The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-30

Ihe following are extracts from Senator Felchs remarks
the 5h July, the of the Territory of Michigan
for the punishment of Migrants, &c-commonly called the
whipping law" AS they called for from different
quarters think it advisable give them general cir
culaton:
Mr.. FELcH desired say few words in reference
Delaware the from Mississippi appears
derstnnd the Territorial organization in Michigan when
this law was adopted.
The power of legislation committed to the governor
aHa 90 s m
only legislative authority which exercised within the
each having his upon the adoption OF proposed laws
and under an express provision that majority should
no the action of the other members he was on
an equ Atty only with them, and had his simple He
given his vote against its adoption yet by the Votes
other three, 1t would become law and it would be
From here presented appears 10 have been
adopted by majority of the governor and judges; but
have evidence to show whether Gen Cass in favor
oft or against it, All that now appears perfectly
posed and voted against the adoption Of the law But
whether it met his approval or his opposition, IL, my
mind, u matter OF little importance.
The law making powers OF the governor and judges
peculiar They had general authority of egisatng for
the Territory Their power limited to the adopting OF
such laws of the States criminal and civil, might be
and 1u IsS suited 70 the eli the dis
originate none Since the charge has been made in the
law referred by the from Delaware, friend OF
mine has examined the original in Office of the
manuscript, that the is adopted from of the
State OF Vermont From this information assert with
confidence that such is the fact In regard
othe adopted under the organization
othe Territories OF the northwest things deserve consd
the the oldest and enlightened States in
the Unonom those in which the subjects good govern
rnen perfectly understood and the principle OF
morality fully established Hence the State Of Vermont
State which sadmitted to be inferior in these i'm
portan specs from which such laws were derived
transferred to the The
from Florida asserts that law similar to that under
sideraon existed in and the books
of most of the old thirteen States would believe if exam
med, show similar provisions enacted and enforced
early period 1t also remarked in the second place
shat the laws adopted under the early organization
different Territories of the northwest similar in their
character. Many of them are identical in terms and law.
making penal the offences described in
der consideration, and inictng punishment of the
character, will be found among the early laws of most il
all the Territories; and portions of the
they were long continued under the State In
State of Indiana law similar in provisions to that
under consideration, was for many the
book and in force This law, the time fits passage
received the official approval of General Harrison,
governor OF the Territory Of Indiana and since Pres
dent OF the United States That law, however, moe
severe in its penalties than the law adopted in Michigan
While the punishment in the latter limited
stripes, and to term of labor not exceeding three
months, the Indiana law extended the penalty to forty
stripes AID the term of at hard labor
nine months The law-makiug power of Indiana this
lime resided in council and house OF representatives
General Harrison, governor of the Territory, had, under
The ordinance OF 1857, absolute veto upon every bill
Without his approval, nolaw could be valid the
General Glass; governor OF Michigan, have already
shown, had such controlling power the action
he board of which he member The law OF which
gentleman complains adopted in 1873 thirty
ago Sir do not all know that within that space OF me
and punishmens therefor have been The subject
investigation, and that the result has been grea,
change in pubic opinion, and the laws in regard to them
Methods OF pvnis approved by all at that time,
discarded Mlder penalties and less ignominious
hctions adopted by consent On this subject
The efforts of Phanhropias have ameorated the punish
.nens of Offences and caused system OF criminal laws
ne adopted with the feelings of humanity
To this advance OF public sentiment am happy to know
that no one gives a hearty approval than General
His writings the subject of legal and judicial
orn which may be read by ALL exhibit his dee inere
in the His efforts have had their in produ
cling this result and than he reoices such
| improvements
Mr. JOHNSON OF Maryland inquired of the from
Michigan whether the law of 1918 in force the pres
| snt time in that State.
Mr. FELcH. No. sir; it was repealed long ago The Ter
toal organization. under the governor and Judges was
superseded by what second grade OF
territorial government In this second form OF government
he people were represented by legislative council @no
lad, with the GOVERNOR the power OF Legislation wne
Ibis form OF government organized The TERRITORY eheieu
of legislation, and new enfcunchs vert
substituted for the former laws. The law In question was
thus rescinded