intelligent and enlightened, and they determine the comparative merits of individuals by their suffrages at the polls, will our republican institutions remain unimpaired. As you are assembled for a special purpose, and your session will be of short duration, I do not deem it necessary to call your attention to but few subjects not connected with the object for which you are assembled. Should, however, the good of the people require acts of legislation, you will have my co-operation in support of such measures as have for their object the good of our constituents. I would respectfully invite the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the failure on the part of the contractor, in printing the laws of the late session. Much inconvenience and expense, as well as delay, has heretofore resulted to the people of this Territory, from a failure in printing and promulgating the laws at an early period after the close of each session of the Legislative Assembly. Laws have been enacted that have not been distri buted for several months after their passage. It is useless to enact laws, unless they are printed and distributed to the people. There is no branch of the government so important to the rights of the community as the judiciary. The lives, liberties, reputation and property of the people depend on the due administration of justice. Hence the great necessity of their having the laws by which they are governed. I would respectfully recommend to the Legislative Assembly the propriety of appointing a committee to investigate the state and condition of the Bank of Mineral Point, and to make their report during the present session. The people of the Territory are deeply interested in having a sound currency; and they have a right to expect that the utmost vigilance will be observed on the part of their representatives to effect that state of things. It is submitted to your consideration whether it would not be advisable to appoint commissioners by law, to examine the state and condition of the Bank of Mineral Point, at such times as they might deem the interests of the people might require it, and to make their report at the commencement of each session of the Legislative Assembly. If the bank acts in conformity to the provisions of her charter, she will be interested in letting that fact be made known to the public; and should she violate its provisions, the interest of community requires that legal steps should be taken to arrest a state of things so injurious to the best interests of the people. The removal of the Winnebago Indians to their country west of the Mississippi river, under the orders of the Honorable Secretary of War, is calculated to relieve the frontier inhabitants from the frequent depredations on their stock and other property. I am advised by the Commanding General of the United States troops, charged with the removal of the Winnebago Indians, that, should any of them remain in the country east of the Mississippi, the dragoons will be detached to collect them, and form an escort for their removal from this Territory. A peace has been recently concluded at Prairie du Chien, between the Sac, Fox and Winnebago Indians, which will have a good effect in restraining the former Indians from committing acts of hostility on the Winnebagoes, and will be the means of keeping them within their country west of the Mississippi. The removal of the Winnebagoes will enable our enterprising citizens to extend their settlements to a desirable and interesting country north of the Wisconsin river. By an act of the Congress of the United States, passed at their late session, the right of pre-emption has been extended to the people of Wisconsin, with the people of the States and Territories of this Union. This act of justice to the pioneers of the west is calculated to have the most salutary effects. The settlers on the public lands in this Territory form the best safeguard for the defence of our extended frontier from the encroachments of the Indians. The occupants of the public lands acquire an interest in the soil that renders them independent; and they are the means of exploring the great natural advantages of this Territory, thereby facilitating its settlement and promoting its prosperity. In conclusion, fellow-citizens, I trust that harmony and good feeling will govern your deliberations, and that we may proceed with as much despatch as will be consistent with our duties in the completion of the public trust for which we are convened. HENRY DODGE. MADISON, August 4, 1840. On motion of Mr. Childs,, Ordered, That one thousand copies of the Governor's Message be printed for the use of this House. Mr. Bracken offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That so much of the Governor's Message as relates to the apportioning of the representation, be referred to a committee, consisting of one from each election district. On motion of Mr. Billings, The House adjourned until to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock. Wednesday, August 5, 1840. Mr. Whiton presented two petitions from the inhabitants of the county of Dane, praying that the register of deeds of said county may be authorized by law to procure a record of all conveyances of lands situated in Dane county, from the different offices in the Territory where the same may be recorded. Read and referred to the following select committee, viz: Mr. Childs presented a petition of the inhabitants of Portage county, praying to be attached to the county of Dane, for judicial purposes. Read and referred to the following select committee, viz: Messrs. Childs, Bracken and Sutherland. Mr. Shew presented the petition of inhabitants of the town of Lake, praying to be set off into a separate town to be called Oak Creek. Read and referred to the following select committee, viz: Messrs. Shew, Story and Ray. Mr. Billings offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That Samuel B. Knapp, Esq. who was appointed Fiscal Agent of the Territory of Wisconsin at the last session of the Legislative Assembly, be required to report forthwith to this House whether he has, as such agent, borrowed any money; and if so, of whom and how much, and what kind of funds; and also' how much money he has paid to claimants. Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of this House transmit a copy of these resolutions to Samuel B. Knapp, Esq. On motion of Mr. Cruson, The following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of this House are hereby tendered to the Hon. Edward V. Whiton, for the able and satisfactory manner in which he has performed the duties of Speaker, pro tem. The Secretary of the Council being introduced, delivered the following message: "Mr. Speaker-I am directed to inform you that Messrs. Martin, Wells, Bullen, Sterling, Rountree, Maxwell, Learned and Brigham, a committee of one from each of the election districts, have been appointed by the Council to act in conjunction with a similar committee to be appointed by this House, to whom will be referred so much of the message of the Governor as relates to the apportionment of representation in this House from the several counties in the Territory." The Speaker announced the appointment of the following select committee, under the resolution adopted on yesterday relating to the apportionment of members to this House, viz: Messrs. Bracken, Cruson, Brunson, Sutherland, Whiton, Stevens, Story and Sholes. The Speaker also announced the appointment of the following standing committees of this House, viz: On the Judiciary-Messrs. Whiton, Story, Shackelford, Wells and Billings. On Schools-Messrs. Street, Hoyt, Craig, Conroe and Beardsley. On Internal Improvements-Messrs. Longstreet, Shew, McGregor, Ray and Brunson. On the Militia-Messrs. Jenkins, Stevens, Sutherland, Newman and Ray. On Finance-Messrs. Shew, Childs, Blackstone, Story and Baldwin. On Corporations-Messrs. Billings, Sholes, Cruson, Whiton and McGregor. On Claims-Messrs. Shackelford, Bracken, Story, Wells and Brunson. On Enroled Bills-Messrs. Sholes, Longstreet, Conroe, Ray and Newman. |