Lansing, Tuesday, January 19, 1864.

Pursuant to a Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Representatives assembled this day, in their Hall, in the Capitol, in the city of Lansing.

At 12 o'clock noon, the Speaker, Hon. Sullivan M. Cutcheon, called the House to order.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Meyer.

The Proclamation of the Governor, convening the Legisla ture in extra session, was then read.

The following is the

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, The President of the United States, by his Proclamation, of the date of the 17th of October last, has called upon the Governors of the different States to raise and have enlisted into the United States service, for the various companies and regiments in the field from their respective States, their quotas of three hundred thousand men;

And whereas, It has been judged necessary by many of the counties, towns and cities of this State, that provision should be made for the payment of bounties to volunteers, by such counties, towns and cities, to enable them to fill their several quotas with volunteers, and that further legislation is necessary, in order to give full faith and credit to the acts and obligations of such municipal bodies;

Therefore, believing that such an extraordinary occasion exists, as is contemplated by the Constitution, I, Austin Blair, Governor of the State of Michigan, in virtue of the power vested

in me by the Constitution, do convene the Legislature of this State, hereby requiring the Senators and Representatives to assemble in their respective Chambers, at the Capitol, in Lansing, on Tuesday, the 19th day of January next, at twelve o'clock noon, then and there to consider and determine upon the measures proper to be adopted in regard to the payment of such bounties to volunteers, and the legalization of acts already done for that purpose, and all such other subjects as may be brought before the Legislature in pursuance of the Constitution.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand,

and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State, [L. S.] at Lansing, this 15th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtythree.

By the Governor:

JAMES B. PORTER, Secretary of State.

AUSTIN BLAIR.

The Chief Clerk being absent, the roll was called by the Assistant Clerk, and the following members answered to their

names:

Messrs. Abbott, Aldrich, Allen, Barnes, Bentley, Bliss, Buckley, Burt, Clark, Cobb, Combes, Congdon, Cook, Cowan, Crane, Crego, Deare, Denman, Dockeray, Dow, Eldredge, Erskine, Fellows, Fifield, Fitch, Freeman, Gargett, Gaylord, Green, Griswold, Grosebeck, Harmon, H. A. Hayden, Haze, Hemingway, Hodgkinson, Hood, Jenison, Lockwood, Luther, Mallary, E. G. Morton, Mosher, Piper, Porter, Rankin, Raymond, Read, Slafter, Spencer, Sprague, T. G. Smith, Sweezey, Thayer, Thomas, Tinham, Voorheis, Warner, Welch, Wheeler, White, Williams, Wilson, Winans, Winsor, Wight, Woodman, Speaker-68.

The following members were absent:

Messrs. Beakes, Betts, Bowen, Chapoton, Davis, Dixon, Fowle, Grinnell, Henry Hayden, Howard, Keeney, Littlejohn, Mason, McKernan, McMartin, H. Miller, J. C. Miller, John Miller, H. C. Morton, Parsons, Pendill, G. A. Smith, Abram Smith, Aura Smith, Stewart, Toll, Weatherby, Woodworth—28.

The Speaker announced that a quorum of the House was present.

The Speaker then addressed the House as follows:

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:/

Three years ago this House adopted a series of resolutions, pledging and tendering to the President of the United States, all the force and means of the State of Michigan, to aid in the execution of the Federal laws. Since that time Michigan has often reiterated her declarations of loyalty and devotion to the Union, and as often has she redeemed her pledges to the General Government, by her prompt and hearty response to every demand of the National Executive, and by the heroic valor of her sons on every battle field of the Republic.

Once more the exigencies of war have convened the representatives of the people to make good the plighted faith of the State, by adopting such measures and enacting such laws as the speedy success of the loyal cause may require; nor can it be doubted that Michigan will cheerfully answer every call of patriotism. If she faltered not during the dark days of the Republic, how much less will she now hesitate to do her whole duty.

One year ago we were battling with a proud, defiant, boastful foe; our enemy looked hopefully across the Atlantic for sympathy and aid; deep mutterings of treason and discontent were heard throughout the loyal States; and as rebellion gathered all its mighty, satanic power, and grappled with loyalty for the life of the nation, the stoutest patriot trembled. It struggled desperately, but failed. To-day all is changed. The cause of good government, freedom and humanity is prosperous. In the loyal States Agriculture and Commerce enrich the husbandman and the trader; the creditor shuns oftener than duns his debtor; the schools were never so well attended; the churches were never better filled; the people seek each day the bonds of the government by the million; three hundred thousand more are filling up the ranks of the Union army, and millions are yet in reserve; the birthday of the nation made

more glorious by its regeneration and baptism in heroic blood at Helena, Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Look South. The area of freedom is stretching its arms to the Gulf of Mexico; the area of rebellion bisected, contracted and contracting. Fifty thousand men who recently bore the shackles of slavery, now bear the arms of patriots; a hundred thousand who served petty tyrants, now serve their country. Grim, relentless war is felt in every household of the "Confederacy."

It remains for well fed, well clothed, hopeful, liberty-loving, victorious loyalty, to complete the destruction of starving, ragged, despairing, liberty-hating, vanquished rebellion. In that work our State desires to do her full share.

Let us, then, encourage our brave soldiers in the field by emulating their unflinching patriotism, and Michigan will have a proud record among the most honored of the sisterhood of States.

Mr. Deare offered the following:

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to wait upon the Senate and inform that body that a quorum of the House is now present and ready to proceed to business;

Which was adopted.

The Speaker appointed Messrs. Deare, T. G. Smith and Wilson as such committee.

After a short absence, the committee appointed to wait upon the Senate and inform that body that a quorum of the House is present and ready to proceed to business, reported that they had performed the duty assigned them.

Report accepted and committee discharged.

Mr. Lockwood moved that the House proceed to the election of a Chief Clerk, in the place of Edward W. Barber, who is absent from the State;

Mr. Read offered the following as a substitute for the motion:

Resolved, That Nelson B. Jones be and he is hereby appointed Chief Clerk of this House, to fill the vacancy in that office, occasioned by the absence of Edward W. Barber;