And whereas, although said ordinance is declared to be unalterable, unless by common consent, a large and valuable tract of country is now held by the state of Illinois, contrary to the manifest right and consent of the people of this territory;

And whereas, it is inexpedient for the people of this territory to form a constitution and state government, or to ask admission into the union as an independent state, until the southern boundary, to which they are justly entitled by said ordinance, shall be fully recognized by the parties of the original compact; therefore,

Resolved, by the council and house of representatives of the territory of Wisconsin, that the inhabitants of this territory qualified to vote for delegate to congress, be requested at the next general election, to be held on the fourth Monday of September, to vote for or against the formation of a state government, including all that district of country north of a line running due west from the most southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, over which the state of Illinois exercises jurisdiction; and if a majority of such electors vote in favor of such measure, the governor is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation requiring the electors aforesaid to meet in their respective precincts on such day as he may appoint, and choose delegates from their respective districts, equal to the number of representatives in both branches of the legislative assembly, to assemble at the capitol at Madison, on the third Monday of November, for the purpose of deliberating upon and adopting such lawful and constitutional measures as may seem to be necessary and proper for the early adjustment of the southern boundary and admission into the union of the state of Wisconsin, on an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatever.

Resolved, That the judges of the several election precincts be required to receive, and the clerks of the boards of county commissioners to canvass, the votes authorized to be taken by the foregoing resolution, and make return thereof to the governor, agreeably to the provisions of an act to provide for and regulate. general elections.

Resolved, further, That the inhabitants of the district of country, now claimed by Illinois, lying north of the line running due west from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan to the Missis sippi river, be, and are hereby invited to furnish the executive of this territory, as early as may be convenient, and in such manner

as they may deem proper, an expression of their sentiments in relation to the formation of a state government, as contemplated by the foregoing resolution; and in the event of an election being ordered by the proclamation of the governor, for the election of delegates to the convention as above provided for, to choose delegates to the convention aforesaid, proportionate to the ratio of representation in the legislative assembly of this territory, to act on the business of said convention, on an equal footing with the other delegates.

Resolved, further, That two-thirds of all the delegates, authorized by the first resolution, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Resolved, That the governor cause to be transmitted one copy each, of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, to such editors of newspapers in the state of Illinois, and in this territory, as he may deem proper, with a request that they publish the same in their respective papers.

After the delivery of the message, his excellency the governor retired from the representatives' hall.

On motion of Mr. Martin,

The convention adjourned;

And thereupon the house was called to order.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

Ordered, that five hundred copies of the governor's message be printed for the use of this house.

On motion of Mr. Meeker,

The message from the council relative to the death of the hon. L. F. Linn was taken up, when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, to wit:

Resolved, by the council, (if the house of representatives concur.) that the legislative assembly of the territory of Wisconsin have learned with feelings of the greatest regret the death of the hon. Lewis F. Linn, late a senator from the state of Missouri; that by his death his family has been deprived of a most affectionate and amiable head; congress of a true patriot and able statesman; his own state of a most faithful and efficient representative; the whole west of a friend and ever ready advocate of its best interests, and the territory of Wisconsin, in particular, of one who has been on all occasions its resolute and devoted friend, and to

whom it is deeply indebted for his zealous activity in her behalf in the body of which he was a member.

Resolved, That as a testimony of the respect which the legislative assembly of the territory entertains for the memory of hon. Lewis F. Linn, both houses will immediately adjourn.

On motion of Mr. Capron,

The house adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock, A. M.

TUESDAY, December 5, 1843.

Mr. Elmore gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, ask leave to introduce a bill requiring clerks of the boards of supervisors in the several counties of this territory to give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties.

On motion of Mr. Thompson,

The following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, (if the council concur,) that the standing joint rules of the two houses, of the last session, be adopted for the government of the two houses at their present session, until others are adopted.

Resolved, That the editors and reporters of the different newspapers published in this territory be allowed to occupy seats within the bar of this house.

On motion of Mr. Elmore,

Ordered, that this house do now proceed to the election of speaker, and that two tellers be appointed to canvass the votes. Messrs. Elmore and Trowbridge were appointed the said tellers.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

A call of the house was made, when twenty-four members answered to their names, (Messrs. Hicks and Long being absent,) and thereupon further proceedings under the call were dispensed with.

The ballots were then taken and counted, when Messrs. Elmore

and Trowbridge, the tellers, reported that twenty-four votes bad been given for the said office, of which

George H. Walker received fourteen;

And thereupon Mr. Meeker (being in the chair) declared that the hon. George H. Walker had been duly elected speaker of the house of representatives for the present session.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

Ordered, that a committee of two be appointed to conduct the speaker elect to the chair.

And thereupon Messrs. Darling and Manahan were appointed said committee.

Mr. Walker having been conducted to the chair, returned his thanks to the house for the honor conferred upon him.

On motion of Mr. Hunkins,

Ordered, that the house proceed to the election of chief clerk, and that two tellers be appointed to canvass the votes.

Messrs. Hunkins and Trowbridge were appointed the said tellers.

The votes having been taken and counted, the tellers appointed for that purpose reported that twenty-three votes had been given for the said office; of which

John Catlin received eighteen;

And thereupon the speaker declared that John Catlin, having received a majority of all the votes given, had been duly elected chief clerk of the house of representatives for the year ensuing.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

Ordered, that the house now proceed to elect an assistant clerk, a sergeant-at-arms, fireman, and messenger, and that they be voted for on one ballot.

Objection being made by Mr. Platt to the decision of the house;

Mr. Darling moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the house decided to ballot for several officers on the same ballot;

And the question being put, it was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Darling then, by leave, withdrew the said motion.
A message from the council by their secretary:

"Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform this house that the couneil is permanently organized by the choice of the hon. Marshall M. Strong, from the county of Racine, as president, and Ben C. Eastman as secretary for the present session."

On motion of Mr. Darling,

The house proceeded to the election of an assistant clerk.

Mr. Bartlett nominated Horatio S. Winsor for said office. The votes having been taken and counted, the tellers (Messrs. Hunkins and Trowbridge) reported that twenty-three votes had been given for the said office, of which

Horatio S. Winsor received twenty;

Blank two;

And that one vote had been lost.

Mr. Darling moved, that the said ballot be received;

Which was agreed to.

And thereupon the speaker declared that Horatio S. Winser had been duly elected assistant clerk.

On motion of Mr. Elmore,

The house proceeded to the election of messenger.

And the votes having been taken and counted, Messrs. Hunkins and Trowbridge, acting as tellers, reported that twenty-three votes had been given for that office, of which

William H. Howe received nineteen;

And thereupon the speaker declared that William H. Howe had been duly elected messenger.

On motion of Mr. Meeker,

The house proceeded to the election of sergeant-at-arms.

The votes having been taken and counted, the tellers appointed for that purpose reported that twenty-three votes had been giv en for the said office, of which

John W. Trowbridge received fifteen;

John W. Trowbridge, having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared by the speaker to have been duly elected sergeant-at-arms.