RESOLUTION concerning a Light House at Sauk Harbor. Resolved by the Council and House of Representatives of Wisconsin Territory: That the Hon. Delegate of this Territory to Congress, be requested to urge upon Congress, the necessity of making an appropriation for the purpose of placing a revolving light at Sauk Harbor within this Territory. APPROVED, January 30, 1845. RESOLUTION to declare the name of the Territory, "Wisconsin." Resolved by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin: That the orthography of the name of "Wisconsin," shall be the same as is herein used, and as was used by Congress in "an act establishing the Territorial government of Wisconsin," approved. 20th April, 1836. APPROVED January 30th, 1845. RESOLUTIONS providing means for the payment of the debts of the Territory. Resolved by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin: That the Hon. Henry Dodge, delegate in Congress, be and he hereby is requested to urge the insertion of a provision in the bill appropriating funds to defray the expenses of the Legislative Assembly at its session of 1846, authorizing the application of any unexpended balance which may remain at the close of said session to the liquidation of the debts of this Territory. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, be requested to transmit a certified copy of these resolutions to our delegate in Congress. APPROVED January 30th, 1845. RESOLUTIONS relative to the extinguishment of the Indian title to the lands north of the Fox River. Resolved by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin: That the rapidity of settlement of the lands bordering on, and lying south of the Fox river, as well as the importance of the section of country lying north of the same, demands the early extinguishment of the Indian title to all the lands along said river. Resolved, That the Honorable Henry Dodge, delegate in Congress, be hereby requested to urge upon Congress, the necessity of making an appropriation at the present session for the purpose of holding a treaty with the Menomonee tribe of Indians, for the extinguishment of the Indian title to the lands lying north of the Fox river, in said Territory, and between the Wolf and Wisconsin rivers. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, be requested to forward copies of these resolutions to the presiding officers of both houses of Congress and to the Hon. delegate of the Ter ritory. APPROVED January 30th, 1845. MEMORIALS. MEMORIAL to Congress on the subject of a Mail Route. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled. The Memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin respectfully sheweth: That the convenience and interests of a large portion of the people of this Territory, will clearly justify the establishment of a mail route from Racine on Lake Michigan, via Burlington, Racine county, Geneva, Walworth county, Beloit, Rock county, and White Oak Springs, Iowa county, to Galena in the State of Illinois. Your Memorialists would represent, that this route is situa ted in the midst of one of the most densely populated portions of the Territory, as yet almost entirely destitute of mail facilities, the inhabitants of which are laboring under a serious inconvenience arising from the want of a direct mail route through this rapidly flourishing district. Your Memorialists would therefore pray your honorable body to establish a mail route as above, and that the mail be transpor ted tri-weekly in four horse post coaches. APPROVED, February 24, 1845. MEMORIAL to Congress on the subject of the canal lands. Memorial of the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin, to the Congress of the United States. The Memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin respectfully sheweth: That Congress by an act approved June 18th, 1838, granted to the Territory of Wisconsin, to aid in the construction of the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal, one-half of a strip of land ten miles wide, along the route of said canal, consisting of the odd numbered sections, and embracing about one hundred and forty thousand acres. This grant seems to have been induced by the belief that by the aid thus given, the canal would be soon constructed, that thereby the value, sale and settlement of the public lands would be rapidly promoted, and that a grant on these terms was ardently desired by the settlers on the canal line, and by the people of the Territory. By this act, the territory having accepted the grant, became a trustee, bound to apply the proceeds of said grant to aid the Canal Company in the construction of the canal, and accountable to the United States for such proceeds, in case the canal should not be completed within a limited time. The Territory, in execution of the trust, thus accepted, passed laws for the sale of the lands on a liberal credit, and for the borrowing of money upon the pledge of her faith and of the grant aforesaid. The project of constructing said canal is believed to be far beyond the available resources of the company, and of the territory; and has long since been abandoned by its friends, by the company, and by the territory. It is believed that the canal grant has been a serious injury to the settlers upon it, and to those courties of the territory in which it lies. At every session of the Legislature, numerous petitions of the settlers, and of the public generally, have been presented, in which the petitioners complain of the burthens of the canal grant, and ask for measures of relief. It is complained that sai grant has greatly retarded the settlement and improvement of a large region of the finest country; that only a small part of the lands have been sold, and that the price is oppressively high. That in consequence of withholding the lands from market, for so long a time, the north part of the counties in which said grant lies, has Suffered much injury by doubts as to the ultimate security of titles in the hands of the settlers, thereby preventing improvements on the lands themselves, as also upon roads, school houses, &c.: and that the south part of said counties is subjected to an unequal burthen of taxation, by imposing upon the people there residing,the greater part of the county expenses. While such are the facts of the case, and while the legislature has been disposed to afford relief, it has been greatly embarrassed in its action by its relations to the canal company, and by the restrictions contained in the act of Congress. A small portion of the canal has been constructed near the termination at Milwaukee, which is believed to be very valuable for hydraulic purposes. The impracticability of continuing the work without larger and more available means, and in the present state of monetary affairs, is admitted on all hands. It appears that there have been sold of the land granted by Congress, 43,527 10-[100ths] acres, and that the whole amount of receipts from such sales, is $13,624 49. ceived from the sale of a territorial bond, This has been disbursed pursuant to law, cers and of work done upon contracts. There has also been re(canal loan) $1,000,in the payment of offi. There are now outstand ing direct liabilities against the territory, on account of the canal, to the amount of $15,059 43. It appears, also, that the canal company claim to have expended on account of the canal, over and above all receipts, $46,573 84. f The Legislature, with a view to afford relief to the settlers on these lands, and extricate the Territory from the difficulties of its position, feel sensibly the necessity of early providing by law for the sale of the canal lands, and effecting a settlement with the canal company, by which all connection between it and the Territory may be dissolved. An effort for these purposes has been made at the present session of the legislature, and a law has been passed providing for the sale of the lands at the reduced price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, unless the same shall be prohibited by Congress, and requiring the payment of so much of the |