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

74

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

was increased to 13, to be chosen by the President from 26 persons
elected by the people. In 1827 an act was passed authorizing the
electors to choose their electors directly, without the farther sanction of either the President or Congress. The power of enacting
laws was given to the council, subject, however, to the approval of
Congress and the veto of the Governor. This form of Territorial
government remained in force until Michigan was organized as a
State in 1837. William Woodbridge was Secretary of the Territory
during the administration of Gov. Cass, and deserves great credit
for the ability with which he performed the duties of his office. In
the absence of the chief executive he was acting governor, and a
portion of the time he represented the Territory as a delegate to
Congress. In 1828 he was succeeded by James Witherell, and in
two years by Gen. John T. Mason.
In 1831 Gen. Cass was appointed Secretary of War in the cabinet of President Jackson, after having served Michigan as its chief
executive for 18 years. He had been appointed six times, running
through the presidency of Madison, Monroe and John Q. Adams,
without any opposing candidate or a single vote against him in the
senate. He faithfully discharged his duties as Indian commissioner
and concluded 19 treaties with the Indians, acquiring large cessions
of territory in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.
He was a practical patriot of whom the people of the peninsular
State justly feel proud. Probably more than any other man, Gen.
Cass was the father of Micligan.
GEN. GEO. B. PORTER'S ADMINISTRATION.
On the promotion of Gen. Cass to a seat in the cabinet of President Jackson and his consequent resignation as Governor of Michigan, Gen. Geo. B. Porter was appointed Governor in July, 1831,
and Sept. 22 following he entered upon the duties of the office.
The population of the Territory at this time was about 35,000, prosperity was reigning all around and peace everywhere prevailed,
except that in 1832 the Black Hawk war took place in Illinois, but
did not affect this peninsula. In this war, however, Gov. Porter
co-operated with other States in furnishing militia.
While Gov. Porter was the chief executive, Wisconsin was detached from Micligan and erected into a separate Territory; many
new townships were organized and wagon roads opened and improved; land began to rise rapidly in value, and speculators
multiplied. The council provided for the establishment and regulation of common schools,incorporated "The Lake Michigan Steamboat Company," with a capital of $40,000; and incorporated the
first railroad company in Michigan, the "Detroit & St. Joseph
Railroad Company," since called the " Michigan Central." The
original corporators were, John Biddle, John R. Williams, Charles
Lamed, E. P. Hastings, Oliver Newberry, De Garmo James, James
Abbott, John Gilbert, Abel Millington, Job Gorton, John Allen,