History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

appetite for whisky. As a preliminary step to the negotiations,
the commissioners ordered that no spirits should be given to the
Indians. The chief of the latter was a man about a hundred years
old, but still of a good constitution. The commissioners urged
every consideration to convince him and the other Indians of the
propriety of the course they had adopted, but in vain. " Father,"
said the old chieftain, "we do not care for the land, nor the money,
nor the goods: what we want is whisky; give us whisky." But
the commissioners were inexorable, and the Indians were forced to
content themselves.
This year (1821) also two Indians were hung for murder. There
was some fear that the event would be made by the British an
occasion of arousing Indian atrocities in the vicinity, and the petition for the pardon of the wretches was considered by Gov. Cass
with a great deal of embarrassment.. He finally concluded to let
the law take its course, and accordingly, Dec. 25, the murderers
were hung.
In 1822 six new counties were created, namely, Lapeer, Sanilac,
Saginaw, Shiawassee, Washtenaw and Lenawee; and they contained
much more territory then they do at the present day. This year
the first stage line was established in the Territory, connecting the
county seat of Macomb county with the steamer "Walk-in-theWater" at Detroit.
In 1823 Congress changed the form of Territorial government,
abrogating the legislative power of the governor and judges and
establishing a "Legislative Council," to consist of nine members,
appointed by the President of the United States out of 18 candidates elected by the people. By the same act the term of judicial
office was limited to four years, and eligibility to office was made to
require the same qualifications as the right to suffrage. The people now took new interest in their government, and felt encouraged
to lay deeper the foundations of future prosperity. The first
legislative council under the new regime met at Detroit June 7,
1824, when Gov. Cass delivered his message, reviewing the progress
of the Territory, calling attention to the needs of popular education
and recommending a policy of governmental administration. During this year he also called the attention of the general Government
to the mineral resources of the Superior region, and asked for gov.
ernmental explorations therein. At its second session after this,
Congress authorized a commission to treat with the Indians of the
upper peninsula for permission to explore that country.
In 1825 the Erie canal was completed from the Hudson river to
Buffalo, N. Y., and the effect was to increase materially the flow of
people and wealth into the young Territory of Michigan. The citizens of the East began to learn the truth concerning the agricultural value of this peninsula, and those in search of good and
permanent homes came to see for themselves, and afterward cane
with their friends or families to remain as industrious residents, to
develop a powerful State. The number in the Territorial council