people of the Territory, at an early period, on the subject of taking such measures, as might be deemed expedient, for the admission of Wiscousin as one of the independent States of this Union. Elections will be held throughout the Territory, on the first Mon. day of August next, for members of the House of Representatives, and I would respectfully suggest to you the propriety of passing a resolution recommending to the qualified electors in the Territory to determine by their votes, cast at that time, whether they are for or against the organization of a state government. The subject will then be fairly presented to the people, and they can decide for themselves

It appears to me, there.

The laws passed at the annual and adjourned sessions of the Legislative Assembly, have been but for a short time promulgated throughout the Territory, and the people cannot have had the op. portunity to understand how far they are applicable to their situation and wants. But one term of the district court has been held in any one county, since their distribution. fore, that as few changes as possible are desirable at the present session, and only such should be made as the public interest im periously requires. At the next session of the Legislative Assembly, the practice of the courts, as well as the administration of the laws, will enable the Legislature to ascertain the deficiencies and to apply the proper remedy, by a repeal or modification of such of them as are not suited to the wants and condition of the people.

I would respectfully recommend to the Legislative Assembly the propriety of memorializing Congress, for an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars, for the erection of a penitentiary in this Territory, to be located at such point as may be designated by the Legislative Assembly. The spirit of the age we live in, as well as the humanity of our laws, are opposed to capital punishments except in cases of the highest grade of crime. The establishment of a penitentiary would secure the community against the aggressions of the depraved-be the means of punishing the guilty and operate as a salutary example in deterring others from the perpetration of crime. Solitary confinement at hard labor

Fellow-citizens of the Council and House of Representatives :

You are assembled, in conformity to a law of the last se of the Legislative Assembly, to resume the responsible dutie devolve on you as the representatives of the people of Wi

sin.

We have abundant cause to be thankful to divine Provid for the many blessings conferred upon us. Crops of every adapte to our climate, have this season been unusually abun and the husbandman has reaped a rich reward for his indu Our citizens, who cultivate the soil, are rapidly developing the agricultural resources of the country; our prairies are being verted into luxuriant fields; and towns and villages are sprin up where the wigwam of the savage stood seven years ago. have a territory of nearly sixty thousand square miles in ex containing rich and inexhaustible stores of mineral wealth, poss ing a climate of the most genial and salubrious character, a soil suited to the production of every thing calculated to min to the necessities and comforts of man. We have the great la Michigan and Superior, (our inland seas,) on the east and no the Father of Rivers on the west, with several noble streams p trating the Territory in different directions.

Coming immediately from the mass of your constituents, i presumed that you bring with you such a knowledge of their w as will enable yon to enact laws accommodated to their state condition. To legislate for enlightened freemen, is one of most important labors man is called upon to perform. To scribe what is right, and prohibit what is wrong, by the passag salutary laws, equal in their bearing on all classes of the c munity, is the great object for which we have been conven and, you may rely, gentlemen, on my co-operation in the sup] of all such measures, as have for their object the attainmen these desirable results.

At the last regular session of the Legislative Assembly, I s mitted, for your consideration, the importance of consulting

people of the Territory, at an early period, on the subject of taking such measures, as might be deemed expedient, for the admission of Wiscousin as one of the independent States of this Union. Elections will be held throughout the Territory, on the first Mon. day of August next, for members of the House of Representatives, and I would respectfully suggest to you the propriety of passing a resolution recommending to the qualified electors in the Territory to determine by their votes, cast at that time, whether they are for or against the organization of a state government. The subject will then be fairly presented to the people, and they can decide for themselves

any one county,

The laws passed at the annual and adjourned sessions of the Legislative Assembly, have been but for a short time promulgated throughout the Territory, and the people cannot have had the opportunity to understand how far they are applicable to their situa. tion and wants. But one term of the district court has been held in since their distribution. It appears to me, there. fore, that as few changes as possible are desirable at the present session, and only such should be made as the public interest imperiously requires. At the next session of the Legislative Assembly, the practice of the courts, as well as the administration of the laws, will enable the Legislature to ascertain the deficiencies and to apply the proper remedy, by a repeal or modification of such of them as are not suited to the wants and condition of the people.

I would respectfully recommend to the Legislative Assembly the propriety of memorializing Congress, for an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars, for the erection of a penitentiary in this Territory, to be located at such point as may be designated by the Legislative Assembly. The spirit of the age we live in, as well as the humanity of our laws, are opposed to capital punishments except in cases of the highest grade of crime. The establish ment of a penitentiary would secure the community against the aggressions of the depraved-be the means of punishing the guilty—and operate as a salutary example in deterring others from the perpetration of crime. Solitary confinement at hard labor

would have a greater effect in preventing the violations of our laws than any other means that could be devised; and, by l the convict to his own reflections, would have a good effect, claiming him from the error of his ways and restoring him path of rectitude. Constant employment, and entire sepa froin evil communications, might be the means of its accom

ment.

Since the organization of the Territorial government, per convicted of crimes of a high grade, who merited punishme hard labor, have been pardoned on the petitions of the citiz counties where the offences were committed, who stated tha expenses incurred for the safe keeping of their convicts wou burthensome in the extreme to the inhabitants of those cou without their being able to derive any advantage from their during confinement. From the generous donations mad Congresss for the erection of the Capitol of Wisconsin, we reasonably expect that the same liberality will be extended in making suitable appropriations for the erection of a penitent

I would respectfully invite the attention of the Legislative sembly to the embarrassed state of the currency in this Territ It is a fact well known that the constant drain of specie, in ment of the public lands, has rendered it impossible for those are indebted, to procure the constitutional currency to en them to pay their debts, and unless relief is granted by the Le lative Assembly, the ruin of many is inevitable. The State B of Illinois, and its branches, have suspended specie payments, the Mineral Point Bank, (the only banking institution now in ration in the Territory,) does not discount any paper at presen

A forced sale of personal property, under the existing ex tion laws, would not only deprive the debtor of the means of port, but in many cases prevent the creditor from a recovery his debt. If the present execution laws were so amended as give a stay of twelve months on an execution, upon the defenc entering into such security as would be approved by the cour does seem that no injustice would be done to the plaintiff. In gislative action between debtor and creditor a due regard sho

be had to the rights of both. In numerous instances the forced payment of a prior judgment would deprive the debtor of the means of discharging other just demands. I have deemed it an act of official duty to present these views, on an important sub. ject, for your serious consideration.

I would respectfully recommend to the Legislative Assembly, the propriety of taking such legal measures as they may decin ne. cecessary, (by the appointment of a Committee, or otherwise,) to ascertain the true state and condition of the Bank of Mineral Point, and to report thereon during the present session. This bank is the only one now in operation in our Territory; and, from the great scarcity of circulating medium, added to our present pecuniary embarrassments, it becomes the duty of the public functionaries to guard with the utmost viglance the rights of the people against bank abuses. The principal currency of the Territory, for nearly two years, was in the notes of the bank of Wisconsin, which, it is said, are now purchased at a discount of from fifty to seventy per cent. Banking institutions generally commence their operation in great (apparent) good faith--until they have gained the confidence of the people-and then expand or contract their issues as will be most conducive to their own interests; and, it is not uncommon for a bank failure to take place, when least expected by the people. The experience had in banking operations in Wisconsin, should admonish the representatives of the people of the necessity of carefully securing their constituents against a recurrence of similar events.

It is contended by many, interested in bank charters, that they are out of the reach of legislative control. This doctrine, held and maintained, would be subversive of the dear. est rights of the people, by a submission to the banks of the entire control of the currency during the existence of their charters. Banks were instituted for the benefit of the peo. ple, and should at all times be thrown open to the scrutiny and examination of the proper authorities. The history of corporations unequivocally demonstrates that men, in their corporate capacity, will do acts which they would not perpetrate as individuals.