Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-03-02
THE TERRITORIAL DEBT

tence ofthe Territory, all of;he ex-
penses Of Government were paid out
OF appropriations made by Congress.
The whole Of the present debt has been
incurred during the last five years.
The amount Of the Indebtedness cannot
be definitely ascertained, because il is
not known what has been paid by the
Treasury Department at Washington.
It's generally supposed, by those VINO
have tho best means of judginC. that
the debt has been much over O ,,imatn1
and that at the present tim, It d,,s nj
exceed from $4,000 to $40 ono A
considerable portion. Of this indebted
ness can be paid without resortinC to
iaxation-pr' 1ably more than half Of
u. iha' portion oft which has arisen
out Of me Milwaukee and Rock River
NAL Company's transactions, can be
paid by collecting for that purpose
from the purchasers of the cana. lands,
who are owing at this time over
$4,000. Another large portion, and
probably third Of the whole ndebt-
edncss, can be discharged by prcsen-
ting the claims and vouchers al the
treasury department at Washington.
The remainder OF the debt, aaking a
sum of from Sl5,oOoto S20,OAJ. must
be paid by direct taxation and woulc
easily be discharged in short time by
light tax.
One great cause OF the Indebtedness
OF the Territory, is the fact that the
Secretaries have never properly dis
charged the duties of their Offices.
There has keen but one session from
the organization Of the Territory 10
The present time, when the money APP
pr0priatcd by Government was for
warded in season to delray the legisla-
tive expenses: consequently, the Legis-
laturc has been compelled to borrow
money, aud resort to other exped;on;s;
all of which have been expensive, and
probably left some debt upon the Ter
ritory. The Secretaries have been absent
from the Territory the greater part Of
the time, and when present have not
only not rendered any assistance to
the Legislature as to the finances of the
Territory, but, on the contrary, have
In every manner embarrassed them.
The Territory has appropriated
$4,000 for finishing the Capitol, over
and above the $4,000 appropriated
BY Congress; the most of which former
sum remains unpaid. The salaries oil
the Attorney General, the Territorial
Treasurer, and Territory Auditor;
the expenses Of the suit against the
Wisconsin Bank at Green Bay, and
the expenses Of the Territorial suits, all
make part OF the Territorial debt
The Legislature a, its late session pass
ed n bill, which was drawn up and H.
troduced by Mr.. BIRcuAsD of thl.
county, doing away with all those
Offices; which was vetoed by the Gov
crnor. The Legislature, having in
vain during its session endeavorcd to
ascertain the Indebtedness of the Terri
tory, provided, in the bill introduced
BY Mr. BIRcuARD, TOR the regstra-
ton OF all the debts ofthe Territory
and after that was vetoed, they appolu-
ted by joint resolution Mr.. e. NJ. Ba-
ser, OF Walworth county, an agcns -
proceed to Washington and ascertain
at he department there, how the ac-
counts Of the Territory stood; which
resolution was pocketed by the Cover
nor, and thus defeated. Finally, the
Legislature passed bill providing that
the Territorial Treasurer and Auditor
should ascertain the Indebtedness oftae
Territory, which was approved by the
Governor.
Although our Territory has unfortu-
nately fallen into debt, yet when the
matter is properly investigated the
amount is found 20 be not large, and il
is confidently believed that il will not
hereafter be increased. Racine Ad-
vocate.
CJ"Tne two Winnebago Indians,
who were convicted of murder last
summer, have been sentenced by Gov
crnor Chambers to Imprisonment for
life in lieu OF the punishment of death.
This intelligence has not been impaired
TO the unfortunate prisoners, Though we
understand that Mr.. Lowry, the
indian Agent has beca sen: :e7, =;
the purpose o! learning from them
,,.b;cb - tho runt sh,,ants thar a., n