy to have had it in their power to have *This act was passed Sept. 14, 1810. It was lost for many years, but is now printed in Territorial Laws IV., 96. It was repealed Oct. 4, 1814.-C. M. B.

considered the present system of taxation adopted by the aforesaid council within this purview, but its defects, added to the reasons already adduced, have compelled your memorialists to an appeal to your honors concerning the operation of this unwarrantable innovation. Your memorialists therefore pray, that immediate measures may be adopted by your honorable body, to prevent the commencement of prosecutions against the inhabitants of this district, by virtue of the authority of the said council, or their laws, for the collection of taxes, but should it be deemed necessary, by your honorable body, to raise a sum of money by taxation, we would respectfully remind your honors that a considerable sum has been levied and collected by William M. Scott, the late marshal of this Territory, and that, your memorialists are informed, is yet unaccounted for, and in the hands of the said Scott. Your memorialists also take the liberty of calling the attention of your honorable body to a consideration though less important, yet no less oppressive in its operation upon the poor and unfortunate debtors of this district, that is, the enormous and extraordinary fees of the justices of the peace. It being consistent with the spirit and principles of free government that justice should be administered as cheap and with as little cost as possible, it would be peculiarly alleviating to your petitioners and their fellow citizens of this district, to experience a diminution of costs in the courts of justices of the peace. We therefore hope, that your honorable body, considering the justice of this additional demand, will be pleased to take it into early consideration. And your memorialists as in duty bound will ever pray,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO INSURRECTION OF NEGROES

DETROIT, April 2nd, 1860.

Judge B. F. H. Witherell, President of the Historical Society of Mich'n. MY DEAR SIR:-In compliance with your verbal request, I beg leave to present through you, to the Historical Society, three letters, relating to an insurrection among the negroes of this place, in July, 1833. There are undoubtedly, many citizens in Detroit who recollect more of the details of the outbreak than I do. But those who did not witness the revolt, can hardly credit the statement, that the lives and property of the citizens were jeop ardized to an extent which rendered it necessary for the common council and mayor to solicit the aid and protection of government troops.

Gov. Cass, secretary of war, was present on a visit, and directed a company of troops from Fort Gratiot to proceed to this place, and "aid the civil author

ity of the city in support of the laws." Sheriff Wilson had been dangerously wounded at the jail in the execution of his duties, and an old negress, carrying a white rag on the top of a pole, is said to have led a motley crew of negroes, under her flag, through the principal streets of the city in defiance of the civil authority. At length the troops were reported as approaching the city, and a general scramble for Canada was the result. At the suggestion of Mayor Chapin, sentinels were placed at night at certain points with orders "to arrest all suspicious persons." The mayor was personally very active in hunting up delinquents, and passing up street late at night, he came in contact with a sentinel who did not know him, and who judged from his haste, that he was certainly a "suspicious person," he accordingly arrested him, and held him in custody until the arrival of the sergeant of the guard. This was exceedingly annoying, as it detained him, and prevented him from making other arrests which were important to the security of the public tranquility.

General [Hugh] Brady at this period returned from the upper lakes, and as the negroes had, with few exceptions, evacuated the city and fled into Canada, he deemed it most prudent to order the troops back to Fort Gratiot. The letters herewith enclosed and marked 1, 2 and 3, contain historical facts, which I think are worthy of record, and I therefore take much pleasure in presenting them in accordance with your request.

SIR: The recent excesses committed in this city by the black population within its limits, and particularly the repeated attempts to fire the town, have so far excited the apprehensions of our citizens for their property and lives, that I am instructed by the common council of the city, to ask that a detachment of the United States troops may be stationed at this place, to act under the directions of the municipal authority until the excitement has subsided and tranquility is restored.

Very Respectfully &c.,

Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War.

M. CHAPIN.

[Copy.]

DETROIT, July 26, 1833.

SIR: You will please to detach one of the companies under your command to this place, for temporary duty, and instruct the commanding officer to inform the mayor of Detroit of his arrival and to afford such aid as may be required by the proper civil authorities of the city, in support of the laws. The company will remain as long as Brigadier Gen'l. Brady may think necessary.

Very Respectfully,

Your Ob't. Sv't.,

Maj. M. M. Payne, U. S. Army, Commanding at Fort Gratiot.

LEW. CASS.

DETROIT, July 26, 1833.

SIR-I have the honor to enclose copies of letters addressed to me by the mayor of Detroit, and of the instructions I have given to Major Payne. You will please to retain the detachments at Detroit as long as you may think necessary, and when the circumstances do not require their further continuance there, you will direct them to return to Fort Gratiot.

GENTLEMEN:-The annuities payable by law to the Pottawattomie Indians amount to ten thousand seven hundred dollars. Of this sum six thousand five hundred dollars have been sent to Chicago, and the residue, being four thousand two hundred dollars, is committed to your charge to be transported to the River Raisin. Seventeen hundred dollars of this amount are destined for the Wabash and Elk's hears Pottawattomies and will be paid at Fort Wayne. You will please deliver it to Messrs. R. A. and T. Forsyth, who will be at Monroe on Wednesday or Thursday next, and who will transport it to Fort Wayne, to be distributed by the agent there. You will take a receipt for the money there paid. The remainder of the annuity being two thousand five hundred dollars you will distribute equally among the Pottawattomies at Monroe. You will first, from the best information you can procure,