authorized to be made in the first section of the act.

Justice re.

quires that provision should be made for the payment of these salaries, since important duties have been exacted from these offi. cers, and, as yet they have received no compensation for the ser vices rendered.

In the 3d section of the act of Congress granting a quantity of land to aid in the improvement, above referred to, it is enacted that the alternate sections and fractional sections of land which shall remain to the United States, agreeably to the first section of said act, shall not be sold for a less sum than two dollars and fifty cents per acre, nor be subject to pre-emption. I would suggest the propriety of memorializing Congress to place the occupants of these lands in the same situation with other settlers on the public domain, by allowing them the right of pre-emption, and permitting them to enter their lands at the minimum price of the public lands. These settlers have, by their enterprize and industry, converted a wild waste into fruitful fields, have encountered all the privations incident to new settlements elsewhere, and are justly entitled to a participation in the indulgences granted to other settlers. This policy has "grown with the growth, and strengthened with the strength" of the western States of our Union--is sanctioned by public opinion generally, and has received the warm support of the most enlightened statesmen of this republic. The settlers upon the canal reservations, are a part of that same band of pioneers in the march of improvement, who are rapidly extend. ing the empire of this Union, and whose spirit of adventure and enterprize will ere long cross the Rocky mountains and plant the American standard on the shores of the Pacific.

I deem it my duty to call your attention to the propriety of again memorializing Congress, asking an extension of the right of pre-emption to all miners in this Territory, who have obtained the possession of mineral lots, under authority of the superintendent of the United States lead mines, either by discovery or purchase, and to those persons who have located themselves either on lands reserved by the government for smelting purposes, or on the reservations made for half-breeds of the Winnebago nation, un

der the treaty of 1829. (which reservations have been re-located,) and that they be permitted to enter said lands at the minimum price of o her government hands. Large trac's have been reserved by the governn ent, through the superintendent of the mines, for smelting purposes, in the counties of Grant and Iowa, upon which are locate I numerous settlers who have made considerable improvements. By granting permission to these persons to enter their lands at government price, justice alone will be done to them, and no injury can result to the United States.

The propriety also of ag tin memorializing Congress for appropriations for the construction of harbors on lake Michigan, is respectfully recommended. Memorials on this subject have been forwarded by the Legislative Assembly to Congress annually, since the organization of our Territorial government, with but little success. The reports of the engineers, employed to make the necessary surveys for this purpose, embrace such accurate topographical information as ought to enable Congress to deter mine the points, best fitted for such improvement, and the amount of the appropriation necessary for the execution of the work. Due regard should be had also, in tl e selection of the points, to the commercial facilities required at each, and to the growth of the surrounding country. Within a shor period of time,more than a millio a of dollars has been received into the Land office at Milwaukee from the sales of the public lands. From this fact, and that of the very small appropriations made by Congress for harbors or other improvements on our Lake border, who can fail to observe the great inequality which prevails in the distribution of government favors. For the protection of the commerce on our sea.board, millions are expended in the erection of break-waters, &c., while for want of harbors on this Lake, vessels are compelled to en. counter the severest gales, during the autumnal season, with little expectation of being able to out-ride the storm. Recently, oppo. site to the mouth of Milwaukee river, four valuable citizens found a watery grave-a disaster which must be ascribed to the want of a harbor at that place. Human life is above all price, and the common dictates of humanity would seem to point out the means

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of its preservation as the primary object of a government instituted for the benefit of the people. And it is a well established fact, that the commercial trade of lake Michigan has increased in a ratio far exceeding that of any other of the waters of the United States. The settled policy of the government too, heretofore, has · been to afford every facility to its commerce by diminishing as much as possible the dangers of navigation; and, the enterprizing citizens who have immigrated to our Lake border, have a reason. able right to expect that the same facilities will be extended to them which have been afforded to other portions of the Union.

Additional appropriations should also be asked from Congress for the construction of the Territorial rond from Milwaukee, by way of Madison, to a point opposite the town of Dubuque on the Mississippi river, and for the construction of a road from Racine, by Janesville, to Sinipee, on the Mississippi. Ten thousand dol Jars have been appropriated for the construction of each of these roads—a sumn entirely too small, considering their extent and importance. The completion of these thoroughfares would vastly facilitate the settlement of the country between the Mississippi and the Lake-would greatly add to the value of the public lands —-be of incalculable benefit to the agricultural, commercial, and mining interests and provide for the safe and speedy transporta. tion of the mails.

The appropriation of two thousand dollars, for the survey and estimate of the cost of a railroad from Milwaukee to Dubuque, made by an act of Congress, approved July 7th, 1838, was, by a subsequent act, approved March 3, 1839, directed to be applied by the Secretary of War to the survey of the most eligible route for a railroad, from the town of Mil aukee, on 'ake Michigan, to such point on the Mississippi river as may be deemed most expedient. The country between the Mississippi and the lake is well adapted to the construction of a railway. There are no mountains or morasses to be encountered, the surface of the country is generally level, and it is believed that a communication of this character can be made by an expenditure comparatively smali, when viewed with that which is unavoidably to be incurred in

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most of the States; and the advantages which must follow its completion, to the future prosperity and growth of the Territory, would far exceed any estimate that could now be made. It would hasten the formation of dense settlements throughout the whole extent of the road, advance the sales of the public lands, afford increased facilities to the agricul ural, commercial and mining interests of the country; and further, it would enable the govern. nient to transport troops and munitions of war, with great expedition, and concentrate them on our extensive frontier, should it be. come necessary for the protection of the border settlements against the encroachments of a savage enemy. I would, therefore, urge the propriety of memorializing Congress for a further appropriation for this object.

The Indians on our border seem peaceably disposed towards the settlers; and, notwithstanding the Sioux and Chippewa In. dians are in a state of warfare with each other, they evince no disposition to molest those of our citizens who are most exposed, on the St. Croix and Chippewa rivers. The removal of the Win. nebagoes, as early in the spring as practicable, is a matter of primary importance to the frontier people, whose stock, and other property, is constantly exposed to their intrusions. If this was effected, the settlements would soon be extended north of the Wisconsin, and all apprehension of difficulty or danger, from a conti. guity to the Indians, would be expelled. These Indians, from the frequency of their depredations on the border settlers, have justly rendered themselves obnoxious, and have good reason to expect that measures will be taken for their removal, or difficulties of a serious character may occur.

Under the existing laws of the United States, and in conformity to the act of the Legislative Assembly, "relating to the militia," approved the 8th of March last, it became necessary to re-organize the militia of the Territory, and to re-form the companies, in order to designate the bounds of battalions, regiments, brigades, and divi. sions. With this view, and to enable the Adjutant General to make a correct return of the strength of the militia, and to cause a a proper distribution of the arms, according to numbers, a gene.

ral order was issued, directed to the commanders of the several regiments and separate battalions, requiring them to designate anew the bounds of their respective companies, and so to arrange them as that each of the companies should be composed of ninetythree men, including officers, non-commissioned officers, musi. cians and privates. Complete returns have been received at the office of the Adjutant-General, only from the 24 regimental district, composed of the original county of Brown, and from the separate battalion, composed of the county of Crawford. An ab. stract of these returns, as well as those received from other com. mands, are embraced in the accompanying report of the state of the militia of the Territory, furnished from the office of the Adjatant-General. From the sparse and detached situation of many of the settlements, and the great difficulty of forming companies in conformity to law, I would respec fully recommend so to amend the militia law as to reduce the number of men composing a com. pany to forty-five, including officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. The reduction of the number of men in the com. panies will much facilitate the organization of the militia, and render them more effective. No serviceable organization has yet taken place, arising partly from the failure in the distribution of the laws at the period prescribed by the Legislature. A knowledge of the laws which are to govern them, with a correct and useful system of instruction for the officers and non-commissioned offi. cers, is absolutely requisite to a proper organization of the militia; I would, therefore, recommend the printing of at least one hundred and fifty copies of the "Act relating to the militia," and the purchase of the same number of "Cooper's approved system of military tactics," as early as possible-to be distributed, under the direction of the Adjutant-General, to the officers of the militia and the several volunteer companies.

The Commissioners, appointed by a resolution of the last Legis. lative Assembly, to locate a portion of the University lands, do nated by Congress, not having been officially notified of their ap pointment, nor furnished with a copy of the resolution, it is understood that the duties required of them remain unperformed. I