CHAPTER XIV. LAST YEARS OF THE TERRITORY. The Territory now had a population of more than thirty thousand, and its people were increas- ing very fast. Every boat from the east brought in large loads of immigrants, most of whom re- mained in Michigan. The movement to the country west of Lake Michigan came a little later, and Chicago was not yet laid out as a town, although it was a post of some consequence. The laws, although reasonably stable for so young a commonwealth, had been subject to some fluctuations since the formation of the Council. CHAPTER XI\ . These changes related mostly to the method of conducting local business and to courts. The system of county courts by degrees gave way to the circuit system, which in one form or another L ST YEAR OF THE TERRITORY. has since prevailed. The county system was altered. Beginning with the county court, which for administrative purposes answered to the quarter THE Territory now had a population of more sessions, it changed first to the county commis- sioner plan, borrowed from Massachusetts, and than thirty thousand, and its people were increas­ then to the board of supervisors, derived from ing very fast. Every boat from the east brought in large loads of immigrants, most of whom re­ mained in Michigan. The movement to the country west of Lake Michigan came a little later, and Chicago was not yet laid out as a town, although it was a post of some consequence. The laws, although reasonably stable for so young a commonwealth, had been subject to some fluctuations since the formation of the Council. These changes related mostly to the method of conducting local business and to courts. The system of county courts by degrees gave way to the circuit system, which in one form or another has since prevailed. The county system was altered. Beginning with the county court, which foradm inistrative purposes answered to the quarter sessions, it changed fir t to the county commi - sioner plan, borrowed from Massachusett and then to the board of , upervi ors, d riv d from Generated for asbigham (University of Michigan) on 2013-04-29 19:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t4jm2jr1s Public Domain / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd 426 EASTERN COLON IES. [CHAP. XIV. 426 EAbTERN COLONIES. [Chap. XIV. New York. After the State came into existence New York. After the State came into existence there were further changes. there were fu rther changes. The settlement of most of the more important townships and villages was very fortunate. In a The settlement of most of the more important great many instances neighborhoods were settled by small colonies from the Eastern States and townships and villages was very fortunate. In a New York, who came in sufficient numbers to give harmonious character to their new homes, and great many instances neighborhoods were settled maintain wholesome and agreeable social sur- roundings. The transition from an old to a new by small colonies from the Eastern States and country became less trying, and the newly broken wilderness was brightened by familiar associations. New York, who came in sufficient numbers to give The effect of these united movements is still vis- ible, and there are many old towns and townships harmonious character to their new homes, and that keep the peculiar characteristics which marked them forty and fifty years ago. There are not maintain wholesome and agreeable social sur­ many parts of the United States where, with a full measure of enterprise, there are such plain roundings. The transition from an old to a new evidences of their American antecedents. The growth of these colonies has drawn largely from the country became less trying� and the newly broken places whence they emigrated. Those coming west are always glad to find old friends and neighbors, or wilderness was brightened by familiarassociat ions. their kindred, and naturally prefer to cast their lot among them to settling among entire strangers. The effect of these united movements is still vis­ When the immigration from Europe began to ible, and there are many old towns and townsh ps reach large proportions, a great part of it passed i further on ; and the growth of Michigan was that keep the peculiar characteristics which marked chiefly made up of such as chose a country re- sembling the wooded lands to which they were them forty and fifty years ago. There are not accustomed, with a society where they would feel at home, to the prairies which were so inviting to many parts of the United States where, with a full measure of enterprise, there are such plain P.vidences of their American antecedents. The growth of these colonies has drawn largely from the places whence they emigrated. Those coming west are always glad to find old friends and neighbors, or their kindred, and naturally prefer to cast their lot among them to settling among entire strangers. When the immigration from Europe began to reach large proportions, a great part of it passed further on ; and the growth of Michigan was chiefly made up of such as chose a country re­ sembling the wooded lands to which they were accustomed, with a society where they would fe el at home, to the prairies which were so inviting to Generated for asbigham (University of Michigan) on 2013-04-29 19:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t4jm2jr1s Public Domain / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd XIV.) CHAP. PREPARATIONS FOR A STATE. 427 Cmap. XIV.] PREPARATIONS FOR A STATE. 427 many Europeans, and a class of inhabitants with many Europeans, and a class of inhabitants with whom it would take them some years to become whom it would take them some years to become familiar. The increase of population was rapid enough to indicate life and prosperity. It has familiar. The increase of population was rapid usually been gradual enough to enable those who came in from any quarter to setde down into the enough to indicate life and prosperity. It has common ways, instead of forming separate clannish communities, of alien manners and sympathies. usually been gradual enough to enable those who It was evident to all that the time could not be far distant when Michigan must become a came in from any quarter to settle down in to the State. As this time drew near, it was natural that the people of the Territory should begin to common ways, instead of forming separate clannish look upon the management of pubHc affairs as communities, of alien manners and sympathies. fairly belonging to them ; and to prepare as far as possible to make the change of rule free from disturbance or abruptness. The southern boundary It was evident to all that the time could not had been tampered with, and there were difficul- ties in prospect from that source. The increase be far distant when Michigan must become a of removals from office made them daily conscious that as yet their wishes were to have no weight State. As this time drew near, it was natural in the guidance of their most important affairs. The people who had joined their fortunes to the that the people of the Territory should begin to Territory were entirely passed by in the chief look upon the management of public affairs as executive appointments, and almost entirely in some others. In some instances the appointments, fairly belonging to them ; and to prepare as faras and the removals which they followed, were oc- casions of much bitterness. possible to make the change of rule free from When General Cass was nominated as Secre- tary of War, he was — though not by his own disturb�nce or abruptness. The southern boundary procurement, — announced as Lewis Cass of Ohio. This was criticised by the press, and defended on had been tampered with, and there were difficul­ ties in prospect from that source. The increase of removals from office made them daily conscious that as yet their wishes were to have no weight in the guidance of their most important affairs. The people who had joined their fortunes to the Territory were entirely passed by in the chief executive appointments, and almost entirely in some others. In some instances the appointments, and the removals which they followed, were oc­ casions of much bitterness. When General Cass was nominated as Secre­ tary of War, he was - though not by his own procu rement, - annou nced as Lewis Cass of Ohio. This was criticised by the press, and defended on Generated for asbigham (University of Michigan) on 2013-04-29 19:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t4jm2jr1s Public Domain / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd 428 0 ERNl\lENT FRO I WITHOUT. [ 1IIAP. XIV. 428 GOVERNMENT FROM WITHOUT. [Chap. XIV. the ground that a Territorial officer was like a the ground that a Territorial officer was Hke a military officer, merely detailed on service which military officer, merely detailed on service which did not orain him a residence. As the Ordinance of 1787 expressly required the Governor, Judges did not gain him a residence. As the Ordinance and Secretary, to reside in the Territory, and to be freeholders there, and as General Cass had in of r 787 expressly required the Governor, Judges good faith made Michigan his home and the centre of all his interests, this theory was not quite and Secretary, to reside in the Territory, and to satisfactory, and was not made any more so by the practical application which regarded the people be freeholders there, and as General Cass had in as subjects rather than citizens, and supplied them with a foreiorn orovernment.