A Table showing the principal officers of the United States from each State, since the adoption of the Constitution.

The foregoing statement may be relied upon, having been derived by laborious research from the records of the government-and discloses a system of public patronage both unjust and unequal, a system of distribution, that ought not to be continued, or tolerated by the new states. So long as this system prevails, the new states can have no just proportion of influence in the federal councils

In regard to certain roads contemplated by the joint resolution referred to the committee, no doubt can be entertained of their feasibility, and their important bearing upon the interests of the coun

try. In answer to a communication addressed to the surveyor general, by the chairman of the committee, Mr. Lyon says: "These roads are, first, a road leading from Saginaw to Mackinaw ;-second, a road from Grand Rapids, by Grand Traverse Bay, to Mackinaw;-third, a road from Fort Wilkins, southerly, by Keewenaw Bay, to Menomenie river, and thence to Green Bay; and fourth, a road from Montreal river, near the mineral range, along near said range and Keewenaw Bay, to Mackinaw, with a branch to the Sault Ste Marie.

The whole country through which the roads above described would run, is now a vast, unbroken wilderness, with scarce a solitary settler in it, except at the above named points, where it is proposed to have the roads touch or terminate.

The greater part of it has been surveyed, and that portion between Saginaw and Mackinaw, and between Grand Rapids and Mackinaw, by Grand Traverse Bay, through which the proposed roads would run, for a distance, on each route, of about one hundred and eighty-five miles, has been in market for many years, without attracting the attention of purchasers, and if no roads should be opened through it, it is likely to remain in market for fifty years longer without any considerable sales being made in it.

Good ground for the location of roads may be found on all the above named routes, and the opening of good roads on those routes, is an object of great importance to the state, and to the United States, and both for civil and military purposes. But the expense of constructing them through such dense forests as they will pass, will be so great, that I can see no way of doing it, without essential aid from the general government. This can hardly be expected in any other form than a grant of alternate sections of land, to a sufficient extent on each side of each read, for this purpose. To determine the necessary width of the grant, we must consider the character of the country through which the roads will pass, and the probable cost of their construction.

qua

The average cost of good wagon roads, on the routes above mentioned will be about one thousand dollars per mile, and the lity of the land along the routes, is such, that if the roads were opened, about one-half of it would probably be sold at the minimum

government price, within the next fifteen years. The remainder, being swamps and light, sandy soils, would be worth but little. To construct the roads with the proceeds of the sales of the lands, through which they would run, would therefore require a grant of alternate sections, for at least six miles in width, or three miles on each side of the road."

The surveyor general remarks further, that "such grants have been made by the government, for such purposes in other states, where roads would have been opened and the lands belonging to the government sold, without them; and it is clear that the interests of the United States would be promoted by such a grant here, where lands are now worthless, and can never be sold until such roads are opened."

There can be no doubt, as to the correctness of the views above expressed, and the great importance of the roads above contemplated to the interests of this state. When the facts in the case are known, and when it is further known that the efforts of the state in the construction of rail roads and other roads, have contributed largely to the accumulation of those millions of dollars, drawn from this state by the United States, the justice and expediency of the proposed measure must be universally admitted.

It may not be unworthy of remark that when the lower peninsula is as densely populated as Massachusetts, and the upper peninsula contains 200,000 inhabitants, the population of Michigan will be 3,000,000. The time may come when the state will be as popu. lous as New York. To hasten the consummation of an object so desirable, roads must be opened through what is now an unbroken. wilderness.

In view of the facts and reasonings above presented, the committee accompany this report with joint resolutions, as a substitute for the preamble and resolution referred to them.

Respecfully submitted.

JOHN D. PIERCE.

Chairman of Com. on Federal Relations.

No. 17.

1847.

PARIS, October 10th, 1846.

THE HONORABLE G. O. WHITTEMORE, Secretary of State,

of the Commonwealth of Michigan :

SIR-I have the honor of informing you that the large case, containing the books, &c., announced by your honored of April last, reached me yesterday in very good state.

Next week I shall commence the distribution of this beautifu collection, so well calculated to give an idea of the liberality of the people of Michigan, of their far advanced state of civilization, and noble anxiety for the propagation of knowledge and cultivation of sciences, letters, fine arts, &c.

You may rest assured, Sir, that everything will be done here in a manner adequate to the old fraternal feelings of France for America. I therefore hope that the Government and the Legislature will be well pleased with the objects I shall obtain from the several Ministerial Departments and scientific establishments, in return for your gifts.

But to give a greater activity to this scientific intercourse, and to secure its permanency, I would respectfully suggest to the Legislature the indispensibleness of placing the management of the international exchanges in the hands of the Regents of the University of Michigan, or to a selected committee of Professors, whose labors, independent of political events, would never be interrupted, whatever may be the state of political affairs, or change of administration. Besides, such a committee would be better acquainted with the intellectual wants of the people, and our united labors would be of immediate and important results for the rapid propagation of knowledge.

Meanwhile, I shall immediately transmit to you, care of E. Thayer,

1

HOUSE.]

2

[No. 17. New York, the box of books prepared ever since the month of April last, but which, owing to the absence of a few months I was obliged to make from Paris, was not forwarded as I announced by my letter to you of the 28th of April, and I hope that before the end of this month, I shall have it in my power to forward to you a case of still more interesting objects than those contained in the above mentioned box.

May I beg of you, Sir, to express in my behalf, to his Excellency, the Governor, and to the Legislature, the sentiments of my gratitude for the readiness with which they have deigned to answer my humble call. Be kind enough to assure them that I shall do everything in my power to make myself worthy of the honor they are bestowing upon my efforts in realizing the intellectual union of the two hemispheres, by appointing me thus the official agent of the state of Michigan in Europe, for the literary interchanges. I have the honor to be, Sir,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

ALEXANDER VATTEMARE.

PARIS, November 16, 1846.

TO THE HONORABLE G. O. WHITTEMORE, Secretary of Michigan :SIR-I have the honor of informing you that according to your request, I have distributed the copies of documents, laws, &c., published by order of the Legislature of Michigan, to the following ministerial departments, legislative and scientific establishments, viz:

1st, To the Chamber of Deputies, one copy, (complete.)

2d. To the Minister of Justice, a copy of the Revised Statutes, Walker's and Harrington's Chancery Reports.

3d. To the Minister of War, a complete copy.

4th. To the Minister of the Navy and Colonies, a complete copy. 5th. To the Minister of Commerce and Agriculture, do.

6th. To the Minister of Public Works,

do.

7th. To the Royal and Central Agricultural Society, the collection of the documents, with the exception of the three volumes presented to the Minister of Justice.