After the capitulation of Detroit on the sixteenth day of August, 1812, the cattle of the citizens were shot down, the people were plundered of their provisions and clothing, their fences and barns, and in many cases their houses and furniture burned, by a cruel and unrelenting savage enemy, notwithstanding the solemn pledges of their allies, the British, that private property would be respected. And it is a lamentable truth, and no less lamentable than true, there may at this day be seen in the congressional public documents, the names of persons who were actually engaged in the service of the enemy, and some of whom were leaders at the robberies and massacres herein recited. They may be seen receiving under the sanction of Indian treaties and otherwise, thousands of dollars annually from the government of the United States, whilst the just claims of so many citizens on this frontier, who made sacrifices in lives and property in defence of their country, have been hitherto denied.
Having the fullest confidence in the government and in the generosity of Congress, and in the justice and equity of the claims of the citizens, sufferers on this frontier, the Legislative Council beg leave to call the attention of your honorable bodies to the subject of this memorial; and they respectfully solicit that Congress may pass a general law, which will give an equitable compensation for the losses of the claimants aforesaid.
Mr. Stockton from the committee on internal improvement, to whom the petition of sundry citizens of Michigan, praying for the opening of a road from Fort Street, in the city of Detroit, to Spring Wells, in the county of Wayne, made a report, declaring it to be inexpedient to grant the prayer of the petitioners.
On motion of Mr. Farnsworth, the report was laid on the table.
Mr. Stockton, from the committee on internal improvement, to whom was referred the resolution of the third instant, to inquire into the expediency of requiring in the field notes of each road, the course and distance of an adjacent section corner upon every three miles of said road, reported adversely to the object of the resolution.
On motion of Mr. Britain, the report was laid on the table.
Mr. Stockton from the committee on internal improvement, to whom was referred the resolution of the 7th instant, directing the committee to inquire into the expediency of providing more effectually for laying out and establishing county roads, made a report unfavorable to the object of the resolution.
The report was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Bacon, the bill No. 27, to organize certain townships, was recommitted to the committee on territorial affairs.
The bill to incorporate the stockholders of the Michigan Insurance Company of Detroit, was read a second time by its title.
