No. 5. JOINT RESOLUTION instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives in Congress to use their influence in favor of a reduction of postage. Whereas, The present unequal and exhorbitant charges for post, age falls peculiarly heavy upon our citizens, rendering their corres pondence with the Atlantic states, a burdensome and oppressive tax, compelling them constantly to seek other avenues than those provided by government for the transmission of letters, and believing a reduetion of the rates of postage would, by encouraging correspondence tend to increase the revenue of the Post Office Department, and be satisfactory to the people. of postage. Therefore resolved, By the Senate and House of Represetnatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators in Congress be instructed Reduction and our Representatives requested to use their influence to obtain a liberal reduction of the present char es for postage, particularly on letters, and to abolish or modify the franking privilege, so that it shall no longer remain an unjust tax upon the general correspondence of the country: Provided, That the present mail facilities enjoyed by the new states be not thereby abridged. Resolved, That the Governor be and he is hereby requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved February 6, 1945. No. 6. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to tariff on Wood. Whereas, The construction given to the revenue laws of the United States, permits steamboats navigating the inland waters of the United States bordering on foreign territory to procure their supply of wood and fuel in Canadian ports free of duty. And whereas, The privelege thus conferred and used, has become subject of very just complaint, and prejudicial to the interests of a por tion of the people of this state; therefore, Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State Instructions of Michigan, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested to use their best efforts to obtain the passage of an act for the better enforcement of the revenue laws, whereby steamboats and other vessels navigating the inland waters of the United States shall be prohibited from smuggling wood under the pretence of supplies. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward a copy of the above resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved February 15, 1845. Board of provement. No. 7. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to Steamboats on the lakes in connection with the Railroads of this State. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the Internal im State of Michigan, That the Board of Internal Improvement be and they are hereby authorized to enter into such arrangements with a line of steamboats on Lake Erie, running in connection with the Central and Southern Railroads, and with stage lines west of the western termination of said roads, and with one or more steamboats on Lake Michigan, from St. Joseph to Chicago and Milwaukie, as they may deem best for the interest of the state, and most productive of revenue on said Railroads: Provided, That such arrangements can be made without involving the state in any expenditures, Approved February 15, 1845. No. 8. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the claim of Joel Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the Jool Clem- State of Michigan, That the claim of Joel Clemens be, and the same is hereby referred to the Board of State Auditors, who are hereby authorized to investigate said claim, to hear testimony for and agains it, and to make such final decision in the matter as to them shall seem just and equitable, and if they shall award any sum to the claimant, to make duplicate certificates thereof and file one with the Auditor General, and deliver the other to said claimant upon his executing the proper release to the state. And the Auditor General is hereby authorized and directed, upon the presentation to him of said claimants certificate, to draw his land scrip for the amount, not bearing interest, and the same shall be payable out of any internal improvement lands in this state not otherwise appropriated. Approved February 15, 1845. No. 9. JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the Secretary of Staie to furnish certain Documents to the Agent of the State Prison. Documents laws. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to preserve annually for the use of the State and session Prison, and subject to the order of the Agent or Clerk thereof, one bound copy of each of the journals, documents and session laws hereafter published at the expense of the state, and one hundred copies of the annual reports of the Agent and Inspectors of said Prison. Approved February 20, 1845. No. 10. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the Territory of Oregon, Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Instructions Representatives be requested to use all honorable means to extend the jurisdiction and protection of the government and laws of the United States, in and over the Territory of Oregon, to induce the speedy settlement of the country by American citizens; and to terminate the joint occupancy thereof with the British government. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to trans mit a copy of the foregoing to each of our Senators and Represen tatives in Congress. Approved February 20, 1845. Letting of No. 11. JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the Acting Commissioner of Internal Improvement to let the contracts upon the Palmyra and Jacksonburgh Railroad and to complete the Central Railroadbetween Marshall and Kalamazoo. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representativesof the State of Michigan, That for the purpose of renewing the superstructure of the Palmyra and Jacksonburgh Railroad, as contemplated in the act approved February 22, 1845, and for completing the Central Railroad between Marshall and Kalamazoo, the Acting Commissioner of Internal Improvement, be and he is hereby authorized and required to advertise for the letting of the contracts for the purposes aforesaid, for the period of fifteen days only, and at the expiration of the fif teen days notice, that the said Acting Commissioner be and he is hereby authorized and directed to let said contracts pursuant to law, any act heretofore passed to the contrary notwithstanding. Approved March 3d, 1845. 100. No. 12. JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing a settlement with John Monroe. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State John Mon- of Michigan, That the Board of State Auditors, the Acting Commissioner of Internal Improvement, and Auditor General are hereby authorized and required to make a final settlement with John Munroe, on just and equitable terms, for any transaction between said John Monroe and the state, connected with the Cenral Rail-road, and in case they shall award the said Monroe any sum, the Auditor General shall draw his warrant for the amount so awarded on the internal improvement fund, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay said award out of any money belonging to the Internal Improvement fund, not otherwise appropriated. Approved March 8, 1845. No. 13. JOINT RESOLUTION relating to the claim of Jacob Resolved, By the Senate ard House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That if any omission or error has occurred on the part of the State authorities, by which the right of appeal in the case of Jacob Rhines, of Sandstone, from the decision of the State appraisers to the Board of State Auditors has been prevented, that then, and in that case, the Board of State Auditors are hereby authorized to entertain and settle the claim of said Jacob Rhines for damages by the Central Rail-road and the right of way for the same, as if no error had occurred; and for such sums as may be awarded to said Rhines, the Auditor General may issue a warrant upon the State Treasurer, payable from the internal improvement fund. Approved March 12, 1845. Jac'bRhin's No. 14. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the improvement of the Harbors on the North-western Lakes. Whereas, The protection of the commerce of the North-western Lakes, and the safety of the lives of its mariners-as well as the lives and property of the vast multitude that are annually exposed to the Preamble. dangers incident to the same-is a duty clearly incumbent upon the general government; And whereas, The construction of suitable harbors at all proper and feasible points, would be the most efficient means of affording such security and protection; And whereas, In all former, as well as in the present contemplated appropriations by Congress, for the improvement of harbors on the North-western Lakes, no appropriation has been made, or is now |