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The First Michigan Territorial Council was a meeting of the legislative body governing Michigan Territory, known formally as the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan. The council met in Detroit in two regular sessions between June 7, 1824, and April 21, 1825, during the term of Lewis Cass as territorial governor.

Background

Since its creation from part of Indiana Territory in 1805, the government of Michigan Territory had consisted of a governor, a secretary, and three judges; the governor and judges together formed the legislative branch of government. This was the first stage of territorial government outlined in the Northwest Ordinance. An election called by Governor Cass in 1818 to decide whether to move to the second stage of government—an elected legislature—failed largely due to concerns over the cost that would be borne by the territory. Public discontent with the first stage government continued to mount, until in 1822 hundreds of residents petitioned Congress for reform.

An act of Congress on March 3, 1823, created a four-year term for the judges and transferred the powers of the territory to the governor and a legislative council of nine people serving terms of two years. Members of the council were to be appointed by the president of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from a slate of 18 people chosen in a general election.

Leadership and organization

Abraham Edwards was president of the council; John P. Sheldon, Edmund A. Brush, and George A. O'Keefe clerks; and Morris Jackson sergeant-at-arms.

Members

Per the act of March 3, 1823, the nine members of the council were appointed by President James Monroe, chosen from the top 18 vote-earners in a general election. In addition to the appointed members listed below, the slate of names sent to the president included Louis Baufet, William Brown, Harry Conant, Laurent Durocher, Francois Navarre, Ebenezer Reed, Solomon Sibley, and Benjamin F. Stickney.

Notes

1. ^ Legislative Council 2017, p. 250.
2. Finkelman, Hershock & Taylor 2006, p. 17.
3. Finkelman, Hershock & Taylor 2006, pp. 24–26.
4. An Act to amend the ordinance and acts of Congress for the government of the territory of Michigan, and for other purposes, 3 Stat. 769 (1823).
5. Carter 1943, p. 487.
6. Carter 1943, p. 573.
7. Gilpin 2002, Legislation and Courts.

References

• Carter, Clarence E., ed. (1943), The Territorial Papers of the United States, vol. 11, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, retrieved 2019-10-05
• Finkelman, Paul; Hershock, Martin J.; Taylor, Clifford W. (2006), The History of Michigan Law, Ohio University Press, retrieved 2019-10-01
• Gilpin, Alec (2002), The Territory of Michigan (1805-1837), Michigan State University Press, retrieved 2019-10-05
• Journal of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan: First Session—First Council, Detroit: Sheldon and Reed, 1824, retrieved 2019-10-05 – via HathiTrust
• Journal of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan: Second Session—First Council, Detroit: Sheldon and Reed, 1825, retrieved 2019-10-14
• Legislative Council, State of Michigan (2017), Michigan Manual (2017–2018 ed.), Lansing: Legislative Service Bureau, ISBN 1-878210-06-8, retrieved 2019-10-04
• State of Michigan (1874), Laws of the Territory of Michigan, vol. 2, Lansing: W. S. George, retrieved 2019-10-04

• Michigan legislative sessions
• 1824 in Michigan Territory
• 1825 in Michigan Territory
• 1824 U.S. legislative sessions
• 1825 U.S. legislative sessions