Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-12-21
Governors Message.
FeIIOao Citizens Of the Council,
and House of Representatives:

nudl SESSION, upon SuCn SUBJECTS affecting
the public good as in his opinion are enil-
tied to the consideration of the Representa-
tives Of the people. In compliance with
this custom have now the honor 10 meet
you, and respectfully invite your attention
to these matters which are deemed impor-
tant to the interests Of the Territory, and
the happiness Of our lelow-ctizcns.
The time has arrived when, in my OPT
Mon, it IS expcdicnt 10 adopt measures
preparatory to change in the form of
government Of Wisconsin, from Terri
tory to State; and | therefore present
the subject for your early action upon it,
if it is your pleasure TO consider it. The
expense Of State government, and the
number Of our inhabitants, am aware
have heretofore deferred, and think
propery--ihe people from giving to this
measure their favorable considerations
But our population is estimated to have
increased to at least torty-ive thousand
souls, and before the State can enter the
Union, will, it is believed, exceed sixty
thousand. And if the district Of country
now under the jurisdiction Of Illinois
should sustain her claim to become a part
of the State of Wisconsin--and it seems to
me to be a question which may very pro-
perly be left TO the decision Of the people
who inhabt the Disputed Tract---and the
boundaries prescribed by the ordinance of
1897, and subsequent act Of Congress, for
the fifth Of the Northwestern States, be
established as her boundaries, her popula-
ton would now exceed one hundred thou
sand.
But the adoption of State government
is presented in different light from what
it has ever previously been, by the passage
by Congress on the 4th day Of September
last, Of the Act TO appropriate the pro-
ceeds Of the sales Of the public lands, and
TO grant pre-emption rights" Its provis-
ions, think, present sufficient induce
ment for change as early as practicable,
in the pccuniary advantages which they
offer
This act grants to Wisconsin as soon as
she becomes a State and member Of the
Union, fire hundred thousand acres Of land.
This will constitute fund for the con-
struction Of "roads, railways, bridges, CO.
nails, and the Improvement Of water cour-
ses and the draining of swamps 5" and
greatly exceeds any fund we can ever
hope to obtain by appropriations by Con-
gress for these purposes, made In conse-
quence of the Territory remaining under
lis present form Of government. 1t is to
this fund we must also look for means to
improve permanently her harbors, by re-
moving the bars and distractions at the
mouths of her rivers, so as 10 permit YES
sells of every class which navigate her wa
tiers, to enter them freely.
She will be entitled to receive from the
public treasury, ten per centum upon the
nett proceeds Of the sale Of all the lands
owned by the United States within her
limits. This would have amounted, upon
the sales which were made from 1885 TO
the 3Oth Of SEPTEMBER 1910, (deducting
thcrefrom the expenses Of the surveys,
sales and salaries Of oficers,) to the sum
Of two hundred and forty thousand, five
hundred and sixty-four dollars.
She will be entitled to receive five per
centum Of all the public lands within her
limits, as one of the new States, to place
her on an equal footing with each Of those
States, and 10 be applied to the making of
roads and harbors, or such other Internal
improvements as may be agreed upon by
the State and Congress.
She Will also be entitled TO receive her
equal proportion with all the other States,
Of the nett proceeds Of all the public lands
in the United States, sold after the 3lst Of
day of December l841. The receiptS from
the sales Of all lands in the United States
from 1888 to the 30th Of September, 1910,
amounted to seventy-two millions, two hun
dred and eighty-nine thousand, four hum
drcd and seveuty-nine dollars.
The receipts from sales made during
the year 1897, 1893 and 1889, averaged
five millions, nine hundred and twenty-five
thousand, nine hundred dollars each year.
The receipts from the sales Of lands
within Wisconsin during the same term,
Averaged three hundred and eighty-four
thousand, two hundred and sixty-eight dol
lars each year.
The lands which are now reserved for
the support of common schools, and which
are at present unproductive, will then be
placed under her control, and can be ap-
.plied benefcially for that object. These
will amount to about five hundred thous-
and acres.
And besides these pecuniary benefits,
she will obtain the position of an independ-
ent State, honored, and respected, if she is
worthy, contributing no more thanthe same
equal proportion which she now contributes
towards the expenses Of the General Gov
ernment, to be heard when she speaks of
her interests or the rights Of her citizens
she will obtain constitutional liberty, for
underlined legislative, colonial privileges.
The territorial officers are generally, |
believe, required by law to make their re-
ports, directly to the Legislature, am
therefore unable TO inform you of the con-