HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE ADMISSION OF WISCONSIN TO THE UNION. [By REUBEN G. THWAITES, Secretary and Superintendent of State Historical Society of Wisconsin.] Previous to the fall of New France (1763), what is now Wisconsin was held by the French, who had several military posts within its borders-the chief among them, at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, and on Lake Pepin. Upon the assumption of British control, the country northwest of the River Ohio (including the present Wisconsin) was made a part of the Province of Quebec; but by the treaty of peace consequent upon the successful issue of the Revolution (1783), the country became a part of the United States. There were, at first, claims by tide-water States to some of the land in the then Northwest, but eventually these were abandoned, and the district became national domain. By the famous Ordinance of 1787, the trans-Ohio country was erected into the Northwest Ter ritory; the ordinance provided for the ultimate establishment from this Territory, of five States. The story of how Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois were in due course of time detached, will be found set forth in detail in the article on "The Boundaries of Wisconsin," in Wisconsin Historical Collections, Vol. XI. The country west of Lake Michigan and north of the Illinois line, became in course of time, a part of Michigan Territory. But the great distance from Detroit, at a time when there were no railways or telegraphs, was such as to render the exercise of civil government here, almost impracticable. Hence, after much complaint and recrimination, Congress was, in 1836, induced to erect Wisconsin It is an Indian Territory-the name being derived from its principal river. name, the exact meaning of which is unknown; popular writers are fond of telling us that it signifies "gathering of the waters," or "meeting of the waters"but there is no warrant for this. The earliest-known French form of the word, When is "Misconsing," which gradually became crystallized into "Ouisconsin." the English language became dominant, it was necessary to change the spelling in order to preserve the sound; it thus, at first, became "Wiskonsan," or "Wiskonsin," but finally, by official action, "Wisconsin." The "k" was, however, rather strenuously insisted on by Governor Doty and many newspaper editors, in the days of the Territory. Preliminary Agitation.-Some of the people of Wisconsin were not long content with a Territorial government. The Territory was only two years old, when a bill was introduced in Congress for a State government, but the attempt proved abortive. In 1841, Governor Doty, the leader in the movement, had the question put to popular vote, 92 voting for, and 499 against it; in 1842, there was still another vote,-ayes 619, nays 1,821; in 1843, a third attempt was defeated in the Territorial Council; and in 1845, still another met defeat in the House. But at last, after ten years of Territorial existence, popular sentiment had been educated to a general desire for Statehood. Accordingly, Morgan L. Martin, of Green Bay, then the Territorial representative in Congress, gave notice in the House of Representatives (January 9, 1846), "of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to enable the people of Wisconsin to form a constitution and State governHe followed this ment, and for the admission of such State into the Union." (January 13) by the introduction of a bill to that effect; the measure was approved by President Polk, August 10. Meanwhile, the Council and House of Wisconsin Territory had favorably voted on the proposition, and took time by the forelock by discussing some of the principal features of the proposed State constitution. This was in January and February, 1846. On the 17th of April, the question of Statehood was passed upon by the people of the Territory, the returns this time showing 12,334 votes for, and 2,487 against. August 1, Governor Dodge issued a proclamation calling a convention for the drafting of a constitution, and apportioning 124 delegates to the various counties; these delegates were elected September 7. First Constitutional Convention.-The convention was in session in the Territorial capitol at Madison, between October 5 and December 16, 1846. Don A. J. Upham was president, and Lafayette Kellogg secretary. The membership was as follows: Brown-David Agry, Henry S. Baird. Calumet Lemuel Goodell. Columbia-Jeremiah Drake, La Fayette Hill. Crawford-Peter A. R. Brace. Dane John Y. Smith, Abel Dunning, Benjamin Fuller, George B. Smith, Nathaniel F. Hyer, John M. Babcock. Dodge-William M. Dennis, Stoddard Judd, Hiram Barber, Benjamin Granger, Horace D. Patch, John H. Manahan. Fond du Lac-Warren Chase, Lorenzo Hazen, Moses S. Gibson.1 Grant-Thomas P. Burnett. Thomas Cruson, Lorenzo Bevens, Neeley Gray, J. AIlen Barber, James Gilmore, Franklin Z. Hicks, Daniel R. Burt, James R. Vineyard. Green-Davis Bowen, Noah Phelps, William C. Green, Hiram Brown. Jefferson-Patrick Rogan, Theodore Prentiss, Aaron Rankin, Elihu L. Atwood, La Pointe-James P. Hayes. Marquette-Samuel W. Beall. Milwaukee-Don A. J. Upham, Franz Hübschmann, Wallace W. Graham, Gar- Rucine-Edward G. Ryan, Marshall M. Strong, Frederick S. Lovell, Elijah Steele, Rock-A. Hyatt Smith, David Noggle, Sanford P. Hammond, James Chamberlain, Joseph S. Pierce, George B. Hall, David L. Mills, John Hackett, Joseph Kinney. Jr., Israel Inman, Jr. Richland-Edward Coumbe. Washington-Bostwick O'Connor, Edward H. Janssen, Patrick Toland, Charles Walworth-Salmous Wakeley, Joseph Bowker, Charles M. Baker, John W. Boyd, Winnebago-James Duane Doty. The convention, as above constituted, was an able body of thoroughly repre 1 Known to be living, In December, 1902. This member never took his seat. 8 Seat unsuccessfully contested by Matthias J. Bovec. sentative men, of whom 42 were natives of New York State, 29 of New England, and 12 of foreign birth; 69 of them were farmers, and 26 lawyers. The oldest man was 65 years, and the youngest 23. The speeches, as recorded in the newspapers of the day, were of an exceptionally high order of excellence. The constitution which these men framed was submitted to popular vote, April 5, 1847, the result being 14,119 ayes and 20,231 nays. The contest over the document had been of an exciting nature; the defeat was owing to differences of opinion upon the article relating to the rights of married women, the article on exemp tions, and those on banks, the elective judiciary, and the numerical size of the legislature. Second Constitutional Convention. As soon as practicable, Governor Dodge (Sept. 27, 1847) called a special session of the legislature, which convened at Madison October 18, and made provisions for a second constitutional convention, with 69 members. Most of the members of the first convention declined reelection to the second; six alone were returned-Messrs. S. W. Beall, Warren Chase, Stoddard Judd, Theodore Prentiss, Garret M. Fitzgerald, and Frederick S. Lovell. The membership was as follows, Morgan L. Martin being president, and Thomas McHugh secretary: Brown-Morgan L. Martin. Calumet G. W. Featherstonhaugh. Chippewa and Crawford-Daniel G. Fenton. Columbia-James T. Lewis. Dane-Charles M. Nichols, William A. Wheeler, William H. Fox. Dodge-Stoddard Judd, Samuel W. Lyman, Charles H. Larrabee. Fond du Lac-Samuel W. Beall, Warren Chase. Grant George W. Lakin, John H. Rountree, Alexander D. Ramsay, Orsamus Cole, William Richardson. Green James Biggs, William McDowell. Iowa Stephen P. Hollenbeck, Charles Bishop, Joseph Ward. Jefferson-Theodore Prentiss, Milo Jones, Abram Vanderpool, Jonas. Folts. Marquette and Winnebago-Harrison Reed. Milwaukee-Byron Kilbourn, Rufus King, Charles H. Larkin, John L. Doran, Garrett M. Fitzgerald, Moritz Schöffler, Albert Fowler. Portage William H. Kennedy. Racine Theodore Secor, Samuel R. McClellan, Horace T. Sanders, Frederick S. Lovell, Stephen A. Davenport, Andrew B. Jackson, Albert G. Cole, James D. Reymert. Rock-Almerin M. Carter, Ezra A. Foot, Edward V. Whiton, Paul Crandall, Joseph Colley, Louis P. Harvey. St. Croix-George W. Brownell. Sheboygan and Manitowoc-Silas Steadman. Walworth-James Harrington, Augustus C. Kinnie, George Gale, Experience Estabrook, Hollis Latham, Ezra A. Mulford. Washington-Patrick Pantony, James Fagan, Harvey G. Turner. Waukesha-Peter D. Gifford, George Scagel, Squire S. Case, Alfred L. Castle man, Emulous P. Cotton, Eleazer Root. The second convention, which, on the whole, was thought to represent a more conservative element than the first, was in session at Madison from December 15, 1847, to February 1, 1848. The nativity list shows that 25 were born in New York State, 24 in New England, and only 7 in foreign lands. The oldest man was 65, and the youngest 25, with an average age of about 37. The members of both conventions were men of high standing in their respective communities; and later, many of them held prominent position in the service of the nation and the State. The State Admitted.-As soon as possible after the close of the convention, notice was given in Congress (February 21, 1848) by our representative, John I. Tweedy, of his intention to introduce another bill for the admission of Wisconsin into the Union. March 13, the people of the Territory voted on the new constitution, and it was adopted by 16,799 ayes and 6,384 nays. March 16, in a |