The items of the bill do not conform to the provisions of the act of the Assembly, entitled "An act to prescribe the number, duties, and compensation of the officers of the Legislative Assembly, and for other purposes, approved Jannary, 1841;" and it contains a clause to repeal the proviso in the sixth section of that act, which is preceeded in the bill by appropriations in violation, in express terms, of that clause. But I object to the whole bill because it appropriates more money than has been asked of Congress, and more than we have any reason to be believe Congress will hereafter pay to relieve the Territory for a debt created for such such a purpose. If the amount estimated for can be exceeded, it is obvious there is no limit to the indebtedness which might be created; and by the rule established it is as easy to appropriate one hundred thousand dollars as twenty thousand for the expenses. Deeming the bill therefore a violation of the act of Congress and of our duties, and that it contains large sums which may become chargeable upon the people of the Territory as a public debt, I am compelled to refuse my signature, to it. Executive Office, Madison, Feb. 18, 1842. J. D. DOTY. Mr. Whiton moved that the said message and bill be referred to a select committee: When Mr. Parkison called for the previous question: The Speaker decided that the call for the previous question would preclude the motion to refer to a select committee, and that the main question would be on the passage of the bill. And thereupon Mr. Whiton appealed from the decision of the chair. And the question was then put, "Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgement of this House?" and it passed in the affirmative. And the ayes and noes being called for, Those who voted in the affirmative, are Messrs. Batchelder, Brazelton, Burt, Darling, Dewey, Ellis Giddings, Jenkins, La Chappelle, Ogden, Parkison, Ray, Rockwell, and Sutherland.-14. Those who voted in the negative, are Messrs. Barber, Bond, Brown, Eastman, Gray, Hackett, Mills, Shepard, Tripp and Whiton.-10. The previous question was then put in these words, "Shall the main question be now put?" and determined in the affirmative. And the ayes and noes being called for, Those who voted in the affirmative, are Messrs. Batchelder, Brown, Burt, Darling, Dewey, Ellis, Giddings, Gray, Hackett, La Chappelle, Ogden, Parkison, Ray, and Shepard.-14. Those who voted in the negative, are Messrs. Barber, Bond, Brazelton, Eastman, Jenkins, Mills, Rockwell, Sutherland, Tripp, Whiton, and Newland, speaker.-11. The main question was then put on the passage of the bill and was determined in the negative by ayes and noes. And the ayes and noes being called for, Those who vtoed in the affirmative, are Messrs. Bond, Brown, Darling, Dewey, Ellis, Giddings, Hackett, La Chappelle, Ogden, Parkison, Whiton, and Newland, speaker, 12. Those who voted in the negative, are Messrs. Barber, Batchelder, Brazelton, Burt, Eastman, Gray, Jenkins, Mills, Ray, Shepard, Sutherland, and Tripp, 12. So the bill was negatived. A message from the Council by the Secretary thereof: "Mr. Speaker, The Council have concurred in the amendment of this House to bill No. 32, (C. F.) entitled "A bill to provide for the taking the census of the inhabitants of the Territory of Wisconsin, and to authorize the Governor to apportion the members of the Council and House of Representatives." A motion was then made by Mr. Barber to reconsider the vote by which the said bill was negatived; and the question being put, It passed in the affirmative. And the question was then put on the passage of the bill and determined in the affirmative. And the ayes and noes were taken on the said question and were as follows: Ayes-Messrs. Barber, Bond, Brazelton, Brown, Burt, Darling, Dewey, Ellis, Giddings, Hackett, La Chappelle, Mills, Ogden, Parkison, Rockwell, Shepard, Tripp, Whiton, and Newland, speaker. -19. Noes-Messrs. Batchelder, Eastman, Gray, Jenkins, Ray, and Sutherland.-6. So the bill was reconsidered and approved, two-thirds of the members of the House having voted in favor of it. Ordered, That the Council be made acquainted therewith. Mr. Hackett from the committee on Enrolled bills, reported the following to be correctly enrolled, to wit: "An act to provide for the taking the census of the inhabitants of the Territory of Wisconsin, and to authorize the Governor to apportion the members of the Council and House of Representatives:" Which was signed by the Speaker and ordered to be presented to the President of the Council for his signature. On motion of Mr. La Chappelle, The following resolution was unanimously adopted, Mr. Barber ha`ving been called to the chair: Resolved, That the thanks of the members of this House be, and are hereby tendered to the Hon. David Newland, for the able, faithful and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of Speaker of the House of Representatives. On motion of Mr. Brown, The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, (if the Council concur) that a joint committee of two from each House be appointed to wait upon His Excellency, the Governor, to inform him that the two Houses are through with their business, and to inquire if he has any further communication to lay before the Legislative Assembly. Messrs. Brown and Tripp were appointed of the said committee on the part of the House. Ordered, That the Council be acquainted therewith. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of this House be tendered to Hon. A. G. Ellis, for the able manner in which he performed the duties of Speaker pro. tem. of this House. Resolved, That the thanks of this House be tendered to John Catlin and John F. Meade, Esqr's, chief and assistant clerks, for the correct manner in which they have performed their arduous duties, during the present session. A message from the Council by the Secretary thereof, "Mr. Speaker-Messrs. Martin and Learned have been appointed: of the committee on the part of the Council to inform the Governor that the two Houses have no further business before them and are ready to adjourn if he has no further communication to make to them. I am also directed to inform you that the Governor has notified the Council that he has approved and signed "an act to provide for the taking the census of the inhabitants of the territory of Wisconsin, and to authorize the Governor to apportion the members of the Council and House of Representatives," and that the Council is now ready to adjourn." Mr. Brown from the committee appointed to wait upon the Governor, &c., reported that the committee had performed the duty assigned them and that the said committee were informed by His Excellency, the Governor, that he had no further communications to make to the two Houses. On motion of Mr. Whiton, Resolved, That the Clerk be directed to inform the Council that this House is now ready to adjourn. A motion was then made by Mr. Dewey that this House do now adjourn, sine die. Whereupon, the Speaker addressed the House, in the following words: Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: For two suc I address you with feelings of no ordinary nature. cessive sessions we have been called together from different sections of our territory to aid, by our joint deliberations and actions, the rising interests of Wisconsin; many of us strangers to each other, meeting for the first time in the Legislative hall, yet all actuated by one common feeling, the welfare of the land of our choice, the garden of the west and our adopted home. For two successive sessions I have been honored by your having selected me to preside over your deli berations, and the proud satisfaction of having been so selected, will remain with me through all the vicissitudes of my future life. With truth can I say to you, Gentlemen, that I brought with me to this. Hall as an humble representative, every disposition to attend to the best interests of my immediate constituents, and the general welfare of the whole community. I, with the same truth affirm, that as the presiding officer of the House, my constant efforts have been directed towards the strict preservation of the rights and privileges of my fellow members, the correct construction of parliamentary rules and usages, and the honor and dignity of a legislative body. That I have succeeded in some measure, your approbation so lately expressed, has with great pleasure, assured me; and although matters may have occurred from time to time, on preliminary motions and in debate, in which the correctness of the decisions of the Speaker when given, were for a moment doubted, yet I feel pride and gratitude in acknowledging your general acquiescence in the decisions of the chair. For the confidence thus reposed in me, Gentlemen, accept my warmest and hearfelt thanks. With We are about to separate, perhaps never to meet on earth. the deep and important reflections naturally arising from such situation in which we are all placed, permit me, Gentlemen, to make a concluding remark. May our acts prove salutary, by which the best interests of our constituents will be fostered and our common country politically blest. May her ways be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace. May you all return safe to the bosom of your families and friends. Gentlemen, I bid you collectively and individually, an affectionate farewell. The question of adjournment was then put and passed in the affirmative. So the House adjourned, sine die. |