On motion of Mr. Ford, The Senate resolved itself into committee of the whole, Mr. Hostetter in the Chair, on the (S. No. 13,) bill to authorize the sale of the residue of section sixteen, in township twelve, of range fifteen, in the county of Athens; and after sometime spent therein, the committee rose, and reported the same back without amendment. On motion of Mr. Nash, The bill was recommitted to the standing committee on Schools and School Lands. Agreeably to notice previously given, Mr. Bartley introduced a bill (S. No. 18,) securing the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and repealing all laws heretofore passed on that subject; which was read the first time. Agreeably to notice previously given, Mr. Bartley introduced a hill (S. No. 17,) creating the office of township collector, and defining his duties; which was read the first time. Areeably to notice previously given, Mr. Bartley introduced a bill, (S. No. 16,) to prevent usury, and regulate the rate of interest; which was read the first time. Mr. Sill, from the select committee on that subject, reported a bill (S. No. 19,) to encourage and regulate the establishment of school district libraries; which was read the first time. Mr. Clark, from the select committee on that subject, reported a bill (S. No. 20,) for the sale of school section number sixteen, in the township of Chesterfield, in the county of Lucas; which was read the first time. Agreeably to notice previously given, Mr. Ream introduced a bill (S. No. 21,) to incorporate the Jackson Mill Company; which was read the first time. The Speaker presented the report of the Auditor of State, in relation to his contingent fund; which was laid on the table. [See Vol. Pub. Doc. No, 10.] Mr. Holmes gave notice, that on to-morrow, or some subsequent day of the present session, he would ask leave to introduce a bill to amend an act entitled, "an act to regulate the fees of officers in civil and criminal cases, in the county of Hamilton. The Speaker presented the annual report of the Cincinnati, Lebanon and Springfield Turnpike Company, which, On motion of Mr. Holmes, was Laid upon the table. [See Vol. Pub. Doc. No. 18.] Mr. Nash, from the standing committee on Schools and School Lands, to which was recommitted Senate bill, No. 13, reported the same back with sundry amendments, which were adopted, and the bill Ordered to be engrossed for its third reading on to-morrow. 4-S. J. Mr. Spangler, from the standing committee on Privileges and Elections, made the following report, which,was agreed to, to wit: The standing committee on Privileges and Elections, to whom was referred the certificates of election for members of the Senate therein named, have had the same under consideration, and now report: That on the second Tuesday of October last, 1841, the following gentlemen were duly elected Senators, to represent their respective districts in the Senate of this State for the period of two years: From the counties of Jefferson and Carroll-James Mitchell. Clinton, Brown and Clermont-Griffith Foos, jr. Columbiana-Charles M. Aten. Adams, Highland and Fayette-William Robbins. Lucas, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, Vanwert, Allen and Guernsey and Monroe-William C. Walton. Your committee further report, That the following named gentle men have, in like manner, been duly elected, as appears from their certificates; but no time of service appears to be specified in their cerfificates: From the counties of Belmont and Harrison-Chauncey Dewey. Cuyahoga and Geauga-Seabury Ford. Richland-Thomas W. Bartley. Ross, Pike, Jackson and Hocking-Allen Latham. Perry, Morgan and Washington-Alexander McConnell and John · Ritchey. Athens and Meigs-Abraham Van Vorhes. On motion, The Senate resolved itself into committee of the whole, Mr. Latham in the chair, on Senate bill, No. 14, and after some time spent therein, the committee rose, and reported the same back without amendment. On motion of Mr. Goodin, The bill was recommitted to the standing committee on Schools and School Lands. Leave being granted, Mr. Bartley, from the standing committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill (S. No. 22,) for the punishment of certain crimes and misdemeanors; which was read the first time. On motion of Mr. Thomas, The Senate adjourned. Attest: THOMAS J. MORGAN, Clerk. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1841. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Ream presented a petition from citizens of Holmes county, praying for a legislative committee to examine into the affairs of the German Bank of Wooster; which, On motion, was Referred to the standing committee on the Currency. Mr. Root presented a petition from citizens of New Haven, in Huron county, for the incorporation of a religious society. On motion, the petition was Referred to a select committee of one, and Mr. Root was appointed said committee. Mr. Walton presented a memorial from the members of the Monroe Academical Association, and other citizens of Monroe county, praying for an appropriation for the use of said association. On motion, the memorial was Referred to a select committee of one, and Mr. Walton was appointed said committee. Mr. Walton presented a petition, praying for the incorporation of the Philomathean Literary Society of the Monroe Academy. On motion, the petition was Referred to a select committee of one, and Mr. Walton was appointed said committee. Mr. Carpenter presented a petition from G. W. Tyler, and 54 other citizens of Granger, Medina county, praying the repeal of the law passed during the session of 1838-'9, relating to fugitives from labor; also, praying for just and equitable laws which shall secure to every human being in this State the right of trial by jury, in every case where his or her personal liberty is in question; and, also, to secure to them, without regard to color, or measure of blood, a just and equal proportion of school privileges; and, further, praying the repeal of the law prohibiting blacks and mulattoes from giving testimony in cases where one of the parties to a suit is a white person. Mr. Carpenter moved that said petition be referred to a select com. mittee of three. *Mr. Spangler moved to strike out "a select committee of three," and insert "the Judiciary committee." The question occurring on the amendment, the yeas and nays were demanded, which, being ordered, resulted as follows—yeas 23, nays 13, to wit: Yeas-Messrs. Aten, Barnett, Bartley, Clark, Foos, Harris, Hazeltine, Henderson, Holmes, Hostetter, Latham, Leonard, Mitchell, McConnell, Nash, Perkins, Ream, Ritchey, Robbins, Spangler, Taylor, Walton and Speaker-23. Nays-Messrs. Carpenter, Crowell, Dewey, Ford, Godman, Goodin, Roct, Sill, Stanton, Thomas, Van Vorhes, Wade and Waddle-13. So the amendment was agreed to, and the petition Referred to the standing committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Bartley, from the standing committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the petition of S. Walker and William Lawrence, for further legislation in relation to the commission of crimes which are mala in se, reported the same back, and recommended that it be laid upon the table; which was agreed to. Mr. Ford, from the standing committee on Railroads and Turnpikes, to which was recommitted the (S. No. 11,) bill to establish a free turnpike road from Bellefontaine, in Logan county, to the Indiana State line, reported back the same with amendments. On the amendment to strike out from the sixth section of the bill the following words: "and in addition thereto, shall also be appropri ated to said road, and in like manner paid, one third of all the money collected for road purposes, in each township, through which any part of said road may lie," Mr. Stanton demanded the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and were, yeas 24, nays 11, as follows, to wit: Yeas-Messrs. Aten, Bartley, Carpenter, Clark, Ford, Godman, Goodin, Harris, Hazeltine, Holmes, Latham, Leonard, Mitchell, McConnell, Nash, Ream, Ritchey, Robbins, Root, Taylor, Thomas, Van Vorhes, Waddle and Walton--24. Nays-Messrs. Barnett, Dewey, Foos, Henderson, Hostetter, Perkins, Sill, Spangler, Stanton, Wade and Speaker-11. So the amendment was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Stanton, The bill and amendments were laid on the table. Mr. Nash, from the standing committee on Schools and School Lands, to which had been referred a petition from citizens of Clear Creek township, Richland county, made the following report: The committee on Schools and School Lands, to whom was committed the petition of sundry citizens of Clear Creek township, in the county of Richland, in relation to a school district, report: The petitioners, after a statement of certian facts and proceedings, which it is not deemed important to recite, ask for the passage of a law legalizing the establishment of a certain school district, which they assert was laid off under the act of March 29, 1841. The question is directly presented, whether the legislature ought to interfere in the constitution of school districts. This district, if in compliance with law, is valid without legislative interposition. If it has not been established in compliance with law, then we are asked to make it a legal district by legislation, and in opposition to the general law. The committee think the laws in force afford ample remedy for the establishment of school districts. The jurisdiction in these cases, is committed to the township trustees; and they are also empowered to alter them, under certain restrictions. The committee think the trustees are better situated to adjust any conflicts, than the members of the legislature. They are upon the ground, know all the facts, and can decide understandingly. If this were not so, the committee think that this is a case which should be regulated by general, and not by special, legislation. Districts established by the trustees can be altered by the same; but when established by an act of the legislature, an act of legislation alone can alter them.. The number of school districts in the State preclude this subject from special legislation. If once entertained, it would become interminable. If the general law is defective-does not give the trustees sufficient power, then let the general law be amended, instead of spending our time in correcting the imperfections of general, by special, legislation. The committee, therefore, ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and recommend that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition. On motion of Mr. Bartley, The report was laid upon the table. Mr. Holmes, from the standing committee on Corporations, to which had been referred so much of the unfinished business of last session as relates to an act to incorporate the Warren Mechanics' and Farmers' Association, reported the same back, with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponod; which was agreed to. Mr. Root, from the select committee on that subject, reported a bill (S. No. 23,) to incorporate the First Regular Baptist Church and Society of New Haven, in Huron county; which was read the first time. The following bill of the House was read the second time, committed to a committee of the whole Senate, and made the order of the day for this day, to wit: H. No. 8; A bill to change the name of Ossian B. D. Coates. The following bills of the Senate were read the second time, committed to a committee of the whole Senate, and made the order of the day for this day, to wit: S. No. 15; A bill further to amend the several acts establishing the Miami University;" S. No. 16; A bill to prevent usury, and regulate the rate of interest; S. No. 17; A bill creating the office of township assessor, and defining his duties; S. No. 18; A bill securing the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and repealing all laws heretofore passed on that subject; S. No. 19; A bill to encourage and regulate the establishment of school district libraries; |